I have a S & W Mod. 459, I purchased it new way back in 1980. As a first generation high capacity weapon I find it to be a great concealed carry weapon. I would like any input regarding this weapon, your experience with it, your pros and cons. Thank you in advance . ♠

The 459 is a 2nd generation S&W. The 59 was the 1st gen S&W.
I carried the 459 below as my duty gun from 1982 until 1989. Our issued gun was the 439 but for those of us on SWAT we were permitted to carry a 459 if we bought our own. I sent mine back to S&W and they did a great tune up on it. I've run thousands upon thousands of rds thru it over the years and never had 1 problem of any kind. I went to plain clothes in 1988 and carried it for about a year until we were issued a 469 then the 459 was carried in my squad as a 2nd.
As far as pros - mine shoots really well. Never had any kind of malfunction using all kinds of ammo from dept reloads to +P+. It's been carried in all kinds of weather and conditions.
Cons - I don't like the straight backstrap on the factor guns. As you can see I fixed that by installing a curved backstrap which gives it a whole new feel that I really like. That's the only "con" I had with it.
I don't carry it as much anymore. It's still a large gun and during the summer it's not as easy to conceal. It still gets drug out a few times a year and carried.

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183rd FBINA

ispcapt, everytime you post that pic of your 459, it makes me wish I could have found the arched backstrap for my 459. Which is the same con that caused me to sell my 459. I liked the 459 I had, it functioned flawlessly, but I couldn't get past the straight backstrap, never felt comfortable in my hand. Ended up selling it for a 5906, as the arched backstraps are pretty rare to come across.

I saw a new still in the package backstrap offerred for sale within the last week or so. Might have been on this forum in the for sale section.
I'm glad I got mine when I did. It turns a 2X4 into something that feels about like a SIG. Wish I'd bought a truck load of them. I'm always keeping my eye open for them at gun shows and gun shops. I figure if I find any I'll buy them up and give the folks on this forum 1st shot at them. So far haven't been lucky enough to find them.
I got mine in Danville, IL at Ray O'Herron's. They also had a store in one of the Chicagoland burbs but can't remember which one. Ray just died last spring. I haven't been over there in several years. Not likely they have any left but might be worth a try.

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183rd FBINA

I found a new in box 459. The owner and I are not sure what a fair value for the gun is. Help is needed from forum members familiar with this gun.

M459 blue $500
M459 nickel $550 is a close estimate

I have the matt finish FBI gun and its been flawless never a jam .

Do you reckon there's a S/S curved back strap available for a 659?

I've never seen one in stainless. Don't see the blue ones very often now.

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183rd FBINA

Not wishing to divert attention away from 459's etc.....if I may...
I have a 439, SN# A8080xx....and I need the ballpark manufacture date..

Appreciate any help..thanks

EDIT: Research reveals year of Manufacture s apparently 1983.
Serial numbers A8069xx thru A8749XX, ergo A8080XX "should" be in that span..1983

Thanks again

Marylander