Hi fastbolt,
I too have recently acquired a S&W 4513TSW, with no small part due to you & others' experience in this & another forum. Thank you.
Is there a difference in handling between the original no-rail version of 4513 vs. the rail vcersion? Also, have you look into removing the rail? Mine came with a rail which I have no use for and was wondering how difficult it is to remove?
Howdy,
Congrats on the TSW.
The only notifiable difference (to me) between handling/shooting my own original 4513TSW (cut-away, shorter grip profile), and my issued current-style 4513TSW, is the ability to get my little finger up onto the lower front part of the grip frame.
As you may have noticed in my earlier image posts, I have magazine with the flat/wide TSW butt plates, as well as the standard curved butt plates. The curved butt plates used on the shorter 6-rd mags don't require the little finger protruding forward, just a bit, compared to the having the same curved butt plate on the longer 7-rd mag. Just depends on your hands and what
you like to use.
On the other hand, I replaced the smooth factory grips on my older 4513TSW and modified a set of Hogue grip panels to fit the cut-away frame. I also installed the same rubber grips on my issued 4513TSW. That being the case, they both "feel" the same to me during live-fire (which might not be the case if one had hard/smooth Zytel and the other soft rubber
).
When requested by an occasional customer, the factory has punched out the rivets used to hold the accessory rail onto the newer TSW's, removing the rail and filling the holes with round head rivets. I've not tried punching them out & replacing them myself, as I simply ignore the rail on one of my own newer style TSW's.
The alloy used for the accessory rails isn't exactly as durable as the frame.
I've seen half a dozen instances of broken rails out of several hundred guns in the last several years.
I suppose if I had one break on a personally-owned gun, I'd probably have the company remove the remaining part of the rail and rivets, and plug the holes with the round head rivets.
