If you’ve spent any time scouring pawn shop glass cases or scrolling through the dusty corners of online firearm forums, you’ve likely seen it. A blocky, matte-black slab of aluminum and steel that looks like it belongs in a 1990s detective flick. That’s the Smith and Wesson 457. It isn't flashy. It doesn't have a red dot cut or a modular grip system. Honestly, it’s kinda ugly. But in an era where everyone is obsessed with polymer-framed micro-compacts that hold twenty rounds of 9mm, this old-school .45 ACP sub-compact still has a cult following for a very good reason.
It works. Every single time.
The Smith and Wesson 457 was part of the "Value Series" released in the mid-90s. Think of it as the blue-collar cousin to the more expensive, polished 4513TSW. Smith and Wesson basically took their legendary 3rd Generation pistol architecture, stripped away the fancy stuff like ambidextrous decockers and frame checkering, and handed the savings to the customer. What they left behind was a 7+1 capacity tank that fires the venerable .45 Auto. It’s a gun for people who care more about punching big holes in paper (or threats) than they do about aesthetics.
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The "Value Series" Identity Crisis
A lot of people get confused about where the Smith and Wesson 457 actually fits in the S&W timeline. To understand it, you have to look at the 3rd Gen lineup. You had the high-end pistols with three-digit or four-digit model numbers that felt like precision instruments. Then came the Value Series.
Smith and Wesson was feeling the heat from Glock. Polymer was king, and metal-framed guns were becoming too expensive to manufacture. The 457 was a compromise. They used a carbon steel slide with a matte finish that honestly looks more like chalkboard paint than bluing. They swapped the stainless steel parts for plastic where they could—specifically the magazine release and the guide rod.
Does that make it a "cheap" gun?
Not really. Internally, the 457 uses the same short-recoil, DA/SA (Double Action/Single Action) system that made the 5906 and 4006 famous. You get that heavy first trigger pull that acts as a built-in safety, followed by a crisp, short single-action reset. It’s a "working man’s" gun. While the finish might wear off if you breathe on it too hard, the actual mechanics are overbuilt. It’s basically a shortened 4506. If you know anything about the 4506, you know it’s one of the few pistols ever made that can reliably cycle almost any .45 ACP load you throw at it, from stubby hollow points to heavy +P rounds.
Why the Smith and Wesson 457 Still Beats Modern Sub-Compacts
You've probably heard the argument that .45 ACP is "dead." People love to point at modern ballistics and say that a 9mm expands just as well. Sure. Maybe. But there is a mechanical confidence that comes with the Smith and Wesson 457 that you just don't get with a sub-400-dollar polymer pistol today.
First, let's talk about the weight.
At roughly 29 ounces unloaded, it isn't a featherweight. But that weight is your friend. When you're firing a short-barreled .45, physics is usually not on your side. In a lightweight plastic gun, the recoil is snappy and can be downright unpleasant. In the 457, the aluminum alloy frame soaks up enough of that energy to make it controllable. It pushes back rather than snapping up. You can actually get back on target for a second shot without fighting the gun.
Ergonomics and the Single Stack Advantage
The 457 is a single-stack pistol. This makes the grip surprisingly slim. Even if you have smaller hands, you can wrap your fingers around this thing and feel like you actually own it. Modern "fat" double-stacks often feel like holding a 2x4. The 457 feels like a tool.
- The Grip: Straight backstrap, no palm swell. Simple.
- The Controls: The slide-mounted decocker is on the left side only. If you're a lefty, you're gonna have a bad time.
- The Sights: Basic three-dot plastic sights. They aren't great, but they're functional.
- The Magazine: It uses the same mags as the 4513 and 4553. They are incredibly sturdy, though becoming a bit pricey on the secondary market.
Is it a "pocket gun"? No way. Don't even try. But in a decent IWB (inside-the-waistband) holster, it disappears. The flat profile of the single-stack magazine makes it much easier to hide than a Glock 30 or even some of the thicker 9mm options.
Real World Reliability: What the Manual Won't Tell You
I've talked to guys who have carried a Smith and Wesson 457 for twenty years. One recurring theme is the "Third Gen Reliability." Most modern pistols require a "break-in" period of 200 to 500 rounds. Smith and Wesson 3rd Gens were built to run right out of the box.
The 457 features a very wide, polished feed ramp. This is crucial for .45 ACP because those big, blunt bullets love to snag on narrower ramps. I've seen these guns eat cheap steel-cased ammo, old reloads, and high-end defensive rounds like Federal HST without a single hiccup.
There is a downside, though. The finish.
The matte finish on the 457 is notorious for "thinning." If you carry it every day, you will see silver peeking through the black on the edges of the slide within a year. Some people hate this. Personally? I think it gives the gun character. It’s a "distressed" look that you didn't have to pay a custom shop for. It shows the gun has been used. If you find one for sale that is perfectly black, it probably sat in a safe for three decades. Buy it.
The Hidden Cost of Owning a 457 Today
Before you go hunting for one on GunBroker, you need to be realistic. This isn't a Glock 19. You can't just walk into a local shop and find a dozen different holsters or upgraded trigger springs.
Finding spare parts for the Smith and Wesson 457 is getting harder. While Smith and Wesson still supports some 3rd Gen parts, many are discontinued. If you break a firing rod or need a specific spring, you’re often looking at eBay or specialized sites like Numrich.
Then there are the magazines.
A factory 7-round magazine for a 457 can easily run you 40 to 60 dollars today. That’s a lot of money for a "budget" gun. Because the 457 was the "Value" model, it didn't sell in the massive quantities that the police-contract guns did. You won't find bins of surplus mags for ten bucks.
Maintenance Tips for the New Owner
If you manage to snag one, there are a few things you should do immediately to keep it running for another thirty years.
- Replace the Recoil Spring: Most 457s on the market have the original springs from 1996. They are tired. A fresh Wolff recoil spring is a cheap insurance policy against frame battering.
- Check the Drawbar: The trigger drawbar is the heart of the DA/SA system. Keep it lightly greased, not oiled.
- Inspect the Plastic Parts: Look at the magazine release button and the guide rod. If they look cracked or excessively worn, replace them. Some people swap the plastic guide rod for a stainless steel one from a 4513. It adds a tiny bit of weight and a lot of peace of mind.
- The "Safety" Check: Remember, the lever on the slide is a decocker, not just a safety. When you flip it down, the hammer should drop safely without hitting the firing pin. Always test this (unloaded!) when buying a used 457.
Is it Better Than a 1911?
That's the big question. Both are .45 ACP. Both are metal-framed.
The 1911 has a better trigger. Period. Nothing beats a 1911 trigger. But the Smith and Wesson 457 is arguably more "combat-ready" for the average person. You don't have to worry about a manual thumb safety. You don't have to worry about the "series 80" firing pin blocks or tight tolerances that can lead to jams when the gun gets dirty.
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The 457 is a "point and shoot" machine. If you're in a high-stress situation, you draw, you pull that long double-action trigger, and the gun goes bang. There's no muscle memory required for a safety lever. For a carry gun, that simplicity is worth its weight in gold.
Final Verdict on the S&W 457
The Smith and Wesson 457 is a relic of a time when Smith and Wesson ruled the law enforcement market. It represents the tail end of an era where guns were made of metal and designed to last a lifetime of abuse.
It isn't a "Gucci" gun. You aren't going to win any beauty contests at the range with it. But if you want a .45 ACP that is compact enough to hide, heavy enough to shoot comfortably, and reliable enough to bet your life on, it’s one of the best values on the used market.
Prices are starting to creep up as collectors realize how good the 3rd Gen Smiths actually were. If you find one for under 450 bucks, don't think about it. Just buy it. You're not just buying a pistol; you're buying a piece of American engineering that doesn't know how to quit.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Scour Local Listings: Check sites like Armslist or local gun store "used" racks. These guns often show up as trade-ins from older owners who are downsizing their collections.
- Verify the Version: Try to find the 457S if you can. The "S" stands for stainless. It’s much more resistant to rust and holster wear than the standard matte black carbon steel version.
- Stock Up on Mags: If you see a Smith and Wesson 457 magazine for under 40 dollars, buy it immediately. They are the "gold" of the 3rd Gen world.
- Dry Fire Practice: If you're used to striker-fired guns (like Glocks or Sigs), spend time mastering that first double-action pull. It’s heavy, and it takes practice to avoid "pulling" your shot to the side.