I ran across an interesting S&W Model 459. It is an early model (Pre 1983), and it has "U.S." stamped under the serial number.

The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson does mention a "Treasury Department" 459 that has 'U.S.' marked on frame by serial number and matte finish. Beyond that, I cannot find anything about it. Can anyone shed any light on this piece?

Any info appreciated!

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Welcome! Out of my normal collecting interest, but I think you are correct. This may deserve a factory letter based on its increased value if it shipped to the Treasury Department:

Firearm History Request - Smith & Wesson

Hope this is helpful.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thanks for such a quick reply! Perhaps a factory letter is a good idea. I held off since it's $50. After I posted this, I took off the hand grip and it has an FBI stamp on the inside. I included a picture.

Any idea how much this could affect value. (Would like to know that it's worth the $50 for the factory letter.)

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Get the letter, by all means. It may give you real bargaining leverage if you decide to sell it. I'd keep it, but I really like the 459.

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Oh well, what the hell.

You know, I think I will get the letter. The FBI sticker in the grip makes me think of the "FBI" version that you read about sometime, but I think the finish on this one is wrong one for the "FBI" version.

It could also be one of the test pistols for the XM-9 trials in the early to mid 80s. S&W, HK, Sig, Beretta and Colt had entries into the trials.

The 459 was S&W's entry. I hear it did quite well, but ultimately lost out to the Beretta M92F and FS.

A Roy Jinks provinence letter would be indeed interesting. The U.S. may be a martial ordnance marking, hence my belief that it may have been tied to the XM-9 program.

I would really like to see the letter. What ever you do, KEEP IT!!!

Caleb,

Regret the post. I didn't see the picture of the inside of the grips until after I posted it. Sorry.

The 459 was also optional for FBI agents to carry if memory serves. Many chose it over the issue Model 13.

One of the killed FBI agents used it against the Platt and Matix in the infamous Miami shootout in April, 1986. If I recall, the isue 115gr W-W Silvertip fired by the Agent was delivered properly, but failed to stop.

That aside, the 459 enjoyed a decent reputation amongst the L.E. officers of the day.

It was also chosen as the sole S&W entrant in the XM-9 trials (my other hastily-written reply).

Please forgive my error.

-Greg

Probably an intraagency transfer gun, since the FBI used to be under the Treasury Department. As far as a value, if it letters either as a FBI or TD contract gun, figure 3-5 times standard value to a collector.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thanks for the great info. I contacted the seller (I just got this piece last weekend) and asked him where he got it. He said he got it in a purchase of surplus from Kansas City FBI office in the early ninety's. So your thought is probably correct. Interesting. I really thought it was a plain-Jane 459 that I was just getting as a shooter. I always liked the 59's and 459's.

How about some more pics showing those wood grips? I think I see they have the S&W medallion, and is that backstrap smooth? If those are wood S&W made grips, i've never seen any before on a 59 or 459....let us see the rest of that fine pistol.

Posting a clearer picture of the SN and one that shows the sights would be helpful. We can then provide better info but I would agree that a letter from Roy would be advisable. I hope that if you do get one you will report back what it says.

Regards,
Kevin Williams

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Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

Thanks for so many good questions overnight to think about… here are some answers:

1. Wood grips: Yes, that is definitely a S&W medallion on the grip on both sides. (Picture below) I’d never seen wood grips before on a 59 or 459 either and actually thought that someone had swapped in the wooden ones from a 39. I’ve seen wood grips like that on a 39 and thought it looked like someone sanded the rear of grip to take out the curve that matched the 39’s curved backstrap to fit the 459’s straight backstrap. In fact, I had already purchased a set of black replacement grips online, but when I pulled off the left grip and saw the Kansas City FBI sticker (picture above), I decided to post a second picture here instead of replacing them. So, what do you all think?

2. Backstrap: Yes the backstrap is straight and metallic, aluminum apparently. (Picture below) However, I’m not sure why it’s important.

3. Sights: They are not adjustable. (picture below) Note that the previous owner had put some ‘white’ on the sights that is clearly not original and scratches right off.

4. Serial number: One of the new pictures shows the serial number better. I hope it’s not a forum ‘foul’ to post the serial number, but in case you cannot read it in the picture it is A8217XX.

5. Grif684: Thanks for calling it a ‘fine pistol’ and I included another picture of the right side to show the ‘rest of it.’

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	S&W_458_with_US_Stamp_Sights.JPG (194.3 KB, 241 views)
	S&W_458_with_US_Stamp_Right.JPG (189.3 KB, 313 views)

Looks like 39 grips modified to fit, but whoever did it did a great job.
I agree, this one is interesting, and I would get a letter post haste.

Thanks for the additional information. It definitely deserves a letter. I know of a couple of others in the SN range that are U.S. marked but in a slightly different location.

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Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

About the backstrap, in your first pics it appeared to be "smooth", without the serrations, which would be very rare, but I see it does have them. The grips are altered model 39 wood, I have seen this done before, and they do look good, nice job by whoever did it, i'd like to think it was the agent who carried it, probably had a preference for wood, and like I said it's a fine pistol, very cool with the sticker and the stamping, definately worth a letter from Mr. Jinks. A great find, cograts.....

I hate to ruin everyone's theory, but I have encountered a set of Model 59 S&W marked grips.

The story starts 3 months ago when I took delivery of my Model 539, the one pictured in my avatar. I went to the nearby gun range/store to shoot it and spotted a set of fresh S&W wood grips.

Thinking I'd found a great deal, I pestered the counter jockey for a look....only to find out they were Model 59 grips. I wish I took photos so I could show you all what I mean in greater detail, but long story short there's no practical way you can modify one to fit the other. I thought about buying the grips anyway but the curvature of the 39 series grips is just too large , and the top screw hole for the 59 grips doesn't match the 39 and vice versa.

In any respect, the OP has a fascinating pistol. A letter is definitely in order, and this thread serves as a good way to hunt down an FBI model if anyone's on the prowl for them.

Folks, consider me convinced to get the factory letter; I'll put the request for it in the mail, tomorrow. (Note: Mailing paper forms and sending checks.... I haven't done that since this 459 was still new!)

When I get the reply back, I'll certainly share the results. Any idea how long it takes to get a factory letter back?

BTW, I'm also going to ask the seller to see if he still has any paperwork from the purchase. It's a long shot since it was 20 years ago, but why not ask, eh? If I get anything out of the inquiry, I'll update you all.

This could very well be a former U.S. Customs pistol. In early 1981, two U.S. Customs Patrol Officers were invovled in a armed encounter with two drug smugglers, armed with Browning Hi-Power pistols. They succeeded in winning the fight, even though they were only carrying thier issued S&W Model 66 revolvers, but were both wounded.

Then newly appointed Commissioner of Customs William Von Raab, visited the two wounded officers in the hospital. Mr. Von Raab asked them what equipment they needed, and both officers told him that U.S. Customs needed high capacity semi-auto pistols to meet the threat.

Mr. Von Raab, turned to an aid and told him to order semi-auto pistols to be delivered to the field immediately. Within a week, S&W Models 59, 39, 459, 659, 639, delivered to the field. This pistol may be one of those.

As for it being an FBI model, I have my doubts. The FBI issued model 659's to thier SWAT Team members at that time. Agents Jerry Dove and Ben Grogan were SWAT team members and were the two agents who were killed in the infamous 1986 FBI shoot out with armed bank robbers Platt and Maddox.

Secondly, if this was reported to be sold to the Treasury Department, then the FBI would not have been issued them, as they were part of the Department of Justice during that time.

It will be interesting to see the history of this pistol for sure!

Silversmok3, I would love to see a factory set of wood grips for the 59, 459 models if you can track those down again, but 39 grips do, in fact, mount relatively easy on the 59's, here is one of my range pistols, a model 59, fitted with 39 wood grips. It only requires a small relief on the right grip panel for the mag release to clear when pushed, and a relief notch to clear the sideplate of the 59, which is on the opposite side of the pistol from the model 39. The grip screw locations are exactly the same. I should note that my 59 is equipped with the optional S&W accessory curved backstrap, which doesn't require any other alteration to the stock 39 grips, since they follow the curve of the backstrap close enough for my taste. If you look at the pics of the OP's left grip, you can clearly see the original sideplate relief for the model 39 at the top right, just forward of the hammer pin.

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Good info, but is it not true that the agents in the 1986 shoot out carried Model 459s at the time?

In reference to your post about the Treasury connection, is it possible that Von Rabb's staff acquired their 459s via transfers from the FBIs stock?

When acquiring products for government use, often an agency fulfills the request using existing resources- this is done typically to avoid a Fraud, Waste, and Abuse complaint and also is signifigantly faster then soliciting bids, finding contractors, approving forms, etc.

Given the alacrity with which Von Rabb wanted high capacity duty pistols for his agents, its probable his staff called up the FBI's property section and requested some spares be transferred ASAP. This ought to be an interesting factory letter, if nothing else.

FWIW, about the time of the 1986 shoot out at the sunland mall, we did an operation with the local FBI swat team (from Miami) and they carried M59, M459s with the black plastic grips. They were issued to them.

Special Agents Jerry Dove and Ben Grogan were both members of the F.B.I. Miami SWAT teams, and they were issued and were carrying S&W Model 659's. Jerry Dove was the agent that shot Maddox in the chest cavity, but the round did not do it's job immediately. In fact Jerry Dove took a round in his 659 between the slide and the frame, making it inoperable.

The other Agents were issued S&W 586, and model 36 revolvers.

The pistols that were obtained upon the orders of Commissioner Von Raab were all new pistols direct from the S&W factory. There were no agency transfers from the FBI.

The other agent

Ok folks, I promised to update the forum when the factory letter came in, and it just showed up today. I’m happy to have it, but it’s not what I expected. Here is the meat of what Mr. Jinks says:

“Your handgun…was shipped from our factory on September 24, 1984, and delivered to Sloan’s Sporting Goods Co., Ridgefield, CT. The records show that that this pistol was shipped with a 4inch barrel, ambidextrous safety, blue finish, and black nylon grips.”

I’m surprised on two levels. First, because of the "U.S." stamp, I had expected a US government sale. Any idea how it could of made it from Sloan Sporting Goods into a government armory?

Second, it says it was shipped with an ambidextrous safety, and this one definitely doesn’t have one. So, can you change a 459 from ambidextrous back to left-side only, and if so… why would you?

Looking forward to any thoughts/insights…

Well, it's an interesting letter, but not in the direction we were expecting! Unless it was acquired per post #18 above, it is hard to imagine how it made it into the Federal system. It seems to be a lot of trouble to fake the stamp and sticker also. Interested to read what others think.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Ask Roy to re-check the invoice on your s/n, just to be sure. It would be easy to miss one of the numbers in the A-800XXX range where these types of govt. purchase 9's were mfd.

David

A conversion to a government asset, a la' asset forfeiture?

Any thoughts as to the lack of the ambidextrous safety that was mentioned in the letter?

I believe this is an easy parts swap, and as David mentioned Roy may have inadvertently looked up the wrong gun.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Well, I did confirm that the serial number on the letter is the same that on the pistol. I guess I'll contact Mr. Jinks and ask him to double check the number in the records.