Smith & Wesson 945

[Bob Riebe]

The Smith & Wesson 945 is a single-action, .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol from Smith & Wesson. It incorporates features from the M1911 pistol series, such as a SA-only trigger, a grip safety, and a frame-mounted thumb safety. The 945 can be distinguished from a M1911 by the unique contours on the slide and by the internal safety mechanism inside the slide, which is externally visible as a black circle where the S&W 4506's safety switch would be located. None of the parts nor the magazines from M1911s are compatible with the 945.

The pistol debutted in 1996 and was released in 1997.

The Performance Center’s Dick Mochak was the 945’s designer. It is a hybrid of the 4006 series and their 1911 pistols. The Generation Three 645 contributed the slide and the 4506 provided the base. By combining the single action and active safeties from the 1911 with the above platform, Smith and Wesson created a unique piece.