I just made a purchase of a 9 mm Semi-Auto through Gun Broker. The S&W pistol is marked Mode 459, the serial number on the pistol and the box it came is TBY34XX. The box is marked for Model 4590. Referring to page 382 in the S&W Standard Catalog for Product Code 104010, indicates the pistol is a Model 5903. I cannot find any reference to Mod 4590 in the S&W catalog. Does anyone have additional information on the production of this particular model.

There was some discussion last week about a similar pistol that was sold on GB.

Recent Auction of a Model 459


http://www.gunbroker.com/item/631208365

Welcome to the par-teh!

You're among the blessed "few."

I've a 4690, 6590, 6591, 6592 and 6690 (2 ea.).

According to the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, No. 4 (SCSW4), Page 387, "Our understanding of these models is incomplete" and continues with naming 10 RSR (S&W firearms distributor) models that were apparently produced at the behest of RSR but for reasons that, for now, seem lost in the fog of time.

Although the reasons subjectively provided are apparently as numerous as, ahem, the rear ends (including this one) providing such, the 10 models have features that span two generations, e.g.: a 459 frame with 5904 slide or guts or mix and match.

As S&W transitioned to its third-generation semi-automatics - and coincidentally also expanding the number of model lines - it also changed the nomenclatura (I just love that word; most say "nomenclature") so that a 459 became a 5904; a 469 became a 6904 and etc.

Thus the reason you've got a product code that's, well, a little confused.

The number of exact guns produced under the circumstances as yours (and mine) are unclear (which really isn't that unusual for S&W) but, clearly, it's unlikely there were many.

You've got a keeper and, as previously noted, welcome to the club.

Later.

Had I known what it was when I was bidding on that pistol I might have gone a lot higher. But anyway since then I did "win" a nice 5904. I pick it up tomorrow.

Thanks for the prompt replies, it looks like this is a tale with a few more chapters.