Hi all, first post here,

I am helping out a relative with a gun he just picked up. It's a S&W model 459 9mm. We took the pistol to the gun range and attempted to fire it however we were not successful. The pistol would not fire at all.

Upon return home I disassembled the pistol and I think it's missing some parts. Looking at the frame from the top, it only has one lever on the right, and I believe there should be two. I swear it's missing the firing pin safety release lever. So to be sure I detail disassembled the whole frame, and I'm almost positive that lever and whatever parts associated with it are gone. Also the trigger draw bar has a copper colored spring that is damaged, does this have a major effect on the operation of the pistol?

I'm an armorer for ar's beretta's, sigs, glocks, but not s&w's so some parts are a little different to me. I have already ordered a repak kit from Wolff, for the 459. So here are my questions.

1. Does this model actually have the firing pin safety release lever? If it does what other parts are associated with it, i.e. spring, plunger/retainer?

2. what are some good websites to order these parts from if brownells does not have them in stock.

3. Does anybody have a link to any threads that show the detailed disassembly and re assembly of this model gun with pics??

Any help is appreciated fellas. Thanks

Instructor25

Please take pictures of both sides and also pictures with the pistol field stripped. One looking down into the frame, and one looking up into the inside of the slide. Post those pictures here, and someone will come along and try to answer your questions more precisely than can probably be done without the pictures.

I have already detail stripped the pistol down to the bare frame. It's gonna take me some time to put it back together and get some pics loaded up.

Detail stripped a new gun for the 1st time,did we.............

been there,done that..............

You are in good hands, I am sure you will get good advise soon and have that baby up and putting brass in the air. Sorry the new toy was not taken care of but sounds like it has found a good home.

Enjoy.

Yup first time, the way I figure it, is that im a pro at taking it apart, putting it back together is where fun starts.

I took a look at my 39-2 and it appears they may not be a third lever, so my info on that was probably incorrect.

Ok so if the weapon will not cock to single action or fire what parts may be broken here. Sear, hammer notches, ????

OK, since you have a 39, you know which way the safety is supposed to be to get 'bang'.

1. Is there a sear spring in place? Is the sear on the correct side of the spring?

2. Is the disconnector where it's supposed to be?

3. Is the spring that goes under the sear trip/release lever in place?(It's easy to misplace, don't ask how I know this.) Does the pistol cock with the slide removed? If it does, there's something operating the sear relase lever when the slide is in place.

4. There was a magazine in place while you were trying this, right? The magazine safety disconnects the trigger bar from the sear, shouldn't prevent cocking the hammer.

After this, you're looking at hammer notches, trigger bar notches etc.

Oh yeah, the copper colored spring near the front of the trigger bar is the trigger play spring. If it's damaged, you'll get a click while the trigger is moving through the single action stroke, but it won't keep the weapon from firing. It keeps the trigger properly engaged with the trigger bar, improving quality of the SA trigger stroke.

You can go direct to S&W for parts. If he bought it from a store, I'd have the store return it to S&W for repair. You might also speak to your relative about buying something that hasn't been proven functional.

So after looking at your post and going over al the parts, there was one that was a different color. A newish silverish without any wear marks colored sear. And from what I remember it was on the opposite side of the sear spring. After I read your post I swapped the sear to the other side, and wouldn't you know, everything works now. Thanks for the help WR Moore