Jo, I don't know that you'll get a definitive answer without going to S&W or Lew Horton, exclusive distributor of the Shorty 45 models.
What you'll find by reading the posts on here, going back to 2009, is "guesstimates" by Shorty 45 owners. For what it's worth, here's what I found.
There were two Shorty 45 models, the first (Shorty 45) produced in 1996 and the second in 1997 (Shorty 45 Mark II). The first models came with fixed sights; the second came with adjustables.
Shorty 45s are, at the heart, 4513 models that were assembled at the Performance Center with all of the fine workmanship and additional features offered there. These were all stainless slide with aluminum frame models from the Performance Center and are single-stack traditional double action pistols. Owners are
very loyal to them and consider them among the finest 45s ever produced by the PC.
There are more of the Shorty 45s than the Shorty 45 Mark IIs. Best guesstimates seem to be that there were around 1,200 total pistols, possibly in runs of 500 or so at a time, with a couple of hundred of the Mark IIs and the rest the Shorty 45s. Take these numbers with a grain of salt, as they are based on serial numbers observed, and the "feel" of experienced hands here, based on availability for sale, of the Mark IIs. The Mark IIs serial numbering appears to have begun at or around 1000, and the highest observed here was referred to as something over 1100.
There apparently were, within these runs, about 125 all-black Shorty 45s, of which perhaps only one has actually been seen (and photographed) for a thread on the Forum.
I know that doesn't answer your questions exactly, but it's about as good as I think you'll get, if you rely on the information here only. Which is usually pretty good, I think.
My Shorty 45 is in the 170 range of serial numbers, and I think very highly of it.
(I can't actually, please don't ask me to do it again.)
