Was talking with a buddy today about different S&W pistols we had and I got the wild hair to stage a couple of guns for a picture. I figured I would show the evolution of the S&W double stack 9mm.
It occurred to me after arranging and then snapping the picture that despite the bloodline, there are a LOT of contrasting features here.
The top pistol (Model 59 from 1973) is the only blued one and the only alloy frame pistol in the picture.
Two guns have fixed sights. One is adjustable for windage only. One has a typical adjustable rear sight and the last one has a very fancy adjustable rear target sight with three elevation presets.
Also here we have a 1st Gen, a 2nd Gen, an ultra-high production 3rd Gen, an extremely scarce oddball 3rd Gen "special" that's nearly impossible to find and finally, a Performance Center Limited gun.
Of the five shown, three are traditional DA/SA and two are single action only. And while the magazines for these evolved along with the pistols… the magazine for that 1973 made Model 59 will fit and perfectly function in all of these pistols, and the opposite is also true.
Enjoy this short run down memory lane with Smith & Wesson hi-cap 9's.
It occurred to me after arranging and then snapping the picture that despite the bloodline, there are a LOT of contrasting features here.
The top pistol (Model 59 from 1973) is the only blued one and the only alloy frame pistol in the picture.
Two guns have fixed sights. One is adjustable for windage only. One has a typical adjustable rear sight and the last one has a very fancy adjustable rear target sight with three elevation presets.
Also here we have a 1st Gen, a 2nd Gen, an ultra-high production 3rd Gen, an extremely scarce oddball 3rd Gen "special" that's nearly impossible to find and finally, a Performance Center Limited gun.
Of the five shown, three are traditional DA/SA and two are single action only. And while the magazines for these evolved along with the pistols… the magazine for that 1973 made Model 59 will fit and perfectly function in all of these pistols, and the opposite is also true.
Enjoy this short run down memory lane with Smith & Wesson hi-cap 9's.
