Found these pics when I was going through some old stuff. This was a period when I had been transferred from being a United States Customs Inspector to a United States Customs Special Agent. Before I had officially completed Special Agent training, they issued us a generic "Customs Officer" badge, rather than the Inspector or Special Agent badge.

But the reason for my post is the 669. I hated that gun. Felt like holding a 2" x 4" in my hand. Of course, they had just taken away the CS-1's from us, and many of us truly liked that gun. I went for the next ten years or so alternating between carrying my model 66 "F-comp" and my 1086. (At the time, you could qualify with your personally owned weapon.) Then we went Glock crazy. Then we went Sig crazy (that's when I retired!) I was a firearms instructor the entire time. Still carry the "F-comp."

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The Model 469/669 had few shortcomings, relatively small sights being the biggest issue, trigger actions that ranged from good to gritty, and the grip being another issue. The grip of the 469/669 is considered to be better than that of the Models 59/459/559/659, but the plastic stocks tended to be a little slippery. Even the one-piece Delrin stocks on the 3rd gen pistols tend to be a little slick.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Like you I hated the 2X4 grip of the 469..... but that was all there was in the mid-80s...... traded mine as soon as I handled a 6906.

Then traded that 6906 with square trigger guard for the first round trigger guard gun in the LGS.

While I like the 4" 686 a lot ..... for concealed carry I prefer my 3" 66 k-frame

I had to have a 469 as soon as they came out. Just didn't ever warm up to it, grip, sights, I don't remember. A couple of years ago I found one in the box and bought it.

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

I had a 469 when they were being sold new, & hated it. Sold it after a month. Last year my work took one in, & after putting proper hammers in my 3913,& 4516, I realized I could save this 469 for $300. It now has a proper hammer, so the first round is easily SA, which makes it a totally different gun from the one I owned decades ago. GARY.

Personally, I like my 469. I don't consider the grip "2x4" because pretty much every double stack 9mm feels about the same. The sights certainly need improvement. The double action takes some getting used to through training, as does the transition from DA to SA. But remember, this was the 1980s. DA/SA double stack 9s were the rage.

The CS-1's we had were 3" guns, but very heavy. No comparison to my 3" 66 F-Comp.

I agree with you to a point, but I thought the 669 just exaggerated the feeling a little bit. But it also could have been me, since I didn't like the gun overall anyway!

I bought my 469 new and it is my current carry gun. I have been on the look-out for a third gen stainless model mostly for the improved trigger. I guess I’m cool with the 2x4 grip. There are certainly some newer pistols that I have not tried that are better, but I am used to the 469 with its DA/SA. Add stainless and a better trigger and leave everything else the same, that would be alright with me.

I had a 669 for a while. Hated it. It took two men and a government mule to pull the trigger, which felt, and sounded, like it had a bucket of gravel in it.

I traded into a Model 469 and a bunch of 9mm ammo last year (I think). I collected some extra magazines and adapters and carried it for a while. I removed the magazine safety and found a "one size fits most" holster that worked well. I recently gave it to my grandson since he was having problems finding a decent holster for his Makarov 9X18mm. He's pleased, and that pleases me.

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

One of the biggest issues of the S&W line of metal receiver pistols was the wide variation in the quality of the trigger pull. MIM fire control parts are very uniform and smooth, so the late production 3rd gen pistols usually have really smooth double action pulls and crisp single action pulls. The pre-MIM pistols ranged from very nice (fresh cutters on the milling machines) to atrocious (worn/chipped cutters in need of or even beyond needing replacement).

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I bought a 669 shortly after they came out. The right ambi-safety lever was attached by a Philips screw affair. Cheesy. Sights were terrible. Pebble grips were awful -- I covered them with a Hogue rubber slip-on grip cover. Least accurate 9MM I ever owned. Very reliable, though. I carried it for a while -- never completely comfortable with it. It got stolen and I replaced it with a 3913LS. I still like that one.

I also bought a 669 when they first came out. I found it to be more accurate than my slightly older 659. It served me well for many years.

I still have it although I usually carry plastic now. My 669 is definitely a shooter as it's beat to heck but it still works well.

Yeah the grip never felt the greatest but I think that is just a comfort thing and has no effect on accuracy or performance. It's not like there is much recoil to deal with. The grip angle is fine. They were great guns for their day and are still very capable.

I wouldn't go out of my way to get another one but if I found a steal on a nice fresher looking one with less mileage wear I'd be interested.