This afternoon found a S&W 59 for sale in a local pawn shop. Condition is over 95% ... maybe 98%. The grips are plastic and appear to be S&W manufacturer. Two S&W magazines and box. Do not yet know if it has literature. Doubt it has cleaning kit. Asking price is $599 plus tax. After a bit of jaw jacking ... was told I could get it OTD for $500 even. Just don't know if this is a good deal or what. Once upon a time I carried a nice plated 59 when I was a security guard in New Orleans working my way through seminary. Would appreciate any insight as to the quality of the model, price, possible functional issues, etc. Will not be able to do anything until after the first of the year so there is time. One of the salesmen told me that not a lot of interest was being show in this pistol. Sincerely. bruce.
S&W 59 Found FS Pawn Shop
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AJ
US Veteran
Had one a long time ago. Good gun, grips are correct. Would be willing to pay that for one if I was in the market for one. If I were you call them give a CC Number to hold it for you.
Hello brucey, you snagged a goodie at a fair price. With the price of
mod-39s climbing, we are goin to see the price of 59s take off..
Have a few nic. guns, dont particularly like them, but they dont eat
anything. You done good.
mod-39s climbing, we are goin to see the price of 59s take off..
Have a few nic. guns, dont particularly like them, but they dont eat
anything. You done good.
My Uncle that was a cop had one years ago and it was a jammomatic. It wasn't his service gun, he still carried a revolver. He bought it because his copper buddies were buying Model 59s too and were raving about their Wonder-9s. They seemed to be hit or miss on the reliability factor for the guys that bought them. Some were reliable, others weren't.
When I say years ago, this was like 40-45 years ago...
When I say years ago, this was like 40-45 years ago...
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There are revolver people and there are pistol people.
If this were one year ago and you could get a high condition Model 59, original box, two mags, out the door for $500, I can tell you surely that it’s a fine deal. You won’t flip it for a grand and you won’t retire on it’s proceeds in 25 years either, but hell yes that was a nice price a year ago.
Right now? That is a smokin’ good deal.
The 59 is a historically significant gun and a great look back at yesterday’s gun tech. It’s got a place in American pistol history in a big way and it’s a fun gun on any range day.
It is NOT drop safe, it may not be the very best choice for duty or defense today considering the myriad of other options.
This is a great package at $500 OTD. I personally do not see the 59’s climbing high in value at a rate that outpaces almost anything else in the gun market. If ALL guns climb in value, the 59 will also. But if we were compiling a list of guns that I do not see climbing in value much, the 59 is on that list.
Right now? That is a smokin’ good deal.
The 59 is a historically significant gun and a great look back at yesterday’s gun tech. It’s got a place in American pistol history in a big way and it’s a fun gun on any range day.
It is NOT drop safe, it may not be the very best choice for duty or defense today considering the myriad of other options.
This is a great package at $500 OTD. I personally do not see the 59’s climbing high in value at a rate that outpaces almost anything else in the gun market. If ALL guns climb in value, the 59 will also. But if we were compiling a list of guns that I do not see climbing in value much, the 59 is on that list.
OH! Sevens, you may eat those words. Mike
HOUSTON RICK
Member
For some reason I really like the 59’s. I can’t exactly explain it but I do like and appreciate them. I like them so much I use “S&W 59xxxxx” in some of my secret squirrel passwords.
Two of mine are straight forward but one is obviously very different. I’ve got some great input here about it but I’m definitely not gonna request a letter. The Uncle Mike’s flat grip panels and the factory arched back insert I got, (I got several,) feels /perfect to me. Thanks to Wolff springs and me “cleaning” it up it’s even better.
Unfortunately the Mec Gar 17 rnd magazines do not work and do not function in it. They are perfect in the other two though.
Only the blued one came with everything but it was the most expensive @ $450.00 four years ago. That was the last one I bought.
Jim
Two of mine are straight forward but one is obviously very different. I’ve got some great input here about it but I’m definitely not gonna request a letter. The Uncle Mike’s flat grip panels and the factory arched back insert I got, (I got several,) feels /perfect to me. Thanks to Wolff springs and me “cleaning” it up it’s even better.
Unfortunately the Mec Gar 17 rnd magazines do not work and do not function in it. They are perfect in the other two though.
Only the blued one came with everything but it was the most expensive @ $450.00 four years ago. That was the last one I bought.
Jim
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Neversink n Klapperthal
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Had a 59 years ago. Great gun. Around here a 59 ,if you could even find one,would bring $750
All steel sounds nice and S&W did make them in the form of the Models 559 (carbon steel) and 659 (stainless steel), then carried them into the third gen series as the 59x6. The steel receiver models are a few ounces heavier than the aluminum receivers and probably are as close to indestructible as you will ever see in a pistol, but the aluminum receivers are either anodized or nickel plated, corrosion resistant, and will hold up to 50,000 rounds or more with proper care*.
Yeah, I used to fret over such stuff, then I came to the realization that I am unlikely to put that much ammo through any one pistol in my entire life.
* Proper care is not that difficult.
Keep the pistol properly lubricated, clean after use, don't let it get all gritty.
Change the recoil spring every 4000 rounds, more often if want to, springs are cheap.
Use factory rating of 14 pounds for the recoil spring, heavier springs just pound the slide forward with more force than necessary.
For maximum longevity, fire +P or +P+ ammo only for familiarization and carry, not for practice.
With modern bullets like Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, and Winchester Ranger-T, you don't even need +P velocity to get reliable bullet performance.
It’s a pawn shop. They have maybe 50% of asking price invested. Take 4 one hundred bills and lay on the counter while saying “out the door”.
Doesn't always work, some firearms might be on consignment with a minimum price. I've run into that and sometimes the minimum is closer to what someone saw on GunBroker than what it is really worth.
Geno44
Member
I think there was a recall on the early 59's for jamming/extracting problems a long time ago. If the front face of the extractor has a punch mark, that gun has been back to S&W and corrected along with new magazine parts. At least that is my recollection. If I'm correct on this I'm surprised nobody has mentioned it yet but I remember sending in a couple for that modification. Later 59's had the mark.
