659 Transitional?

[SVT28]

I have the opportunity to snag a 659 and had a few questions about it. I am purchasing it from the original owner who is an ex Tempe PD SWAT officer who kept it after his department went to the 4506 then Glock 40 S&W.

Miraculously it comes with the original blue semi auto box numbered to the gun, 8 mags, and all of the paperwork. My question is, it appears to have a 100% bead blast finish similar to a 5906. It does not have the polished flats on the slide like every other 659 I've seen. Does this make it a transitional?

The box has some great clues. Product code is 104001, Julian date of 8726?? (Didn't know there were 726 days in a year haha) and under features it says "SPECIAL". Sights are the dog ear adjustable and it has an ambi decocker with the Phillips screw holding it in place.

Condition is excellent and well taken care of. Can anyone confirm this gun to be a transitional and what would be a good price for the whole package with 8 mags?

Thanks in advance
SVT28

 

[Sevens]

What does the box end label specifically say for model number?

There's two different giveaways...
If model stamp on frame says "659" but it has the one piece Delrin wrap-around grip, that's one item. If it is stamped "6590" as Model number, that's another.

I often get confused with the pilot/transitionals, but they definitely have a following.

 

[snw19_357]

What's the three letter serial number prefix?

 

[SVT28]

Three letter prefix is TAV. Gun and box pictured below for reference.

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[jhnttrpp]

First thing I notice is the Packmayr stocks. My 659 has the S&W delrin. Your stocks also cover the pin location for the butt swivel so I can't see if it has one. The most interesting thing that I see it the slide stop/take down lever detents up against a round pin with the one side flattened. Mine has a spring clip that continues on under the stocks. I have also noticed a difference in the mag base. My 659 is a later model one but is not a transitional and I love to shoot it.

Ps. I have also noticed that mine is polished on the flats where yours does not appear to be so.

 

[SVT28]

Thanks for your input! The Pachs are on it but the original Delrins also come with it too. The finish is whats throwing me off the most. It's essentially a 2nd gen with a 3rd gen finish.

SVT28

 

[VictorLouis]

Well, if it's all matte, and he actually carried and used it, you'd see the holster wear...at the very least. My guess is he, or the Dept, sent it/them off to be blasted so as to improve the cosmetics towards a trade-in...or individual LEO purchase.

 

[Barrie]

For the age of it you could hardly ever tell it was carried much let alone for years on a full time basis. Good looking handgun.

 

[jsbethel]

It was probably ordered with the matte finish through a Law Enforcement contract.

 

[Jimmyjones]

The 659 I had in the mid 80's was mat stainless, just like the pic.

Oh yeah, I lived in Tempe then too.

 

[SVT28]

I was thinking this may be an order for the Tempe PD with the all matte finish too. I'll be sure to inquire about the finish when I see it in person. How about that Julian date though? 8 is the end of the run assuming 1988, but 726? The product code lines up with transitionals in the SCSW, doesn't mean that much to me. I like it since its a one owner with provenance in the original box.

Here's a pic of the other side. If you look close, there is some barrel end wear from holster time but it's obviously been taken care of.

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[jhnttrpp]

I purchased mine from a retiring North Carolina Highway Patrolman

 

[snw19_357]

Three letter prefix is TAV. Gun and box pictured below for reference.

I was thinking this may be an order for the Tempe PD with the all matte finish too. I'll be sure to inquire about the finish when I see it in person. How about that Julian date though? 8 is the end of the run assuming 1988, but 726?

Pilot and transitional pistols didn’t show up until the late TBx’s, as in TBY.

The Spec Ord number is usually a Julian date, unless it is a special order and most police orders were special orders and sometimes even had their own product code.

The product code lines up with transitionals in the SCSW, doesn't mean that much to me. I like it since its a one owner with provenance in the original box.

Neat pistol, and if that’s Tempe, AZ; like it even more.

Definitely looks all 2nd gen with the separate back strap and barrel bushing. Side plate on the right and a ‘slide stop button’ peened to the frame instead of part of the side plate like x69 series, late x59 series and then 3rd gens.

I wonder what’s different about it. Maybe it doesn’t have a mag safety. (would they have put the ‘warning’ on the slide back then like they did in the ‘90s?)

 

[SVT28]

I went and checked out the 659 in person today and ended up getting it and a LNIB 2206. I inquired about the finish and he said that all of the department 659s had the matte/bead blast finish. The sweet part of the deal had to of been the extra Barsto barrel that was thrown in with gun, along with his old mag pouch and 5 mags (3 factory and 2 Pach branded). Knowing my luck with Barsto barrels, I think I may put the factory barrel back in for when it gets shot. I'd hate for lady luck to crack another unobtanium Smith Barsto barrel haha (seriously though...) It also came with a department printout safety manual in addition to the Smith and Wesson factory manual. Pretty cool!

We chatted a good bit about his time on the force and some of the memories he had with this pistol. He was even kind enough to show some pictures of him in uniform wearing the 659 on his hip. It shows some typical handling marks, usual for this finish and a little smoothing at the barrel end of the slide. The rails indicate it hasn't been shot much.

After a little ice breaking, the 659 and a LNIB 2206 came home with me today. I've never seen a 2206 in the wild, let alone one with 4.5 in barrel, adjustable sights, 12 rd mags so I had to snag it. Can't wait to shoot these big hunks of beautiful stainless steel! Something tells me the recoil will be more than manageable on both, given they both feel like boat anchors compared to my alloy semis

SVT28

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[Sevens]

Hahaha, well I am glad you clarified that you were kidding when you jabbed the Bar-Sto barrel. In the event you were less kidding than I think, I will offer an even-up straight trade: my OEM S&W 659 barrel for your Bar-Sto 659 barrel. You know how to get a hold of me.

 

[jhnttrpp]

I've never even heard of a 2206 before today. Now there is one more gun out there that I need.

 

[stansdds]

I'm curious as to how much the Bar-Sto barrel improves the accuracy of the 9mm Smiths.