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Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols Other Smith & Wesson Semi-Automatic Pistols from the 1950's to Present


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Old 08-30-2011, 07:25 PM
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Default Is this a FBI 459 ????

I examined this 459 today that is owned by a friend.He said he has a letter stating this 459 was shipped to the FBI at Quantico from S&W.Tomorrow he will bring the letter and box.It was my understanding all FBI 459`s were matte blue.This 459 appears to be a 5903 by appearance.The sights have been changed but nothing else.The owner is quite knowledgeable and I have no reason to doubt him.Has anyone seen a stainless slide brushed finish 459 before? Could not find mention in SCSW but did find mention in Blue Book gun values. Any info would be appreciated.
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Old 08-30-2011, 08:10 PM
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I have read about some made for the Polk County, FL Sheriff's Office.

They were basically 5903s but were made before the 3rd gens and marked Mod 459.

Is this or the FBI ones listed in the Blue Book?
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Old 08-30-2011, 08:44 PM
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I don't think so. They were matt blue like you said.
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Old 08-30-2011, 10:06 PM
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SCSW mentions early 5903 examples marked 459, satin finish frame, stainless slide, and ambi safety with the Phillips screw. Their example serial was TBU8689, so in the same general vintage.
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Old 08-30-2011, 11:49 PM
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If he's got the letter than who can dispute that. I thought they were all blued also, but I have yet to see one blued or in any other color.
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Old 08-31-2011, 06:23 AM
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That is certainly an odd-ball 459. The only other explanation without a Jinks Letter, is that S&W had a 459 returned to them defective, and replaced it with a 5903 and stamped the frame to match the 459 that was returned.
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Old 08-31-2011, 02:01 PM
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Thanks to snw19_357 for some additional info I established that this 459 is indeed a Polk County pistol sent to a dist./dealer in Va. Still a unique pistol in its own right.Thanks for the help and input.
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Old 06-05-2016, 05:59 PM
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Default 5903 miss marked 459

I've always wonder about this since I bought mine new back in 1989 1990 time frame new. This was one of the reason I got it new when i was station at Fort Bragg active duty Army. Has anyone ever found out how many were made. Thanks Mike

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Old 06-05-2016, 06:10 PM
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How do you go about getting a letter from S&W on this pistol about the build date and how many were made?
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Old 06-05-2016, 06:34 PM
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Welcome! Here is the link to the factory website for history letters:

Firearm History Request - Smith & Wesson

The process of obtaining these are in transition right now, so there may be somewhat of a wait, likely not 3-4 months as the site page states.
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Old 06-05-2016, 11:28 PM
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Thanks Alan
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Old 06-10-2016, 04:27 AM
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I have one of the 459s that were FBI guns and they are fixed sight matt finish and the grips are matt also . Mine is mint cond but no box . I live in PA also.
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Old 06-10-2016, 12:22 PM
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Here is the 459 that was issued to me.

When my federal agency sold these pistols en mass to Sarco in the mid to late 80's, we were able to individually purchase them from Sarco. Sarco was very cooperative; they just asked us to attach a business card to any pistol we desired and they would give us first purchase rights for whatever we wished to purchase. All purchases, of course, went through our preferred FFL, but it was nice to be able to buy the firearm we had been officially issued. I'm not certain how often that happens these days at the federal level.

I never carried this 459 as at that time we could carry our own handguns and I preferred something in .45 caliber.
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Old 06-10-2016, 12:23 PM
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Here is a photo of the box label.
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Old 11-08-2016, 09:19 PM
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Default FBI Over-Run Special features

Beside the matte finish and matte grips and of course the end-label of the boxes ... wasn't there another special feature to this one.

I seem to recall these true FBI Over-Runs would fire with the magazine out (and the safety off, naturally).

Beside the cosmetic feathers and on of the very few that the magazine safety was defeated, a factory letter is truly the way to find out. I just don't know how much info the factory letter will have.

Did any of your guys tray to dry fire it with the magazine out ?

Have any of you lettered you FBI over-run ? Thanks. Sal
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Old 11-08-2016, 11:25 PM
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Default 459 FBI

I might be able to shed a bit of light on this. I have attached a picture of my two 459's and the end labels. These were of the 803 guns that were produced to consider for production the non-standard material grips that were used on some of the FBI issued guns, and the matte finish that was used on the XM9 army trial pistols. I bought these as NOS, and they are sequentially serialized.
Hope that helps a bit.
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Old 11-09-2016, 01:18 AM
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I also had a pair (not sequential but close) I purchased in 1999 from a member / dealer but sold them when finances had taken a turn in 2006. I believe one of the features on these 459s was that the pistol would fire with the magazine out, which was part of the FBI specs.

Do your 459s fire with the magazine out ? Naturally, the safety would need to be in the fire position. Can you please affirm this by testing yourpistols with the mags out ? Thank you.
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Old 11-09-2016, 12:29 PM
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Sal,

I just pulled one out and checked, and no, they will not fire without the mag, so they do have the disconnect like a standard 459.
BTW, I forgot to mention, I did letter these.
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Old 11-09-2016, 08:36 PM
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Originally Posted by fuzzymcnab View Post
Sal,

I just pulled one out and checked, and no, they will not fire without the mag, so they do have the disconnect like a standard 459.
BTW, I forgot to mention, I did letter these.
fuzzy
How is the letter worded ? Does it state FBI contact over-runs ? XM9 ? just a brief sentence or two regarding the special features. Thank, Sal.
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Old 11-10-2016, 10:43 PM
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Sal, happy to help.
The letter indicates that 803 of these guns were built in 1984, utilizing the dull blue finish, which was being considered for regular production. Obviously, that never happened. The grips are the same high impact nylon used on the FBI 459's. The dull blue was the same as was used on the XM9 that was submitted for consideration by the US Government.
That's about it. There is no mention of these being contract overrun pieces, although I was under that same impression before I got the letter.
That's about it. As a side note, these are the only guns I own which I have never fired. Will I? I am sure someday I will no longer be able to resist.
Blessings to you and yours, fuzzy
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Old 11-11-2016, 04:38 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fuzzymcnab View Post
Sal, happy to help.
The letter indicates that 803 of these guns were built in 1984, utilizing the dull blue finish, which was being considered for regular production. Obviously, that never happened. The grips are the same high impact nylon used on the FBI 459's. The dull blue was the same as was used on the XM9 that was submitted for consideration by the US Government.
That's about it. There is no mention of these being contract overrun pieces, although I was under that same impression before I got the letter.
That's about it. As a side note, these are the only guns I own which I have never fired. Will I? I am sure someday I will no longer be able to resist.
Blessings to you and yours, fuzzy
Thanks, Fuzzy. Being I had a pair that I parted with, only out of necessity about 10 years ago, I wanted to obtain a pair to replace those.

I did find out the 559 of similar configuration (Military and special LEO use ) was the one that fires with the magazine out. The search goes on !
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Old 11-13-2016, 12:36 AM
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Sal,
Did not know about the 559's. Sounds nifty. Best of luck on your search.
fuzzy
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Old 11-08-2018, 05:23 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fuzzymcnab View Post
Sal, happy to help.
The letter indicates that 803 of these guns were built in 1984, utilizing the dull blue finish, which was being considered for regular production. Obviously, that never happened. The grips are the same high impact nylon used on the FBI 459's. The dull blue was the same as was used on the XM9 that was submitted for consideration by the US Government.
That's about it. There is no mention of these being contract overrun pieces, although I was under that same impression before I got the letter.
That's about it. As a side note, these are the only guns I own which I have never fired. Will I? I am sure someday I will no longer be able to resist.
Blessings to you and yours, fuzzy
In case anyone else looks for references to this gun, this post is correct. They are not overruns. There were only 803 of these ever made. I bought one when they came out in 1984 and wrote to S&W asking about it and got a similar letter from them (and still have the letter). The story about them was a little vague when I bought it but I figured I'd have a collector's item or a good shooter. As it turns out, a collector's item. Still in original box, unfired, etc.

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