Model 59

[Walkin Horse]

This is another 1st generation I found yesterday. Not sure of the year, the ser# isA269416. Any information is greatly appreciated. In my haste to post I realize now this is a revolver thread. Please move or remove

 

[Muley Gil]

You are in the wrong section of the forum.

 

[dsk]

My # A668xxx was made in 1981 if that helps. I'd assume yours is a year or two older.

 

[Imissedagain]

Bought a new M59 in '80 or '81.
SN 6542xx.
Still in use.
Did a careful polish of the feed area, because my boy said,
"what good is a gun that won't feed HPs".
He carries hard cast now in his 9mm/10mm Glocks and 629.
100% reliable since day one.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I have 2 59s, a blue and a nickel. I have not shot them extensively but to date they have both been 100% dependable even with HPs. Magazines may make a difference in the reliability factor.

 

[Ameshawki]

1975, give or take.

 

[stansdds]

If I recall correctly, the issue with the early production Model 59's and feed reliability was related to the magazine follower. Later production Model 59 magazines and those for the x59 and 59xx should be extremely reliable.

 

[Alk8944]

If I recall correctly, the issue with the early production Model 59's and feed reliability was related to the magazine follower. Later production Model 59 magazines and those for the x59 and 59xx should be extremely reliable.

The feeding issue with the earlier Models 39 and 59 was related to the feed ramp, not the magazines. The ramp on the early 39-2 and 59 had a double-angle that resulted in a hump in the ramp. This was revised by S&W to a straight ramp and the feed ramp was to be changed to a straight ramp. This was accomplished in the field by grinding the hump out of the ramp.

A 3/8" cylindrical grinding point in a Dremel tool was used to accomplish this. The ramp was then polished using a 3/8" Cratex polishing point in the Dremel.

It took me weeks to get all our departments guns in from the field and correct the feed ramp on the several hundred guns we had.

Note that this was a change done in the field at the direction of S&W. This was in 1973.

 

[dsk]

I've had no reliability issues with my Model 59, but it has the absolute worst DA and SA triggers of any "wondernine" auto I've ever owned. The DA feels like it's 20 pounds and the SA has this weird feel to it, and doesn't break until the trigger is almost mashed against the frame. By contrast the DA and SA triggers on my 3rd-gen Model 915 are like a dream.

 

[stansdds]

The feeding issue with the earlier Models 39 and 59 was related to the feed ramp, not the magazines. The ramp on the early 39-2 and 59 had a double-angle that resulted in a hump in the ramp. This was revised by S&W to a straight ramp and the feed ramp was to be changed to a straight ramp. This was accomplished in the field by grinding the hump out of the ramp.

A 3/8" cylindrical grinding point in a Dremel tool was used to accomplish this. The ramp was then polished using a 3/8" Cratex polishing point in the Dremel.

It took me weeks to get all our departments guns in from the field and correct the feed ramp on the several hundred guns we had.

Note that this was a change done in the field at the direction of S&W. This was in 1973.

I was thinking that by the time the Model 59 was introduced, S&W had already ditched the Hi-Power style feed ramp in favor of the straight feed ramp.