Looking at a 459 with lanyard loop at base of grip and double sided safety and adjustable sights. Have also seen 459s with no lanyard loop at base and several with single sided safety.


Cant seem to find much info on 459 and its variations or current value. GB had a lettered US marked gun go for $400 and another apparently similar US marked lettered gun go $1300 and a couple of hangers on relisted multiple times at $499 and $595 with no apparent interest.

Gunjoker prices are all over the map, some are realistic, some auctions go to high prices either by people who don't know what they are buying or are actually shill bids, and some have a starting bid based on pure fantasy that someone will want it that badly.

The second generation 9mm pistols went through quite a bit of change during their production run. Single sided safety and round trigger guard are hallmarks of early production versions. Later production versions introduced the ugly and bulky ambidextrous safety and a hooked trigger guard, some of the later pistols also have a much smaller extractor. The lanyard loop was made as a part of the main spring housing and was deleted in later production pistols.

Realistic prices will vary depending upon condition of the piece, which finish it has and whether or not it has the adjustable rear sight. In normal times, a Model 459 in excellent condition, one magazine, no box or papers, blued finish, fixed sights, would fetch $350, add about $50 for adjustable rear sight (although lots of people did not like them), add about $70 for factory nickel plated finish. These days, due to panic buying, baseline values have increased dramatically and you are not likely to find any of them with a price tag less than $500.

__________________
VCDL, GOA, NRA

So within the 459 model, we have the following variations in 4 years 1984-88:

1. With or Without Lanyard Loop
2. Single or Double Sided Safety
3. Curved or D-shape Trigger Guard
4. Dull or Gloss Finish or maybe Nickle
5. Thin or Thick extractor
and of course
6. Fixed or Adjustable Sights

Look on YouTube
An enthusiast has a comparison between the fbi 459 and civil version.
FBI used one in Miami shootout

Pretty much it, lots of variations in a very short period of time.

__________________
VCDL, GOA, NRA

OK - are any of these (other than the obvious FBI pistols) more desirable than others.

With the 459, factory nickel finish is more desirable. Of all the double stack, full size x59 pistols, the carbon steel receiver Model 559 was produced in the least quantities and nickel plated 559's are the rarest.

__________________
VCDL, GOA, NRA

So as far as I can see, there is very little interest in the second generation pistols like the 459 compared to the early 39 and 39-2 and the third generation pistols - the obvious exception being something with a rare pedigree like the FBI guns. Reason???

In my case I'd say aesthetics.

The adjustable sights on most of the 2nd Generation pistols are way too big for the gun.

It just doesn't look right to me. And probably unnecessary.

1st Generation 39's are cool, and the wood grips add to that.The 3913 and 3914 look sleek .
The 2nd generation pistols just look too busy.

JMHO YMMV

__________________
BTDT, Got The T-Shirt

Here's a 459 with a round trigger guard, gloss black in near perfect condition. I bought a big collection from a family for resale but couldn't sell this one because it was so nice.

Attached Images

	459 SW Side.jpg (89.3 KB, 31 views)
	459 sw.jpg (62.6 KB, 17 views)

I own or have owned many 1-2-3rd Gens and I have strong, experience based opinions. They are only opinions, but...

The 1st Gen pistols required more human interaction and human alteration to fit parts. Decockers tend to move more smoothly, double and single action trigger pulls are more slick and predictable and the slide to frame fit feels more “right.”

The 3rd Gen pistols tend to have more precise parts that are built closer to tolerances as they were made. The 3rd Gens took very little intervention to make all the parts work in harmony because the bits are more precise, especially and with no argument the MIM hammer and trigger equipped later 3rd Gens.

In any race, especially a race with only three entrants, one must finish last. With zero doubt, last place are the 2nd Gens. Across the board, it has been my experience that of the 1-2-3rd Gens generally, the 2nd Gens have the worst triggers in both modes, the least smooth slide to frame fit, the clunkiest decockers that are the antithesis of slick, the least attention to detail when it comes to fit and finish and their earlier version of stainless is somewhat less attractive than the brushed and bead-blasted stainless of the 3rd Gens.

Most of the 2nd Gens are the least produced... but also the least desirable in most aspects except scarcity.

Each example has the potential to be all it’s own, but by and large, I just expect a 2nd Gen S&W 9mm pistol to have a lousy SA trigger feel and a completely offensive, awful DA trigger feel.

These are my opinions.

This is my 459 that I carried on duty in the mid-1980s. At that time my dept was issuing the 439. Those of us on SWAT were allowed to carry instead a personally owned 459. This one was slicked up by our range guys. Got a bunch of rounds thru this one and it still shoots great.
The arched backstrap makes a world of difference if it will fit your hand.

Attached Images

Capture.JPG (134.1 KB, 27 views)

__________________
183rd FBINA

“Sevens” was pretty much right on explaining it all, “stansdds” also added great information.

From my experience I have to agree that the 2nd Gen triggers have a bit to be desired. They definitely did not get the attention the 1st Gen needed/got, and don’t have the improved manufacturing of the 3rd Gens. The 2nd Gen triggers can be cleaned up and improved though. Fit and finish of them are really nice but not the same as the 1rst and 3rd Gens. (I’m not comparing the “blackened” 3rd Gens to the 1rst or 2nd one’s blueing.)

I have my 2nd Gens, and really like them because they represent the S&W semi-auto lineage and I was able to acquire them cheap.

What would a S&W semi-auto collection be without the 2nd Gens?

Oh and again I personally like those “huge, bizarre and ugly adjustable rear sights on the 2nd and 3rd Gens but not a big fan of the “hooked” trigger guards.

Jim

Attached Images

E26568A7-5D3E-4D10-BEAA-7327D203FD44.jpg (66.8 KB, 20 views)