Recently acquired 45 CQB slide.

[Tntcwg3]

I've recently acquired a 45 CQB slide for a future build, both barrel and slide are in pretty good condition. My first instinct after cleaning them up was to compare them to my 4563 CQB 45, product code 170106. My plan is to build a 4566 based shooter as my other pistol is a safe queen. Several differences were noted between the two,

• Rear sight
• Nitrided barrel vs natural finish
• Slightly different font and positioning on right side markings.

 

[Heymatt]

Nice pick up!

 

[Sevens]

What a strange part to find in the wild. Saved from a legislatively demilled gun…?

 

[Tntcwg3]

What a strange part to find in the wild. Saved from a legislatively demilled gun…?

My thoughts exactly, possibly through those "buy-back" programs.
From what I've discovered so far, it appears that the CQB pistols were built on TSW frames, having the forward rails, so my build frame is likely going to have to be based on either a 4563 or 4566 TSW frame. I prefer heavier, steel framed guns so it's likely going to be the latter of the two, but availability and price will also factor into the final outcome.

 

[BMCM]

What a shame a CQB was parted out.

The CQB guns were built on 845 frames. Slides were hand fit to their respective frames. I would expect the rails on a 45xxTSW frame to be quite loose. I have some stuff here that would allow me to test fit such a setup if you'd like me to try & report back.
Oh! and you're going to have fits getting that CQB spring box to fit inside TSW dust cover.

Cheers
Bill

 

[Tntcwg3]

What a shame a CQB was parted out.

The CQB guns were built on 845 frames. Slides were hand fit to their respective frames. I would expect the rails on a 45xxTSW frame to be quite loose. I have some stuff here that would allow me to test fit such a setup if you'd like me to try & report back.
Oh! and you're going to have fits getting that CQB spring box to fit inside TSW dust cover.

Cheers
Bill

Yes sir, it's a crying shame that a gun of this caliber was parted out. Possibly two of them as the barrel and slide match numbers are not matching.

While I haven't started mic'ing or bluing anything for fitment, my preliminary test fitting on my 4513TSW frame has been extremely positive. While not quite as tight as two pieces hand fitted after manufacturing, the rear rail fits are as tight as the original TSW slide. The front rails on the frame are slightly oversize to the slide, nothing that some careful fitting wouldn't rectify. I might be wrong but I'd think that this would have been one of the areas that the PC would have effected their fitting. The spring box on the CQB has comparable clearance to the TSW slide.

Drawing on your vast knowledge and experience, do you know if the slides were the same between the SS and alloy frame models? I don't think S&W made a model 4563 other than the TSW frames. That's not not to say that they didn't produce a special run of alloy 845 frames specifically for these guns, but it seems more logical from a production standpoint that they would have utilized an existing frame.

 

[Tntcwg3]

Interesting read from an article in American Handgunner concerning the alloy frame 4563 CQB, the author indicates that he saw the original alloy frame extrusion that was originally for a 9mm (he did not indicate which 9mm).

https://www.thefreelibrary.com/THE+.45+CQB.-a067886017

 

[Sevens]

Fantastic photos!