Pistols for Sale : S&W Model 59 no dash 9mm. Used Guns.

Local sale for $400. Is it a good deal or not ? I have never owned one and all the many many S&w I’ve owned have all been revolvers , always liked the autos just idk went with 1911s . Shut a 1066 and a nickel 59 in 8th grade was cool then. Thoughts or should I just look for a 5906, 3913, etc instead ?
Thanks Jim

Jim...all depends on what you want it for. The 59s aren't particularly suited for concealed carry. Maybe open carry. The $400 price seems fair, at least for here in the Pacific Northwest.

If I were shopping for a 9mm, full-size Smith pistol I'd be looking at a 5906. All stainless; will cycle beer cans if you can squeeze them in; muy fuerte, and handsome. If you want a carry size of the same ilk, the 3913 is fine, if you like more bullets (and a wee bit fatter) go for the 6906.

If it's striker-fired plastic you want....Shields in various flavors are a great value and dependable; M&P's the same. (I carry either a CS9, .45 Shield, or Beretta PX4compact....plus there's a Smith 642 J-frame available.)

Your first step needs to be: answer the question, what do I want it for?

More parts and still some factory support for the 59xx pistols, less so for the older 1st and 2nd generation pistols. The 59 is usually reliable, accuracy was always a big variable, some were accurate, some were not. $400 would be a good price, especially if that includes a spare, factory magazine (not a ProMag junk magazine), and original box. If it is just the pistol and one factory magazine, $400 is the most I would consider paying.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Judging by the not-too-good pic in the ad, I think $400 is about all the money if it functions and has no major problems. Patience and shopping should net you a nicer 3rd gen example for the same money.

Even in a hot gun market, that gun is not the hot ticket, however much you and I may appreciate the old school panache.

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Just Say No - To Social Media

If I remember correctly, the 59 was the first of the "Super Nines" made by a US concern, as at that time Browning was making the HP in Europe was was still part of FN.

My 59 dates from the early days and is accurate enough at up to 20 feet or so using "minute of man" targets, and partners nicely with a slightly earlier 39. Dave_n

I’m curious. What are the advantages of Gen 3 pistols over Gen 2? I get the big jump in going from Gen 1 to Gen 2, but what’s the benefit of the next factory revision?

Froggie

They did away with the half-cock on the hammer safety which makes the trigger pull smoother. They changed how some of the parts went together, most notably the safety selector. Otherwise its pretty much the same gun as the third gens. Grips are panel instead of wrap-around which I like more than the third gen grips. Essentially the Model 59 and the Model 39 are the grand-daddy's of all subsequent generations of S&W automatics.

$400, not a bad price. Did they offer two mags?

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

We called them "wonder nines", the first 9mm pistol to have the combination of a double stack, high capacity magazine with a hammer dropping safety and a double action first shot.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I'll agree that it depends on what YOU are looking for. This would be a good buy if:

--you love nostalgia
--you want it for a range toy

This is not a fantastic buy at $400 if:
--you wish to carry it open or concealed
--you wish to use it for any form of defense
--you want to see it grow in value and profit from selling it later

I can explain any point if you wish, just ask. The 59 was made in tremendous volume. The finish isn't particularly durable. Early ones may very well choke on any ammo that isn't simple FMJ. Alloy frame means that it is durable "enough" but if you plan to shoot 25,000 rounds through it, a 5906 would murder a 59 in longevity.

If you want a fun and interesting gun that is enjoyable to shoot with simple FMJ ammo at the range, the Model 59 has a beautifully rich history and old-school look. It's dripping with heritage.

Mostly, the difference is in ergonomics. The gripping area under the trigger guard allows for a slightly higher hold and you get a better and more comfortable place for your fingers. The one-piece wrap-around grip makes the pistol slimmer and this is a big upgrade for the double-stack pistols.

The sights also got better. If you have the big gangly adjustable rear sight, it didn't change a lot but the front is dovetailed and drift adjustable and swappable. If you have the rear fixed sight, the Novak lo-mount was a tremendous upgrade and it is also replaceable with night sights. No snag and most will agree that it's a lot better looking too.

The finish is different, not a bright stainless like 2nd Gens but a bead blasted matte stainless. You can argue the utility of this, but it certainly is different.

The magazines evolved a bit, the double stack 9mm mags gained a larger, ergo-friendly plastic base plate and gained one round capacity. The single stack 9mm mags did exactly that also, but it isn't specifically defined WHEN they each gained a round.

Later 3rd Gen pistols moved to a MIM hammer and trigger, and although it is often like asking "Ford or Chevy?" in a gun forum, real S&W pistol enthusiasts know, or eventually learn, to forget the argumentative nonsense associated with the scary MIM label. MIM is like a lot of things... done well, it's fantastic. Done lousy and it's junk. S&W MIM is exceptional and in the case of 3rd Gen pistols, the MIM hammer and trigger almost always results in a smoother trigger pull in DA and a cleaner pull in SA, and a better trigger all around.

We can debate it, but I own eight 1st Gens, eight 2nd Gens and thirteen 3rd Gens and 2nd Gen triggers are the WORST across the board. Worst DA trigger and it isn't close, and the single action is also the worst of the three Generations. Certainly, exceptions exist. By and large, the 2nd Gen triggers are worst.

There is a lot of debate in this, so it is with some trepidation that I make bold statements as I do, but I can only tell you that I do it with hands-on experience, enthusiasm and genuine love for ALL THREE generations of these pistols. Please read that again -- I have a lot of love for the 2nd Gens and they bring interesting angles to the discussion, but it doesn't change the realities of their guts and how smooth their guts are.

1st Gen pistols benefited from old school real craftsmen that had to put them together and make them great. 3rd Gen pistols benefited greatly from advanced parts manufacturing that made a huge difference in the tolerance of all the interacting parts. And the 2nd Gens were stuck in the middle... new upgrades such as the firing pin lock and high volume production, the fitment and smoothness is lacking in the 2nd Gens and this is reflected both in their popularity and their market prices.

Hello Sevens, agree with your statement, other than one point.
The 59 makes a satisfactory house/truck gun. In my opinion.
And of course, my opinion is correct? Wink. Mike

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

It’s threads like this that make me wish I could sit down with a bunch of you around a table and talk about topics like this face to face over cups of coffee or??

Each point answered brings up yet another. For instance would Gen 3 MIM parts be “drop-in” to a Gen 2? Could tuning and fitting bring an original Gen 2 trigger assembly up to Gen 1 feel?

I’ve been gathering and absorbing S&W revolver info for well over 30 years now, but you guys make me feel like a little babe in the (very dark) woods when talking about these auto nines!

Froggie

Sitting around and chewing the fat WOULD be fantastic, but we have the next best thing here in these pages. And you have likely already noticed, but the “regulars” all bring different strengths and layers of experience with them.

You can’t really open up a bad discussion. The folks who might be sick of a subject can (and should) simply pass it by. Otherwise, ask those questions and lots of folks will chip in.
Some of the most fun that we have is when one of us brings in our experience and also picks up fantastic knowledge or experience from others.

About the only thing that really drags down the forum is when a new guy opens a whole new subject when there is plenty of room and gathered minds already discussing it. What I mean to say is, it’s frustrating when a guys says “should I buy a 59?” and 20 replies hash it out beautifully and then the same guy opens an entirely new topic that says “I bought that 59, now how do I ______?” and then another one that says “that 59 I bought, when was it made!” and another topic that says “what ammo for my new 59?” and a 5th topic for “field strip a 59?!”

It’s like, c’mon man, you have everyone gathered here to discuss your 59. Let’s do that here so this continues to be the Semiauto Forum and not the “JoeBob’s 59 forum.”

Agreed except quite simply that the 1st Gens have no firing pin lock, they are not drop safe. For sure, a 59 is better than no gun, but I could list a thousand guns better suited to defense work than an old 59.

That’s my opinion.

Hey Sevens, JoeBob is my girlfriends name?

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Well I’m not new to the forum, also not “that guy” I’ve been working on my own guns and other peoples fir over 30 years , I can handle myself.
I just never owned one and this is the place to ask questions like like this from like minded people I hope not stuck up no it all snobs like other sites that ask them a different gun question and there lost and excuses blah blah blah out their mouths . I am a blunt person I say what I want if People don’t like that tuff **** .
Sorry fir rant , cabin fever !! Anyways thanks guys for the comments , I think I’ll go with a newer slimmer more carry able gun like a 3913 or the 6906 mentioned above or one of those compact tsw’s I think their called.
Had to sell almost my Smith revolvers due to heart attack can’t work so thought I’d try a different auto I never owned. Vs just 1911s and baby eagles .
Thanks Jim

I believe you, and that would be a great discussion in the “Lounge” area of the site!

I have seen that gun here in the DFW area. It is not in bad condition and only has one magazine. I have a nickel 39-2 and thought the 59 would be a nice match....it just didn’t scream take me home when that $400 could go to something I just had to have .....now maybe a 59 nickel might get me to bite but not at 650..

I have an old M59 in comparable shape that was my first S&W semi-auto, purchased about 4 years ago at auction - for $210 all-in.

I like it for carrying in a belt holster along with my Camp9 since they share mags.

As much as I like it for range or even open carry, I wouldn't buy one at nearly twice what I paid for it. There are other newer versions that use the same mags and have better features for that price.

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

Agreed my friends dad had a 59 nickel I shot it in 8th grade! It was nice from what I remember yours is nice! Nickel does those guns more justice IMO like my 19-3 2.5” nickel I had to sell

Yes.

As a matter of fact, simply substituting a 3rd gen MIM hammer for the 2nd gen, half-cock hammer and then swapping out the metal mainspring cup for the newer plastic cup will make a crunchy 2nd gen trigger feel very much like a slick 3rd gen TSW trigger.

Changing the wide 2nd gen trigger for the narrower 3rd gen trigger will further enhance the transformation.

That depends on how smooth the 1st gen trigger is.


2nd gen actions can be smoothed, but some shooters will always claim that they can detect the resistance from the movement of the firing pin safety parts.

John