Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Semi-Automatic Pistols > Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols
o

Notices

Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols Other Smith & Wesson Semi-Automatic Pistols from the 1950's to Present


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-12-2022, 08:32 PM
walter o walter o is offline
Member
459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59  
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Hammond in U.S.A.
Posts: 2,044
Likes: 1,303
Liked 3,861 Times in 927 Posts
Default 459 or 59

what are the differences between the guns ? My 459 does not have a squared trigger guard or an adjustable rear sight ,S/N A811189
believe shipped 1983, Factory ,nickle
__________________
age is just a number
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-12-2022, 09:30 PM
Sevens Sevens is offline
Member
459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59  
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Ohio
Posts: 7,822
Likes: 9,389
Liked 14,736 Times in 5,022 Posts
Default

The 459 came with either a fixed rear sight or a protected fully adjustable rear sight where the 59 only had a windage adjustable rear sight.

The 459 had an ambidextrous right side decock lever, although some early ones perhaps did not. The 59 never had that option.

Perhaps the biggest difference between the 59 and 459 is that the 459 has a firing pin lock that makes it drop safe. Most will find that the trigger feel, smoothness and weight is better on the 59.

Finally, the 59 was made for a longer run and in more volume than the 459. The 59 was offered from 1970-1983. The 459 ran from 1983 to roughly 1988.
Reply With Quote
The Following 5 Users Like Post:
  #3  
Old 07-12-2022, 10:41 PM
walter o walter o is offline
Member
459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59  
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Hammond in U.S.A.
Posts: 2,044
Likes: 1,303
Liked 3,861 Times in 927 Posts
Default

mine has the left side decocker/safetylwith the low serial this must be a 1st year production
thank you for the information
__________________
age is just a number
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-13-2022, 04:23 AM
Engine49guy's Avatar
Engine49guy Engine49guy is offline
Member
459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59  
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Florida
Posts: 7,769
Likes: 2,467
Liked 8,294 Times in 2,907 Posts
Default

There are a couple different variations of 459,
Early guns had round trigger guards, later ones had the squared style, there was a brief change to a short fat extractor supposedly to meet some govt contract that came and went without a revision change IIRC,
Most 459's have that huge adjustable rear site but IIRC they made some fixed rear site versions set in a dovetail.
The 3rd gen 9mm's is where you get the big design improvements but you also get the ugly plastic delrin grips.

Last edited by Engine49guy; 07-13-2022 at 04:24 AM.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #5  
Old 07-13-2022, 05:05 AM
murphydog's Avatar
murphydog murphydog is offline
Moderator
459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59  
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 26,780
Likes: 934
Liked 18,872 Times in 9,240 Posts
Default

"The 3rd gen 9mm's is where you get the big design improvements but you also get the ugly plastic Delrin grips."

The model 59 resents your dissing its OG (original grips).

In lots of online images the 459 also has the plastic panels, but wood ones were/are available for it but these would not fit the 59, correct?
__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-13-2022, 07:20 AM
stansdds stansdds is offline
Member
459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59  
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Virginia
Posts: 8,707
Likes: 19,260
Liked 11,729 Times in 5,348 Posts
Default

The x59 pistols also had the wide portion of the receiver extended to a point just in front of the slide stop pin hole, the Model 59's wider section began just behind the slide stop pin hole. This can make a difference when it comes to fitting in a well boned holster.
__________________
VCDL, GOA, NRA
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #7  
Old 07-13-2022, 08:13 AM
CHARLIE699 CHARLIE699 is offline
Member
459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59  
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Coast of America
Posts: 449
Likes: 1,642
Liked 1,795 Times in 255 Posts
Default

Don't forget the sister-pistol,,, all stainless 659. I call this one "CHUNK". My back is glad I never carried this one as a duty pistol. One steady soft-shooting 9mm.
Single de-cock/safety w/ adjustable sights, I think just 1984 according to 4th.
Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
  #8  
Old 07-13-2022, 04:41 PM
Engine49guy's Avatar
Engine49guy Engine49guy is offline
Member
459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59  
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Florida
Posts: 7,769
Likes: 2,467
Liked 8,294 Times in 2,907 Posts
Default

The Model 59 and Model 459 use the same stocks (grips), although the plastic black style was standard there are plenty of reasonably priced aftermarket wood panels out there, if your handy you can also thin the rounded heel portion of Model 39 grips to look good on a 59/459/659 I have a set of smooth presentation grips from a 39-2 on my nickel 59 that someone had done just that.

The 3rd gen Delrin mono grip is a different story, IIRC there is a company in (Turkey?) that makes wood replacement 3rd gen monogrips and sells them on Ebay, those look very nice but they are not inexpensive IMO.
I have come to appreciate the 3rd gens and have quite a few including three PC guns which are the cream of the crop IMO.
I will admit that back in the 90's I carried a Model 39-2 and snubbed my nose at the 3rd gens based solely on the delrin grip, today I carry a 6906 or a 3953.

Ps the 659 was a game changer in its day but agree its a total boat anchor.

Last edited by Engine49guy; 07-13-2022 at 04:44 PM.
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #9  
Old 07-14-2022, 05:28 PM
jbtrucker jbtrucker is offline
Member
459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59  
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Huntsville AL
Posts: 2,105
Likes: 1,162
Liked 2,643 Times in 824 Posts
Default Brought home Model 59

Went to LGS for MBUS sights and spotted Model 59 with a box bottom of display case bought it for $550. Gun was dry with a little rust on grip screws the magwell and magazine was full of dust. Cleaned it up old school Hoppes 9, lubed with LSA and wiped down with Rem Oil The Pachmayr grip came apart will order a set of panels and new screws. I'm not familiar with rear sight I seen another pictured in archived Guns America sales ad.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 20220714_131331 59.jpg (95.0 KB, 12 views)
File Type: jpg 20220714_153031 590 stuff.jpg (51.2 KB, 12 views)
File Type: jpg 20220714_152558 59 label.jpg (49.4 KB, 12 views)
File Type: jpg 20220714_151334 59 RS.jpg (25.7 KB, 14 views)

Last edited by jbtrucker; 07-14-2022 at 05:33 PM.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #10  
Old 07-14-2022, 05:45 PM
Engine49guy's Avatar
Engine49guy Engine49guy is offline
Member
459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59  
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Florida
Posts: 7,769
Likes: 2,467
Liked 8,294 Times in 2,907 Posts
Default

The Model 59 is an interesting study,
Imo it's downfall was the gripframe ergonomics, while I love the 59 it's grip frame is like holding a 2x4, had they styled it more like the BHP P35 the 39 fans would have embraced it better.
The 59 was basicly an attempt to add a high cap magazine like the BHP to the model 39-2 upper.
If you are interested in collecting Model 59's there are several variations in the earliest runs, the earliest have a smooth front strap and command high premiums, the , another interesting early variation are the factory relieved frames under the safety lever and a matching cut on the right side just in case, those relief cuts were put there to clear the 39-2 safety lever from hitting the 59 frame.
At some point early on someone realized it was cheaper to just make the 39-2 safety lever stick out a bit to clear the 59 frame.
There are quite a bit more evolutionary 59 changes before the 459 supplanted it,
Imo its those little nuances that are the fun part of collecting.
S&W offered that rear site unit so owners could have the ability to adjust windage and yardage ...IIRC they were sold in a small blue blister pack so owners could upgrade the rear site, don't think they were offered as original units but that's just a guess.

Last edited by Engine49guy; 07-14-2022 at 05:55 PM.
Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
  #11  
Old 07-14-2022, 06:56 PM
BB57's Avatar
BB57 BB57 is offline
Member
459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59  
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: NC
Posts: 4,710
Likes: 3,527
Liked 12,552 Times in 3,342 Posts
Default

Engineguy is spot on about the grip frame issue.

My hands fit the 1911, Model 39, Hi Power and CZ 75 really well.

But the Model 59 feels like a 2x4. It was 14 years ahead of the Glock with that particular “feature”.


Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #12  
Old 07-14-2022, 07:31 PM
ispcapt ispcapt is offline
US Veteran
459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59  
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: IL
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 300
Liked 2,303 Times in 614 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by BB57 View Post
But the Model 59 feels like a 2x4. It was 14 years ahead of the Glock with that particular “feature”.
Which is why S&W made this option to replace the flat back strap. Made a world of difference.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_2334.jpg (147.0 KB, 17 views)
__________________
183rd FBINA

Last edited by ispcapt; 07-14-2022 at 07:32 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 07-14-2022, 08:26 PM
LI Ammo's Avatar
LI Ammo LI Ammo is offline
Member
459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59 459 or 59  
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Virginia
Posts: 37
Likes: 34
Liked 93 Times in 26 Posts
Default

My 459 has a lanyard loop, don't know if that's common.
It has the enclosed sights.
It's about as easy and comfortable to grip as the hood of a 1970s Cadillac.
In other words, not that easy.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 459 side.jpg (106.2 KB, 13 views)
File Type: jpg 459 top.jpg (46.9 KB, 8 views)
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
model 59

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:32 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)