One of my first S&W automatics was a nickel plated model 59, I was 19 and i had to have my father go with me to pick it up at Viking guns in Burlington WI.
I bought it because I wanted a 1911 and they were hard to come by at the time. I shot it quite a bit, it had black plastic grip panels and it was pretty good. I went into the Army and came back from Korea a few years later and traded it for a 469 which was pretty neat too.
But over the years i have had many 9mm autos but my favorite is the S&W model 39. It fits my hand well I shoot it well it just feels comfortable.
It is probably the one S&W auto I always look for at shows and in shops and i will always have one or two around the house.