Model 59 Frame Differences

[Bull Gear]

I have two 59s in my possession and I am wondering about some differences I have noticed. I have not been able to find a source that speaks to these differences. Is there something out there?
Specifically, I have SN# A395XXX and A696XXX. I'll call them "early" and "late" respectively.
Differences noted:
FRAME:
- The most glaring difference is the fact that the early frame is solid on the sides of the mag well whereas the late frame is cut out (see pic)
- The early frame appears to retain the original factory finish, BUT the stamping (model, serial, and trademark) appears to have been done BEFORE final "polish" (for lack of a better term) and the late frame appears to have been stamped after final "polish". Also, some of the corners are not as sharp and well defined on the early frame. I had taken this to indicate that the early frame had been refinished at some point, but now I'm not so sure.
SLIDE:
- Early is stamped "PAT'S PENDING" below ejection port, no such stamp on late
- finer serrations on early safety/decock lever (8 cuts vs 5)
- Minor differences in fonts and spacing of the slide stamping

I found these differences interesting and would appreciate any insight, but I would REALLY like to know if the early one was refinished at some point or is it still original.

 

[VASCAR2]

Your pictures are not showing up for me and without pictures no way to tell about a refinish.

 

[Bull Gear]

 

[Bull Gear]

I wanted to come back and answer my own question since nobody else did... I have been studying pics on gunbroker, and it seems like S&W did, in fact, change their manufacturing sequence somewhere between 1977 and 1981 (the time period between my two examples).

Based on the pics I have perused, it appears that all of the examples with a "PAT'S PENDING" stamp on the slide (early) had the stampings on the frames polished out a bit before the finish was applied AND the later one's without the "PAT'S PENDING" stamp had their frames stamped as the last step before the finish. If you look closely, you can see the raised burrs around the stampings on the later frames but the edges have been softened a bit on the early frames.

I cannot speak to the grip panel cut-outs, though, since there were no pics with the grip panels removed. However, I did find a document that shows a Model 59 without the cut-outs shown in this document...https://www.marxcollector.com/S_W/S&W_59.pdf.

 

[Sevens]

Because of your thread here, I pulled out my high condition 59 yesterday and pulled the left grip panel off to find that it has the "solid" side panels like the top pistol in the pictured pair.

Mine is a A177xxx serial number, should date to 1973.

 

[snw19_357]

Another difference in the frames (among others) is the frame being relieved for the safety. Later (both of OPs) the lever was relieved to clear the frame.

Sevens, yours is really close when both sides of frame relieved, right side for ambi safety. Is yours relieved only on the left or both sides?

 

[Sevens]

Hmmm I will get back to you on that as I am not near my safe at the moment.

You have me a bit confused however… never heard of any 1st Gen S&W pistol with a right side/ambi safety or decock lever, so not sure why any 39/59/52 would have any variation relating to this?

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I have two, I'll have a look at them when I get home. No idea if mine are "early" or "late" examples. One is nickeled, the other blued.

 

[snw19_357]

never heard of any 1st Gen S&W pistol with a right side/ambi safety or decock lever, so not sure why any 39/59/52 would have any variation relating to this?

M39/52 wouldn't need it because the slide is wider than the frame.

While I find the email (to get the info correct) and dig mine out of the safe, I'll pose this question to you.

Why do only the earliest 59s have side plates that are rounded at the top and the right stock panel is straight across the top followed quickly by flattened top of the side plate and relieved right stock panels?

 

[kmk008]

I don’t really have any value to add here but that’s pretty cool. The only real frame difference I’ve noticed (other than some of the obvious generational changes) is how the thicker portion of the frame kept creeping up further to the dust cover in each generation and then the TSW series having increased width for the entire dust cover.