S&W Model 659

[balance 740]

I was just browsing through a gun store one day when...

I always wanted to try one of these out, but I never found a good deal on one in this condition locally, until yesterday. The pistol looked as if someone bought it, put a single box of ammo through it, and then left it in a drawer for next 20 years.

It is a S&W Model 659, a second generation S&W semi-auto. The pistol is close to being immaculate, having just a few small scratches here and there. I took it out yesterday and it shot 200 rounds through it without issue, and the pistol shot accurately in my hands.

The grip feels comfortable, though it is more "blocky" than some of my other pistols. There are grooves cut into the frontstrap and backstrap that seem to lock the pistol in my hands.

The trigger is excellent, and this could be considered an understatement. It has a trigger that would be at home on a target pistol, if not for the DA trigger pull being as heavy as it is. The DA is smooth, and the SA trigger break is what I would consider a glass rod break. The trigger reset is actually shorter than my Walther P99 or PPQ, and they have a very short reset.

S&W and Walther are the only companies that I know of that put stock adjustable sights on a modern defensive pistol. The adjustable sights on these have a metal ear on either side of the sight to protect them from impacts. It has the same sight picture as the S&W Model 15 revolver that I inherited, so I am somewhat used to them already, though I may need to put some paint on the front sight later on since a stainless steel front sight is not so easy to pick up and center on a black rear sight.

Apparently, S&W used a phillips head screw to hold the safety on, and they used removable barrel bushings on the second generation pistols, that are not there on the third generation pistols. I thought this was interesting.

Overall, I like it, a lot. I'll shoot it some more before I decide on what to do with it, but it shoots very, very well in my hands. I may consider carrying it sometime, though it weighs much more than my current polymer carry pistols, the DA pull is heavier than the one on my current polymer carry pistols, and the front sight is not so easy to pick up being silver.

I'm curious if anyone can put a date of manufacture on this pistol (Serial # TBD0026), or if there is any other information you think a new S&W 659 owner should know.

P.S. What is a good size for pictures to so that you don't have to scroll left and right to read the post?

 

[Engine49guy]

Congrats and that one has all the bells and whistles too,
Ambi safety, squared trigger guard big adjustable rear site,

I bought a 459 in 1986 just before the ambi safety,
looks like your prefix is 1987.

The high cap 9's evolved from the pre Model 39 , Model 39, then the 39-2 / 59 series, then the 459/659 series so truthfully they were into the 3rd or actually 4th rendition of the design by 1987.
A bit primitive by todays standards perhaps but they have an appeal all their own.
Definately brings back memories..thanks for sharing it !

 

[balance 740]

Congrats and that one has all the bells and whistles too,
Ambi safety, squared trigger guard big adjustable rear site,

I bought a 459 in 1986 just before the ambi safety,
looks like your prefix is 1987.

The high cap 9's evolved from the pre Model 39 then the 39-2 / 59 series, then the 459/659 series so truthfully they were into the 3rd rendition of the design by 1987.
A bit primitive by todays standards perhaps but they have an appeal all their own.
Definately brings back memories..thanks for sharing it !

Interesting. Thanks for the information.

I'm liking it more and more as time goes by.

 

[sniper47]

I've replaced phillips head screws with pan head screws. More professional look to it. BTW, that gun is a beauty. I own one too, but it doesn't look as good as yours.

 

[grif684]

I would like to point out a couple things you may not know about your 659, first, it has the third gen sideplate that retains the hammer and sear pins, and also acts as the slide stop button. This is obvious not only due to the lack of an actual button, but also due to the side plate being under the left grip panel, not the right, as were most 659s. All previous 659s had the side plate under the right grip panel, and the grips are NOT interchangeable due to the grip backs being relieved for the side plates on different sides, if you remove your grips, you will see only the left panel is relieved....also on every 659 I have seen with the later third gen style side plate, the grips are the satin or matte finish, not the earlier glossy plastic style, and every 659 I have seen like yours was shipped in 1988. There may be some earlier (late 87), but I have never seen one....here is a pic of my 659 for reference, notice the side plate (non original grips).....and also a transitional 659, which is actually a third gen marked as a model 659, but has the new side plate.....

 

[balance 740]

I've replaced phillips head screws with pan head screws. More professional look to it. BTW, that gun is a beauty. I own one too, but it doesn't look as good as yours.
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Thank you.

I've been reading through this section of the forum and it looks some guys recommend putting thread locker on it before it goes loose on its own.

Is this the consensus here, that this would be a good idea?

I would like to point out a couple things you may not know about your 659, first, it has the third gen sideplate that retains the hammer and sear pins, and also acts as the slide stop button. This is obvious not only due to the lack of an actual button, but also due to the side plate being under the left grip panel, not the right, as were most 659s. All previous 659s had the side plate under the right grip panel, and the grips are NOT interchangeable due to the grip backs being relieved for the side plates on different sides, if you remove your grips, you will see only the left panel is relieved....also on every 659 I have seen with the later third gen style side plate, the grips are the satin or matte finish, not the earlier glossy plastic style, and every 659 I have seen like yours was shipped in 1988. There may be some earlier (late 87), but I have never seen one....here is a pic of my 659 for reference, notice the side plate (non original grips).....and also a transitional 659, which is actually a third gen marked as a model 659, but has the new side plate.....

I'm new to these pistols, so any information is likely to be new to me. Thank you for pointing this out, it was very interesting and informative.

Would this effect my options on which grips would fit if I chose to replace the grips one day?

 

[grif684]

No, I believe all the aftermarket grips are relieved on both sides, in fact I know the Uncle Mikes are.....

 

[Engine49guy]

Definately interesting I had never noticed the nuances before either,
I see the tab that the slide catch lever mates to is different on the older 659 (serial TAV prefix),
and that the frame is wider than the slide where on the other two 659's the slide is wider than the frame and the slide catch mates to a flat piece of bent metal .

 

[Gunut01]

Looks like you found a keeper.Congrats

 

[balance 740]

No, I believe all the aftermarket grips are relieved on both sides, in fact I know the Uncle Mikes are.....

Excellent.

Looks like you found a keeper.Congrats

Definitely. This one is not going anywhere.

I have a few more questions though. In reading through this forum, I'm getting the impression that any 14 or 15 round mags will fit this pistol, from any generation. Is this correct?

I'm interested in the Mec-Gar 17rd mags too. I've never had an issue with a Mec-Gar mag and I'm thinking of picking up a few if I know they will fit.

Also, what are my options as far as grips?

 

[sniper47]

Any of the hi caps will work in your gun. I also have the Mecgar 17 rounder. Works perfectly. In response to using loctite on the screw, yes a small drop will suffice. Grips-I found a pair of Uncle Mike's that I prefer to the excellent factory pieces. I also have a pair of wood grips, with finger reliefs. I bit thicker than the factory/Uncle Mike's, so off they came.

 

[balance 740]

Thanks for the reply sniper47. I'll pick up a few of the 17rd mags soon.

I plan on sticking around on this forum for a while. I'm learning a lot from posts here on this thread and on the others that I'm reading.

Most people seem to be more than satisfied with their non-polymer S&W pistols. I don't know why they are not more popular now, being as good as they are. I'm happy I stumbled onto this deal.

 

[grif684]

I would recommend the Uncle Mikes grip panels, they are excellent, and although no longer made, they are readily available still, and are not expensive at all.....

 

[perfectcircle1]

I would recommend you shipping me that gun immediately so i can have it by Christmas

Sent from my SCH-R760 using Tapatalk 2

 

[grif684]

Here is a picture showing the Uncle Mikes grips, you can see both panels are relieved to fit either version...

 

[JBev]

grif684 - Thanks for the info. I bought a true Gen 2 back in 1990 and love it. Then picked up the transitional G2/3 in Dec '08... never even noticed the specific differences, but recognized the similarities to the G3s.

balance 740 - Hope by now you've had a chance to spend some quality time with your 659. They are as accurate as a barrel bushing pistol can be, reliable, durable, nice balance, nice action. And, the internals are ALL stainless steel if I'm not mistaken. These things will be around long after we are gone.

I would recommend the Mil-Com TW25 on every stainless steel sliding surface, and especially any situation where SSTL runs on alum. alloys. She's a beauty.