I picked up a nice original M59 today, 'no' dash as they say. IMO it's at least in 90%+ condition. It has the rear sight I normally see on the M39, no wings. I'm wondering if it has value beyond being a shooter? I do not think the magazine is original but I do not know for sure. Can someone tell what should be on the bottom of an original mag?

Original mags have the S&W logo, at least all mine do.

The 59 had a fairly long run from early 70's to early 80's and went through several small manufacturing changes along the way but IIRC never had a dash revision or winged rear site, the next iteration was the 459.
Post the serial and some pics if you get a chance

Would love to see some pics of your new 59.

As soon as I figure out how to post a photo, of course I have to take a couple first.

The serial # A4069XX.

Your model 59 probably dates to 1977. As noted above, they did have a long run and therefore they are definitely not rare. However, I'm not seeing them all that often in the used cases anymore. I would think the value for one in 90% condition with original magaznes would be at least $450 and in higher condition with box, docs tools etc up to $600 and probably higher if ANIB.

However, the model 59 must also be valued for its history as being America's first DA, high capacity, 9mm. When it came out in the early 70s it wasn't just another 9 mm and therefore the moniker, "Wondernine" applied to the Md 59 and later others.

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I'm gonna grow fins.

I agree that it has a rich history and is historically significant for certain. But the two S&W pistols it would MOST be compared to are the 39-2 (from the same era, it's the single stack upon which the double stack 59 was developed) and the 5906, which is the all-steel evolution of the Model 59.

Model 59's tend to be somewhat lower priced or less desired. The 59 was a high-cap pistol... before designers started paying extremely close attention to making a double-stack ergonomically friendly and useable for folks with all hand sizes.

In my opinion, it has fantastic value as a shooter but in less than mint condition and without original box and tools, it doesn't have a lofty future as a high-buck collectible.

The magazine, if original, should be 14rds and have an old school steel floorplate with the S&W logo on the bottom with the "lazy ampersand." And modern 5906 15-rd magazines with the plastic floor plate will fit and work perfectly in your classic Model 59.

OK, Thanks. I have this M59 and a M5904, they feel a bit differently in my hand but look the same.
I'm having the Magazine Safety removed from the 5904. I might do the same with the M59 but it looks to be a bit more work. Is the rear sight easily removed on the M59 or not.
These are the first S&W Autos I've owned since the mid-70s.

Removing the magazine disconnect safety on the 59 and the 5904 are the same process and IMO, either is a dealbreaker. If my rear fixed sight shoots to point of aim, NO WAY am I going to remove it. However, it does sound as if the old school rear sight on the 59 may indeed be easier to remove. I don't have any inclination to touch either of my 39-2 pistols in the same way.

As -huge- fans of these pistols as most of us here are, many of us won't agree that the 59 and 5904 look the same. But again, we are definitely the lunatic fringe of the S&W hobbyists. Some folks in these parts simply do not miss a single detail and the differences between the 59 and the 5904 are almost too many to list.

Love to see a pic myself. Whenever a Model 39 or 59 is mentioned I get a twinge of regret as the 59 was the second purchase of a S&W I made back around 78. Price new for mine back then was around $160 so if they now go for $450 or more I would say well worth it for all metal double stack pistol.

You have a 90%+ Md 59 and you want to modify it? My advice would be to sell your 90% and buy a 75% and do whatever you want with it. They don't make them anymore and there are a lot of other guns that would probably meet your needs.

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I'm gonna grow fins.

I own a M39.

At one time, I removed the mag safety for tactical reasons... it didn't affect the trigger pull like the Browning HiPower reportedly does. After an article about an officer about to be overpowered by multiple assailants... using the mag safety to partially drop the magazine & therefore staying alive to tell the tale (believe it was Ayoob refering to the ISP). I replaced the parts to restore my mag safety.

A good thing to remember is no one is Superman; so Terminator that they can not be disabled by a sneak attack or multiple assailants. I especially recall my TO pointing out that even if you could "take" a given opponent in a fair fight, you can never have a "fair fight" because you must protect your holstered firearm. Security holsters only help so much... especially in the age where prison gangs teach disarm techniques.

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NRA LIFE
Reserve Officer 9yrs

Yes it was. I knew 4 of our people who were saved by the mag disconnect. 3 were sworn and 1 was a dispatcher who worked as a part time cop for a local agency. In the 32 years that we issued and carried the 39/459/5904 S&Ws I never heard one report of any of our people being harmed because of the mag disconnect. However we had several who were saved because of it, 4 that I knew personally.
This 459 is one of those guns. I bought it from the dispatcher and I carried it for several years. He was jumped by 2 prison escapees from OK who took it from him. He carried it with the safety/decocker engaged. While he was laying on the ground they tried numerous times to shoot him with his own gun. When it wouldn't go off they racked the slide and tried again. They tried that 2 or 3 times. Then they found the mag release button and thinking it was a safety they punched the button dropping the mag. When the gun still wouldn't fire they fiddled with it a few more times, dropped it and ran. When the 459 was recovered the safety/decocker was in the up/fire mode. Apparently after they dropped the mag and it still wouldn't fire they found the safety/decocker and flipped it up to the fire mode. When the 459 still wouldn't fire they tossed it and took off running. Had they found the safety/decocker before dropping the mag the outcome would have been very tragic.

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183rd FBINA