330 of 500 Engraved Smith & Wesson S&W LAPRAAC 4506 .45 ACP Pistol & Case

SOLD FOR: $2,875

LSB#: 240514DM001

Make: Smith & Wesson

Model: 4506 LAPRAAC 65th Anniversary Commemorative, No. 149174

Serial Number: LAP0330

Year of Manufacture: 2000

Caliber: .45 ACP

Action Type: Single/Double Action, Semi-Auto Pistol with Ambidextrous Decocker Safety

Barrel Length: 5″

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade with a recessed white dot and is dovetailed to a rise at the front of the slide. The rear sight is a square-notch with two recessed white dots and is dovetailed and screw set to the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is one-piece checkered black Xenoy with S&W logos. The right side of the grip has an inlaid LAPD badge and the left side has an inlaid LAPRAAC medallion. There are a few light handling marks. The checkering is sharp. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition.

Type of Finish: Stainless & Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion. In this writers opinion, this bore rates 10 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 99% of its metal finish. There is light handling wear and faint operational wear. The screwheads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol rates in Excellent condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Included are two special edition magazines with LAPRAAC medallions on the baseplates and a special edition presentation case and key.

Our Assessment: Smith & Wesson is an important name in the story of the American semi-auto double action, first with their Model 39 and then the model 59. Dismayed by the commercial failure of their .35 and .32 semi-automatic pistols, in 1946 Smith & Wesson president C.R. Hellstorm said the product line needed to be modernized. Their top goal was to release a Double/Single action semi-automatic pistol chambered for the 9mm cartridge. In the 1950s Smith & Wesson began the development of the Model 39 semi-auto pistol and it was finally released in 1955. Impressed with the German P38 Double Action, American Ordnance personnel issued a proposal for America’s very own double action pistol, this made it even more enticing for Smith to make a double action. The 39 was born and was a hit, but where to go from there? Smith & Wesson had dozens of answers and the S&W metal frame semi-auto bloomed, just look at the standard catalog! The Smith & Wesson DA/SA guns were such a hit that they went through a few generations before being discontinued and are still loved by collectors and shooters to this day. Sorry polymer framed guns, you simply don’t compare!

The Model 4506 is a 3rd generation Smith & Wesson with the barrel length and chambering of the classic 1911, but with stainless construction, single and double action design, and some other updates in line with the 3rd generation line of handguns. This particular 4506 is a commemorative celebrating the 65th anniversary of the Los Angeles Police Revolver and Athletic Club (LAPRAAC), located at the LAPD Academy—home to the handgun ranges built for the 1932 Olympics which were hosted by Los Angeles. The pistol has a blued slide with scroll engraving and gold inlaid markings. This was a limited run of 500 guns and this one is seriously sharp. If you weren’t lucky enough to get one brand new, well this one looks just about brand new itself. Please see our photos and good luck!

Some are hot, some are not, but thankfully most can be shot!
-Red