Model 59 Possible Purchase Question

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b.guggenmos

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Hello; I have an oppurtunity to purchase a Model 59. A little background is I have all revolvers mostly of the S&W family. I recently purchased three revolvers 29-2, 48 and 68 that where inheritated from this gentleman. He has this Model 59 that was probably shot a very few times and then put away as the others were that I purchased. It is in the box with 2 magazines.
I have done some research on the Model 59. Basically an update to the Model 39 with a higher magazine capacity. I did not find anything bad in my research but also not a gun that gets talked about much.
Any pro's or con's would be appreciated along with the going rate one would expect to pay would be appreciated.

Thank You, Brian
 
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t-bird said:
Life is short buy the gun. $350 to $450. Best of luck.
Click to expand...

Thanks Tbird. He wants a bit more than your range and I am giving it some strong consideration. I don't care for any of the new plastic guns. I would much rather have a classic type weapon like thid model 59. Brian
 
Upside to the 59 is it was the first wondernine! It beat both CZ and Beretta by 4 years.
Downside, there's no firing pin safety(if that matters), some say the frame finish tends to wear easily(?), and the use of hot ammo is forbidden. While it will survive limited +P, it will not tolerate long term, and +P+ forget it! And some have a billy goat double action trigger.
Despite all that they're good shooters with a lot of history, and can still serve today with standard pressure ammo. Dale
 
If you are just taking it to the range for a mag or two there isnt anything wrong with it. If you want it for carry/SD there are better options in the 59 family

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I have had a nickel plated 59 since 1980 or so. Simply put, it works. The bullets go where they are aimed. As a double action, the first trigger pull is long and will take some getting used to, unless you cock the hammer. You can't carry cocked and locked. The takedown requires three hands until you get used to holding the slide over the lever and using a wood dowel to aid in removing the slide. The grip area is a bit wide, but manageable. I use it now for target and as nightstand piece. I can carry it with an in-waistband holster providing my T-Shirt is large. Good luck. You will like it.
 
I bought one of these about 1976. I never fired +P in it and in the short time I owned it, it never gave a problem. At the same time frame, I bought about four S&W revolvers which each and every one had to be corrected by my favorite smith. Reason I sold it was I didn't like the way it handled. It was clunky and bulky as compared to my favorite hi-cap 9mm the FN Hi-power. It was a pickup truck and the HP was a Porsche. I bought it for $175 which was a great deal at the time because it was a new 'wonder nine'. I wouldn't have another for more than $200. I did not like the gun. But, truth be told, it never, ever malfunctioned. BTW it was concurrent with the CZ75 (really hard to get) and about 40 years after the FN HiPower (13 rds).
 
had one of these when they first came out. like it so much that when it went out of the helo and into the river, i went in after it and came up with it.
 
Thanks everyone. This is the type of feedback and information I was looking for. It would probablry be shot very little and not a carry gun. I may try to "bundle" it witr another revolver he has? Thanks again for the input. Brian
 
The best thing I can say about my two 59's is that they are both very reliable. Both have over a thousand rounds without any problems at all. The 59 is a gun you could trust your life on. Be sure to post some pics of your new toy Brian.
 
I bought a new one in 1980. It has thousands of rounds of ball thru it. Always been 100%. Polished the ramp a few years ago so my boy could use JHP. Am making some white wood grips for it to match my Colt GC.
Poor Man's Ivory. :) Will post pics.
 
I love the model 59, I own three of them, one LNIB, two of which are ex police sidearms and almost always go to the range with me, and have many thousands of rounds through them with no issues, just regular cleanings, and all the springs have been replaced just due to high mileage. They aint pretty to look at but they sure make me smile every time I take 'em out and shoot 'em......
 
The only down side I know of is that the grip is thick, blocky and square compared to the 39's grip.
 
My 59 and 659 both go to the range most trips. Bad thing about my 59 is that the sights are only windage adjustable. But it doesn't matter as it is still accurate. The 659 has the caged adjustable sights.
 
I like the way ya think Imissedagain. Looking forward to seeing the pics of the grips.
 
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