LGS has a 459 in the case priced at $399. Decent shape, no box or papers and I forget how many mags (two at most, probably one).

Wondering if this is a jump on it quick, a fair price, or too much.

I kinda interested, as I'm trying to "collect" as many of the guns in the Army shoot-offs in 80, 83 and 84 as I can afford (H&K P7, Walther P88 and Steyr GB out of my price range) but I'm making progress: Beretta, Colt, FN HP, Sig 226 so far. Looking for Star 28 and the aforementioned S&W.

(Gunbroken has one from CDI for $325 but to me it'll be $410; and there are a couple that have a couple of days to run yet.)

thanks in advance.

You have an interesting goal for your collection. If the 459 is not a much carried police gun, then the price seems fair. The reimports marked with the importers name fall into just shooters in my opinion. You might find a better deal from a private party.

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

I say the price is fair and the pistol itself is not in high demand -- even in our little world where 1-2-3rd Gens are our favorite handguns, the 459 is well down the list in popularity.

I would ask the shop if they would accept your off of the $399 but they eat the tax.

I will also say that I would choose a 459 over a 59 myself... unless the 459 had adjustable rear sight. That would make me walk away.

I had a 59 and sold it (I know D U M....but I was suffering a severe case of Sig-ness). Matter of fact it's in the same case as the 459. (And I will negotiate the price...I'm a pretty good customer.)

Wondering what you have against the adjustable rear sight? I would have thought it an improvement over the fixed variety. Shows I gots lots to learn.

Thanks for the response.

Personally,I like the Model 59....I have 3.

I like hammers for single action target hole punching and adjustable sights.

My favorite is a 39-2 and makes almost every range visit.

The 559 is the hardest to find and rare now in NIB condition but it's 40oz empty.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

39, 39-2 and 59 had a windage adjustable rear sight that I like a lot. The 2nd Gen fixed rear sight is perfectly fine and the 3rd Gen Novak fixed rear and factory night sight fixed rear are fantastic.

However, the 2-3rd Gen adjustable rear sight is simply hideous in appearance. It has protective wings that would look fine on an armored personnel carrier but look obnoxious on an otherwise handsome pistol. Besides the awful appearance... I still cannot understand -why- anyone believed this was necessary-- cops all over the nation carried S&W's adjustable sight revolvers for decades and decades of hard service in harsh environments and those rear sights basically NEVER fail, so I am at a loss for what needed "protection" in the 2-3rd Gen adjustable rear sight.

Just plain awful looking. It actually looks like they couldn't possibly have made it look worse if they wanted to.

I actually like the winged sight adjustment look. To each his own...

As to the OP's question..unless it is LNIB I would pass. They are nothing special. The 59 is a classic and the 5904 is a much nicer pistol. Unlike the wood grips on the 439 the 459 has the black plastic. The sight is a big deal to me. If it has the adjustable "winged sight" you are good to go. But they made many with that 2nd Gen. small metal sight before moving to the more conventional Novak 2 dot rear sight. I find these very hard to pick up the target with. These really have very little collector value. If you want one to fill a collection niche as you say then look for a really nice one with the box and accessories. If 's just to shooter pick up a 5904/5906 instead... Of course JMO!.

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

I didnt like the winged sight much at first but after getting used to it and using it for years Im OK with it now.
Jim