Here we go again...sucker for "Wonder 9s"

[imarangemaster]

Both magazines have an "A" on the base plate. What does that mean? I seem to remember it had to do with a magazine revision.

Thanks in advance.

The followers are the old 14 round with the four equal legs (though I replaced then with 15 rounder ones with the two short legs in front. The mags have a much later serial number (A39XXXXX) electropenciled in the front. Typical PD armory mix and match on guns and mags.

ANyone know where I can get a set of new replacement screws for the grips?

 

[PALADIN85020]

I bought this Model 59 brand new in 1976. I have not used it all that much, but it's always functioned perfectly with whatever I fed it. I used it once or twice as my backup gun to a 1911 in combat pistol matches back in the '80s, and it met my expectations fully. It's still in the original box with all the papers, and I'd rate it as being in 99% condition.

John

 

[imarangemaster]

Took it to the range today. Did several rounds of 15+1 to check function. Performed flawless with Winchester 124 grain Nato stamped ammo. At 10 yards I kept the group about 3" on rapid fire. Not too shabby. It shoots tighter than my Glock 19!

Ink I may get a new set of original grips and grip screws. Most of the wear it has is on those items.

 

[rwt1405]

Serial Number A266271. Anyone tell me "born on date?" You cn see from the wear that is was a duty weapon, especially from the right side grip wear, it was carried in a duty holster (right hand), and rubbed things.

Soooooo, will you be "hangin' on" to this one?

 

[PALADIN85020]

Both magazines have an "A" on the base plate. What does that mean? I seem to remember it had to do with a magazine revision.

Thanks in advance.

The followers are the old 14 round with the four equal legs (though I replaced then with 15 rounder ones with the two short legs in front. The mags have a much later serial number (A39XXXXX) electropenciled in the front. Typical PD armory mix and match on guns and mags.

ANyone know where I can get a set of new replacement screws for the grips?

The Model 59s were originally equipped with fourteen-round metal-based magazines.

About 1979, S&W did provide some upgrades for 59s for police departments, one of which was an "improved" magazine follower. I don't have information on how it differed from earlier examples. FYI, both magazines provided with my 1976-shipped Model 59 have an "A" stamped on the base plate. The followers on these are black plastic, and have two support legs, enabling 15 rounds to be inserted in the magazine.

Fifteen-round magazines with improved springs, followers and plastic bases were to follow as standard for the Model 59's successor, the second-generation Model 459. They will work fine in Model 59s.

John

 

[imarangemaster]

Hmmmm... Just saw the price of grip screws $7 each! I think I will just clean and dress these up. I did find a set of the think Uncle Mike's rubber grips for $12 NIW including shipping. I tried a p[air on another cops gun and liked them WAY better than the Pachmyr's. Never got around to getting them though. They will work until I find a set of NOS 59 Derlyn grips.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Hmmmm... Just saw the price of grip screws $7 each! I think I will just clean and dress these up. I did find a set of the think Uncle Mike's rubber grips for $12 NIW including shipping. I tried a p[air on another cops gun and liked them WAY better than the Pachmyr's. Never got around to getting them though. They will work until I find a set of NOS 59 Derlyn grips.

I often find that factory original S&W stocks can be found on e-Bay.

Often it will take some patience, but they usually turn up.

John

 

[imarangemaster]

Soooooo, will you be "hangin' on" to this one?

LOL! I hope to! The last one fell victim to my need to buy a complete cowboy action shooting armory again. I did SASS for 20 years, got boa\red and sold off the guns. 5 years later, I missed it.


Acquisitions in the last 8 months to re-start....
Uberti Schofield $1,100
Uberti 1860 Henry $1,300
1872 Open Top $500
Double barreled hammered shotgun $400
Brass, lead, powder, and reloading dies for all of the above $500

That is just my first run set. I also have a complete back up set, though the guns were cheaper. My total is about $4,500 just into guns for the spoort...I just have expensive tastes. Funny, it doesn't seem like I made that much when I sold all the stuff I had when I left the sport 5 years ago.

 

[imarangemaster]

I often find that factory original S&W stocks can be found on e-Bay.

Often it will take some patience, but they usually turn up.

John

Yep, thanks. That's where I was looking when I found the Uncle Mike's. I'll just keep looking.

I had three aftermarket 59 mags with plastic floor plates, and no spring retention indentations in the bottom of the sides (slab sides). I replaced their followers and springs with S&W OEM ones I had in my parts drawers, and they functioned great. You can never have too many magazines!

 

[Sevens]

I personally find the Uncle Mikes rubber grip panels for the 59/659 to be absolutely GENIUS! They look great, they feel fantastic, they are far better in feel than the original slim plastic grips and they aren't obnoxiously chunky like the Pachmayr grip.

Don't get me wrong, as I grew up in the 80's, I love a huge lot of Pachmayr grips across countless pistols and revolvers but on both the 39's and 59's, I cannot stand the Pachmayr grips. The 39/52 has an awful palm-swell and the 59 series takes an already fat gun and makes it clinically obese.

The Uncle Mike's panels are the best thing I've ever found for the 59-series pistols.

 

[imarangemaster]

Yep, I agree. I remember how much I liked them on the other guy's gun. We switched to 439s shortly after, so I never got a set. The female officers and guys with small hands filed a grievance demanding a smaller grip, is what I understand. Instead of allowing an option of either, they switched. As one of the rangemasters at the time, I argued that it was loke making the 90% who wore extra large underwear switch to everyone wearing small (whether it fir ot not) to accommodate to 10% that wore small panties....

 

[Big Shrek]

Yes, but...the 9mm ammo of the day when we were swapping out .38's for the 9's is VASTLY improved, so much so that many PD's that switched to .40's after Miami are now trending back...to the 9mm.

Sam

I'm actually thinking they are switching to cut down on
how many suspect deaths are occurring...9mm is still a
round I consider less-than-optimal, even with the new
stuff available today.

My thought always has been "As many as you can get,
in as big a mag as possible, using Black Talons, Hydra-Shoks,
or Winchester Ranger SXT's"...which is why I own a pair of
100-rds per mag Calico Pistols (pic w/ 50-rd mags shown)