Question for the hive

[Heymatt]

Came across this now completed item on another site.
Trying to figure out what it is, was listed as a 5943, .45 with a 3.75” barrel.
Parts have what look like a single stack drawbar.
Dual recoil springs on a metal guide rod.
TSW marked slide with no caliber marking.
Notched grip.
So is it a 9 or a 45? Or a never say never SW?

 

[4T5GUY]

So is it a 9 or a 45?

It’s definitely a .45.

S&W 3rd Gen .45 extractors are wider and fit flush in the back. The 9mm, (and .40,) extractors are thinner and slightly stick out in the back.

Those 1” squares don’t help much when parts aren’t lined up.

Edit to add that the slide is relieved for the right side ambi lever. The 9mm, (and .40,) slides are not relieved.

Jim

 

[BMCM]

It's a 4513TSW. Judging by the grip it was a six shot no rail version.

Chambered in .45ACP of course.

Cheers
Bill

 

[ACEd]

It's a 4513TSW. Judging by the grip it was a six shot no rail version.

Chambered in .45ACP of course.

Cheers
Bill

I will have to agree with the expert here. Early 6rd 4513TSW.
Additional "tells" for us less educated - dual recoil spring eliminates all 9mm and makes it a .40 (either 4013/14/53/54 or a 4013/53/56TSW) or a 45 (4516-2 etc. or 4513TSW). The safety eliminates the DAO, and the TSW eliminates the non TSW and finally the notched grip narrows it to a 3913/3953TSW (already eliminated 9mm) or an early 6 shot 4513TSW, and presumably the top of the barrel is marked "45...".

 

[4T5GUY]

Early 6rd 4513TSW. Additional "tells" for us less educated…

The early pre-rail TSW’s were only marked [TACTICAL S&W] throughout the various calibers/models. The next “Gen”, railed, non-stepped/notched grip 9mm and .45’s, (and a few non-railed railed,) were marked with the [caliber AND TACTICAL S&W] throughout. That makes it easy to differentiate. The later had co-witnessed frames and slides that stayed together during assembly.

I mention this because the two, (at least my,) 4513TSW slides do not interchange. (Not an issue for Heymatt and BMCM. ) Funny that the excellent Gunbusters PC Shorty 40 MK3 top end/parts I got, fit on and runs perfectly on my mid run of the first Shorty 40 lower.

Jim

 

[rwsmith]

It ain't no 5943....

I've got one. It's a 9mm full size, alloy frame, double stack with one guide rod and spring.

 

[Heymatt]

I was sure that it wasn't a 5943, single stack drawbar gave that away.
The nested recoil springs was pointing to a .45.
The notched grip pointed towards an early TSW 9 or 45
What was throwing me off was the lack of caliber call out on the slide.
Thanks for all the answers!