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07-12-2022, 08:32 PM
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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
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07-12-2022, 09:30 PM
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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.
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07-12-2022, 10:41 PM
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mine has the left side decocker/safetylwith the low serial this must be a 1st year production
thank you for the information
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07-13-2022, 04:23 AM
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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.
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07-13-2022, 05:05 AM
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"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?
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07-13-2022, 07:20 AM
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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.
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07-13-2022, 08:13 AM
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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.
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07-13-2022, 04:41 PM
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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.
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07-14-2022, 05:28 PM
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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.
Last edited by jbtrucker; 07-14-2022 at 05:33 PM.
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07-14-2022, 05:45 PM
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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.
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07-14-2022, 06:56 PM
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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”.
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07-14-2022, 07:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BB57
But the Model 59 feels like a 2x4. It was 14 years ahead of the Glock with that particular “feature”.
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Which is why S&W made this option to replace the flat back strap. Made a world of difference.
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Last edited by ispcapt; 07-14-2022 at 07:32 PM.
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07-14-2022, 08:26 PM
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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.
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