RJF Prefix Melonite 4566s

[18DAI]

I'm still trying to narrow down how many of these RJF serial prefix Melonite 4566s were made.

The factory letter does not say. So, anyone got or seen a serial number higher than 3184? Or lower than 3106? Thanks! Regards 18DAI

 

[the big guy]

skjos.net suggests there are about 325 total, 300 or so in a group with RJFxxxx serial numbers. Another 25 or so with KJFxxxx.

 

[mbliss57]

I have seen 3185...I can't say where but I have seen it Not a lot of help being only 1 pistol higher.

 

[18DAI]

Well, I just saw another factory letter on the RJF prefix Melonite 4566. It was with an example for sale on the big auction board.

The letter states that these guns were produced in 2009 with a production code of 148670. The production run was for 119 units. The unit in question shipped from the factory in May of 2009.

So I guess this will be the number...…..until another letter with different info pops up. Regards 18DAI

 

[vigil617]

Wow, what a day for interesting S&W pistols on the big board!

Weren't these RJF series pistols supposedly produced as part of an order for the U.S. Marshal Service? Interesting that the letter doesn't mention anything about it. What a great-looking gun, though!

So 18, does the letter with it have different information than another letter you've seen, or are you just referring to the "never say never" aspect of our hobby?

 

[skjos]

Well, I just saw another factory letter on the RJF prefix Melonite 4566. It was with an example for sale on the big auction board.

The letter states that these guns were produced in 2009 with a production code of 148670. The production run was for 119 units. The unit in question shipped from the factory in May of 2009.

So I guess this will be the number...…..until another letter with different info pops up. Regards 18DAI

I just saw that information show up on the auction board, and started to pour through the pictures I could find on the net. I came up with the same verifiable low/high serial number range you did: RJF3106 and RJF3184.

*UPDATE: New pictures have slightly opened the serial number range to RJF3104 - to RJF3193.*


Production Letters:

RJF3104

RJF3193

RJF3193 Box

Original Order History?

Piecing it together it looks like the RJF pistols may have been produced for New Hampshire Marine Patrol in 1999, but they never took ownership of all the pistols. They sat at S&W for ten years until distributed to Williams Shooter Supply (and possibly others) in 2009.

 

[18DAI]

vigil617 I have seen TWO Jinks letters on these guns. I think member Gunhacker had one....

Anyways, one letter said they were made in 1999 and held in storage till 2009. Then sent out to distributors. No mention of how many made.

The Marshal service order or who they were made for is not revealed in either letter. That is a rumor on some gunboards. A few folks say they were made for the SOG.

This letter - with the gun currently for sale - says they were made in 2009 and 119 made. Which letter to believe? Yes, they are nice guns. I have RJF311X. I had a second example but sold it.

Thank you skjos! I hope you find out how many were made for your excellent list! Regards 18DAI

 

[vigil617]

Be interesting to see what it sells for, especially considering the one (supposedly NIB) that's lingered for quite a while at $1,450. I'm guessing a grand, maybe $1,100, but you never know with the right collector.

 

[18DAI]

Or the right SHOOTER. I know nothing of collectors. The idea of buying a nice pistol and NOT enjoying it for what it was made for doesn't compute, for me.

I suspect you are right on the mark. $1000 to $1100 sounds about right. I would be interested in what my friend mbliss thinks as he keeps pretty good track of 3rd gen pricing. And he has had a couple of these IIRC.

I purchased my first RJF Melonite 4566 back in 2009 off an officer in Ohio who had bought it to use as a duty gun - before he found out that personally owned weaponswere being prohibited by his agency. I shot it quite a bit and carried it on my own time, but never qualified with it to carry it on duty. I would not sell mine though. It is a VERY accurate 45 with a very nice trigger.

The New Hampshire Maritime agency that used these Melonite 4566s had around 50 examples IIRC. So, if you add those, plus the observed serials.......not quite adding up to 119...... Puzzling. Regards 18DAI

 

[18DAI]

Looks like we guessed the value just about right. Somebody got themselves a very nice 45!

Anyone here buy it? Regards 18DAI

 

[5.0SC]

Smith & Wesson 4566 RJF

I just bought my own 4566 in black melonite. I will give update with pictures and range report as I have them. regards, GPS

 

[skjos]

Is it outside the observed serial number range (RJF3106 - RJF3184)?

 

[18DAI]

Congrats 5.0SC! We are looking forward to your info and pics of your new 4566. Regards 18DAI

 

[5.0SC]

The 4566M that I purchased is within the RJF3106 to RJF3184 serial number range. Thanks for the congrats and I will post pics once it is in my hands!

 

[Gunhacker]

vigil617 I have seen TWO Jinks letters on these guns. I think member Gunhacker had one....

Anyways, one letter said they were made in 1999 and held in storage till 2009. Then sent out to distributors. No mention of how many made.

The Marshal service order or who they were made for is not revealed in either letter. That is a rumor on some gunboards. A few folks say they were made for the SOG.

This letter - with the gun currently for sale - says they were made in 2009 and 119 made. Which letter to believe? Yes, they are nice guns. I have RJF311X. I had a second example but sold it.

Thank you skjos! I hope you find out how many were made for your excellent list! Regards 18DAI

Yep.. that was me. Mine is the one that was held in S&W inventory since 1999 and was finally sold and shipped in 2009, s/n RJF3156.

Could it be that they had an order and did a run in 2009 and that's what precipitated mine finally being sprung from inventory, to fill the number ordered?

Both guns in the 2 letters were shipped to the same place, Williams Shooters Supply Co. in Quincy, IL. with the same May 02, 2009 ship date.

 

[5.0SC]

Be interesting to see what it sells for, especially considering the one (supposedly NIB) that's lingered for quite a while at $1,450. I'm guessing a grand, maybe $1,100, but you never know with the right collector.

Well looks like by the earlier posts if they be true I now own the first known serial number of a 119 unit production run of the model 4566 Melonite finish pistols, mine being #3106. I will enjoy that knowledge until someone comes forward with a lower serial number. It is in at least LNIB condition that I can testify to. only detraction being the nights sights are burnt out. I am contemplating sending it to S&W for a PC tune job and fresh night sights. They say it will be a four month wait to get the work done. What I paid for it is my business but I am very happy to own it. NHMP order or as this one was advertised from a US Marshal Service order matters not much to me.

 

[mbliss57]

Congrats 5.0SC. If I was going to use that gun I would have it relamped. If I was just buying as a collector I wouldn't bother. They are really nice guns.
18DAI is correct that I have owned a couple myself in the past. You are absolutely correct in saying that what you or anyone pays for a gun is there own business. However, on the GB Auction site it is very easy to find what a certain gun sold for. So don't be too surprised if someone brings that up.
Pics would be nice if you can post them. Congratulations. That is a very nice package.

 

[18DAI]

I ran across another Melonite 4566 listed for sale. The auction was closed, so there is no way to contact the owner.

And he had it showing only from the right side, so no way to check the serial number. It appeared to be one of the RJF prefixed guns.

Heres the interesting part - the seller claimed he had a Jinks letter with the gun, that claimed there were 622 produced. He didn't show the letter and there were no further details. That is a far larger number than the other Jinks letters seen here, on the same model. Quite a difference.

Oh, the asking price was $1300. Regards 18DAI

 

[mscampbell2734]

In the early 2000s I worked with an officer who carried a Melonite 4566. She bought it new in 2000. It was extremely rare in Los Angeles

 

[18DAI]

Evidently some of these RJF prefix Melonite 4566s made it out of the factory prior to 2009.

I purchased one from an officer in Ohio in 2007, IIRC. And he had purchased it for use as a duty pistol several years prior. He ultimately didn't use it, so it was LNIB when I recieved it.

Strange that there are so many different stories surrounding these pistols. And the varying production numbers are even stranger. Regards 18DAI