s&w 745

[Fat Boy]

At the local gun show today i bought a Smith-Wesson 745, in the original box, with 2 magazines, paperwork and cleaning supplies (even had the original cosmoline) this gun has a gold-colored engraving or otherwise inscribed information about its being one of so many guns made.

in excellent shape, doesn't appear to have been shot much-

This is a double-action gun; i was thinking that all the 745's were single-action?

Got what i think was a pretty fair deal- just over $550

Pretty pleased with the deal

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Weird......my Gun Traders Guide lists the 745 as single action.....

I know this is silly, but you're sure its not a 645?

My 645 on the left.

Could someone have converted it with a 645 fire control group?
In any event, IMO, you got a great deal!

Pics?

 

[Fat Boy]

Thank you - i have been taking a closer look at this gun; i think (and i probably won't use the right language) that this gun has a trigger bar or other mechanism that prevents it from firing even when the hammer falls when the lever on the slide is in a certain position- when the red dot is showing i assume it means the gun will fire if the hammer is dropped. anyway, very nice condition handgun- looking forward to getting to the range

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Thank you - i have been taking a closer look at this gun; i think (and i probably won't use the right language) that this gun has a trigger bar or other mechanism that prevents it from firing even when the hammer falls when the lever on the slide is in a certain position- when the red dot is showing i assume it means the gun will fire if the hammer is dropped. anyway, very nice condition handgun- looking forward to getting to the range

I think you have the decocker/safety confused with a double action fire mechanism.

In a double action system, the trigger will raise the hammer from the decocked (hammer down) position and fire the pistol.

A single action pistol requires the hammer to be raised- either manually with the hammer spur, by pulling the slide back, or as the slide cycles during firing- before it will fire. If the hammer is down on a single action, pulling the trigger will not raise it to the firing position.

See the amount of travel space behind the trigger on my 645? This is the distance needed to raise the hammer for a double action shot.

The decocker/safety on these pistols is an uncommon style today in that it will lower the hammer and remain in the safe position until flipped back up to the fire position. The red dot indicates that the safety if off, but the pistol still will not fire until the hammer is raised.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Incidentally, the 745 is a fantastic, though seldom seen and little known, pistol meant to compete with the Colt Gold Cup- which it did very well, though not as a commercial success.

My 645 is one of my very favorite pistols, and ties my P220 as my most accurate automatic. Good luck with your great score!

 

[bannockburn]

NIGHTLORD40K

Incidentally, the 745 is a fantastic, though seldom seen and little known, pistol meant to compete with the Colt Gold Cup- which it did very well, though not as a commercial success.

I think the Model 745 was meant to compete with Colt Governments in IPSC competition. I looked at one when they first came out and while it was nicely built (blued slide with a stainless frame along with a slide mounted safety), and had great sights, it was just a bit too big in the grip section for me to be comfortable with shooting. If the OP's gun has a slide mounted safety it could be a Model 645 or Model 845.

 

[Striker]

The 745 was designed by Tommy Campbell, when he was working with S&W, as a single action auto for use in IPSC. It was built built from 1986-1990. Campell used one to take third place in the 1986 championships. The safety is slide mounted, not frame mounted, and functions in reverse of a 1911 style pistol with down being "safe" and up being "fire". Many opine that the reverse safety function contributed to it's limited use as a competition gun.

 

[Jim Watson]

Yup. The 745 is pretty much the production version of Supergun II. Supergun I was a 9mm with M59 lower and M52 upper, but nobody was winning anything at Minor.
Smith tried again with the 945, a strange blend of S&W and 1911 parts, but eventually gave up and got on the 1911 knockoff bandwagon.

 

[Striker]

I had the pleasure of spending some time with Tommy, and Bill & Christie Rogers at the Safariland booth at SHOT this year. We talked about several things...IPSC, the evolution of the S&W single action 45 series, as well as the design and production of pre-Safariland Rogers' holsters and synthetic revolver grips. It was quite the honor for me.

 

[Fat Boy]

For my further edification (and i appreciate the responses so far), can this gun be safely carried with the hammer drawn and the safety engaged?

 

[Jim Watson]

Yes.

 

[SwampWolf]

Smith tried again with the 945, a strange blend of S&W and 1911 parts,

Good description of the Model 945, Jim. I've always described the 945 as being a Third Generation Smith with 1911 aspirations. It's one of my very favorite pistols of the many I own.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Good description of the Model 945, Jim. I've always described the 945 as being a Third Generation Smith with 1911 aspirations. It's one of my very favorite pistols of the many I own.

Oooohhhhh pics please!

 

[SwampWolf]

Sorry-don't know how.

 

[Walkalong]

You did well, I would have jumped all over that.