Model 59
- Thread starter Larry FF
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Jeppo
Member
No loaded chamber indicator. You've inherited a great gun. Sorry for your loss.
User manual:
http://pdf.textfiles.com/manuals/FIREARMS/s&w_59.pdf
User manual:
http://pdf.textfiles.com/manuals/FIREARMS/s&w_59.pdf
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Found the manual.
Bought new about 43 years ago and still gets
carried when necessary.
Best to ride the hammer down when using
the safety/decocker. Saves wear and tear.
Same with our S&Walther PPKs pistols.
My three favorite guns, for safety, when around the young
grandkids, in case I suddenly drop dead when fishing.
Bought new about 43 years ago and still gets
carried when necessary.
Best to ride the hammer down when using
the safety/decocker. Saves wear and tear.
Same with our S&Walther PPKs pistols.
My three favorite guns, for safety, when around the young
grandkids, in case I suddenly drop dead when fishing.
Attachments
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More info - http://www.marxcollector.com/S_W/S&W_59.pdf
JohnHL
Member
Found the manual.
Bought new about 43 years ago and still gets
carried when necessary.
Best to ride the hammer down when using
the safety/decocker. Saves wear and tear.
Same with our S&Walther PPKs pistols.
My three favorite guns, for safety, when around the young
grandkids, in case I suddenly drop dead when fishing.
"For safety", please keep in mind that 1st gen guns (39/59) have NO firing pin safety, so they are NOT "drop safe".
In case you "suddenly drop dead when fishing", remember NOT to drop the gun...
John
That's a very slick publication there, where did that come from?
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
My condolences.
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
Incorrect. What Police Academy taught that?
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I checked the PDFs for the various TDA guns at the above post and didn't find that ride the hammer instruction. But, one of the manuals wasn't complete. I DID find a caution to carry the guns without the firing pin safety block with the safey in the ON position to prevent possible firing when dropped.
Hey, it's funny what discussion can lead one to discover. I've been owning, shooting and futzing with S&W pistols since the early 1990's and I have a gaggle of 1st Gen S&W semiautomatics. No doubt, I'm an enthusiast.
That the firing pin lock was debuted on the 2nd Gen pistols is a fact I've known for many, many years. However until you said it, it did not occur to me to check one of my 1st Gens and see if that firing pin (which I am certain is fully unlocked when the safety is off) might be locked when the safety/decocker is engaged.
Indeed! When the safety is rolled down, that firing pin is certainly locked from any forward movement. In fact -- with the safety engaged, a 1st Gen 39/39-2/59 is indeed drop safe.
Now carrying defensively with the hammer down and the safety engaged would not be my cup of tea and likely would not dovetail well with modern training, but for something on the order of field carry, this is not only a viable option, it's really the prudent option if you're out and about with a 39 or 59.
So I also have been saying for years that a 1st Gen is not "drop safe" but the fact is, it can be made so afterall.
Great tip, WR Moore!
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Dunno what you consider "modern training" but here's what we learned in the late 1980's and it carried over to the Safariland level 2 holsters with a retention hood.
There's a neat trick for carrying for defensive/duty use with the safety engaged. As the hand is coming down on the grip frame, the thumb is extended parallel to the slide. As the hand moves onto the grip, the thumb flicks the safety off just by it's position. No contortional motions at all.
Holsters with retention straps are very slightly different. The thumb presses the release tab/button, then stabs downward to flick the safety off. All while acquiring the firing grip.
We carried on safe and I don't recall anyone not making their time requirements at the 7 yard line.
There's a neat trick for carrying for defensive/duty use with the safety engaged. As the hand is coming down on the grip frame, the thumb is extended parallel to the slide. As the hand moves onto the grip, the thumb flicks the safety off just by it's position. No contortional motions at all.
Holsters with retention straps are very slightly different. The thumb presses the release tab/button, then stabs downward to flick the safety off. All while acquiring the firing grip.
We carried on safe and I don't recall anyone not making their time requirements at the 7 yard line.
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What you just described makes absolute sense to me when it comes to how to master the S&W style system but the WHOLE WORLD outside of 1-2-3rd Gen enthusiasts cry and complain about the "backwards" up for fire thumb safety lever.
While my first semiautomatic handgun was indeed a 1911, I did not grow up with the idea that all handgun thumb safety levers MUST be down for fire. The S&W system was exactly that to me, it's own system. A proper thumbs forward grip kicked off the safety, it always made good sense to me.
When I referred to modern training, I suppose I was hitting a few details at once with my term. DA/SA pistols seem to be out of favor these days, and the redundant process of hammer down AND safety on would likely not be considered popular or "modern" in today's market.
Everyone finds their own way, certainly you could train to effectively carry a pistol design out of production since 1982. I'm sure it would be all the chit chat of the training group.
While my first semiautomatic handgun was indeed a 1911, I did not grow up with the idea that all handgun thumb safety levers MUST be down for fire. The S&W system was exactly that to me, it's own system. A proper thumbs forward grip kicked off the safety, it always made good sense to me.
When I referred to modern training, I suppose I was hitting a few details at once with my term. DA/SA pistols seem to be out of favor these days, and the redundant process of hammer down AND safety on would likely not be considered popular or "modern" in today's market.
Everyone finds their own way, certainly you could train to effectively carry a pistol design out of production since 1982. I'm sure it would be all the chit chat of the training group.
JohnHL
Member
The whole point of the DA/SA operating system is the revolver like first trigger pull.
No safety to disengage to bring it into action.
Yes, the annular groove on the rear of the firing pin is there to be locked by the safety.
But the safety MUST be engaged.
When typically carried, the safety is left off.
That is when it is NOT drop safe and that is the most important time for the gun to BE "drop safe".
And that is the time when it is most likely to be dropped.
For that reasoning, I still think the 1st gen pistols were NOT drop safe, and the reason why S&W added the firing pin safety.
John
No safety to disengage to bring it into action.
Yes, the annular groove on the rear of the firing pin is there to be locked by the safety.
But the safety MUST be engaged.
When typically carried, the safety is left off.
That is when it is NOT drop safe and that is the most important time for the gun to BE "drop safe".
And that is the time when it is most likely to be dropped.
For that reasoning, I still think the 1st gen pistols were NOT drop safe, and the reason why S&W added the firing pin safety.
John
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True, but before retention holsters, it was a user (or someone very familiar with the system) proprietary barrier in case of a gun grab. Mandatory in some agencies, optional in others.
Sevens-while the S&W pistols are out of production, there's still other manufacturers, like Beretta, who still use the slide mounted decocker/safety. The lever seems a bit shorter than the S&W, but I'd think the system would still work.
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