The first "wondernine": the S&W Model 59

[PALADIN85020]

Generally regarded as the first "wondernine" pistol, the S&W Model 59 was introduced to the commercial market in 1971.

A fourteen-shot 9mm semiauto was first conceived in 1964, and two experimental models were made. Then in 1968, the U.S. Navy requested a small number of 14-shot pistols. These were examined, but the Navy's requirement for stainless steel and other special features quelled the project for a while. A small number of suppressed pistols were made for the Navy; these had a mechanism to lock the slide when fired, and were dubbed "Hush puppies" for their sometime role of putting down guard dogs silently.

The first 14-shot variations of the Model 39 were crafted in June, 1969, but the commercial pistols which were designated as Model 59s were first marketed on June 8, 1971.

The first 200 pistols had "clean" front and back straps, but all later production had grooved straps, front and back. About half of the first ones were subsequently grooved, so only about 100 now exist with smooth straps.

In order to keep the circumference of the grip area as slim as possible, the wooden stocks of the Model 39 were abandoned, and high-impact plastic stocks were substituted. The humped rear strap of the Model 39 was also scrapped, and a straight rear strap was substituted in the interest of keeping the size of the grip area to a minimum.

The top ends of the Model 39s and the Model 59s are interchangeable; only the lower frames differ.

The Model 59 became a hot item when introduced. It was in particular demand by law enforcement agencies, many of which were transitioned to semiautos from revolvers with this pistol. A lot of later versions based on this gun came out of S&W, many in stainless and with different magazine capacities.

I bought this particular pistol new in the box in 1977; it was originally shipped in September, 1976.

The Model 59 was history-making, and good specimens are prime collector items today. Hope you enjoy the photos and some of the Model 59's history.

John

 

[TexasG]

Very nice and definitive keeper.

 

[S&W5906]

Love its serial number!

My Model 59 is slightly newer being A476XXX and is in the Nickel finish.

 

[BUFF]

I bought a fairly early one (A1708xx) in 1993, supposed to be unfired post-factory and looks it. It has the smooth front strap and serrated backstrap, apparently one of the first 200 made. Some previous knuckehead had sealed the box with nylon strapping tape; otherwise the box would be mint, too.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I bought a fairly early one (A1708xx) in 1993, supposed to be unfired post-factory and looks it. It has the smooth front strap and serrated backstrap, apparently one of the first 200 made. Some previous knuckehead had sealed the box with nylon strapping tape; otherwise the box would be mint, too.

A picture would be great!!!!

John

 

[loc n load]

59's

Bought my first one in 75....still have it.....had a 5904 as a duty weapon for several years, then as an armorer / instructor I had 250 of them to care for.....We had those guns along with 659's for 10 years and my training guns had thousands of rounds put through them.....good solid guns.

 

[Silversmok3]

Nice weapons.

That being said-yeah, I'm gonna be "that guy" -the ergonomics of the 59 sucked, in comparison to the 39 and its derivatives. The Third Gen fixed most of the sticking points, but my gripes relate to field stripping and the trigger pull.

The single stack gun gives you enough reach to haul back the heavy DA trigger: the 59's width denies that option. I've got big hands, and on the 659 I have haul back 10+ pounds with the tip of my finger. Not fun, AND it stacks, so it's the perfect trigger to lean on a shot with.

Granted, metal frame double stack guns won't be narrow, especially ones made in the 70s. But the field strip procedure BLOWS on the double stack guns. My 539 has the same exact process to take down, but -again-the narrow frame means you can take it apart with just two hands, and not three as the Model 59 requires.

Please don't take this as an indictment of the gun. It's a quality product, br there's a reason a third gen sits in my safe instead of a 659. 1 week before Newtown, I spotted a 659 at a quiet gun shop for a good price. I was pumped until I dry fired the thing. After two pulls it felt like I just lifted a car battery with my index finger.

 

[loutent]

Thanks John - lately I've become more and more interested in acquiring a 39 and/or 59 - they are really sharp looking.

 

[Arik]

Nice weapons.

That being said-yeah, I'm gonna be "that guy" -the ergonomics of the 59 sucked, in comparison to the 39 and its derivatives. The Third Gen fixed most of the sticking points, but my gripes relate to field stripping and the trigger pull.

The single stack gun gives you enough reach to haul back the heavy DA trigger: the 59's width denies that option. I've got big hands, and on the 659 I have haul back 10+ pounds with the tip of my finger. Not fun, AND it stacks, so it's the perfect trigger to lean on a shot with.

Granted, metal frame double stack guns won't be narrow, especially ones made in the 70s. But the field strip procedure BLOWS on the double stack guns. My 539 has the same exact process to take down, but -again-the narrow frame means you can take it apart with just two hands, and not three as the Model 59 requires.

Please don't take this as an indictment of the gun. It's a quality product, br there's a reason a third gen sits in my safe instead of a 659. 1 week before Newtown, I spotted a 659 at a quiet gun shop for a good price. I was pumped until I dry fired the thing. After two pulls it felt like I just lifted a car battery with my index finger.

To each their own of course but i like the grip thickness of those guns. In fact I'd prefer it a bit thicker, something like a Glock 21. I have large(er) hands but i also have long fingers and need large grips to take up all that finger space otherwise i cant use the tip of ny finger to pull the trigger straight back. The trigger finger either cant move back anymore or has to curl around and in. This is why i hate small guns unless their trigger is really far foraward. (Weird i know). Anyway, with thick grips it becomes just a short trigger pull for me

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[Iggy]

I think I had the first one in Wyoming.. Carried it for a while on the Patrol, but didn't have much faith in the cartridge for my purposes and traded it off for something I probably don't have anymore.

 

[sodacan]

I would argue that the first "wondernine" was the Browning Hi Power. I once owned a model 59 and "wondered" why I bought it.

 

[k22fan]

I would argue that the first "wondernine" was the Browning Hi Power. [...]

I have to go with PALADIN85920’s vocabulary. John Browning’s 13 shot and the French MAB PA-15 15 shot both preceded the 59 and neither single actions aroused enough contempt in Jeff Cooper and his buddies for them to scorn them as “wondernines.” It took a double action trigger to boil their blood.

While I didn't strongly dislike them, I couldn’t get attached to the 59. I wasn’t thrilled with the cartridge, aluminum frames or especially the boxy grip. They did have a very short trigger reset and good single action trigger pulls, plus I don’t remember mine jamming. The flood of police surplus 5906s made my 59 so affordable that it’s hard to see them as collector items, but it‘s been awhile.

 

[squekydad]

Picked up my '79 Mod 59 used mid '79 for cheap. Grip is thick for my small hands but top game in town at the time. So I shot it enough to stop thinking about the grips or the trigger, then came the newer 2nd and 3rd gens, the old 59 still ran perfect so didn't upgrade. Then the poly wonders arrived and very cool and light but my 59 still ran perfect so didn't upgrade. Now its 2013 and the only 9MM I have is my old 59 that still runs perfect with ALL ammo. Carry my 59 in a '79 Bianchi X15 shoulder rig when can wear a jacket and my 10-5 snubbie under a shirt when not. Guess I'm just old fashioned. Interested in all the new and enjoy shooting my friends but really they do nothing my oldies can't

 

[goldenlight]

My first center fire firearm was a S&W Model 59. In 1975. I walked into the local gun shop, paid cash, showed them my driver's license, and walked out with a new 9mm. Those sure were the good old days.

I put more than 30,000 rounds through it, using my cast lead bullets. When the stainless 659 became avvailable, I traded in my Model 59 for more than I paid for it. The slide was pretty loose on the frame by then, but it still shot very well.

I put a fully adjustable Miniature Machine Co. rear sight on My Model 59. It was a LOT of fun to shoot. At 20 yards, it fired 1 1/2 inch groups, with the cast bullets. Jacketed bullets gave me about 1" groups, but I couldn't afford to shoot them regularly.

Back then, I could reload a box of 9mm for $1. Primer, powder, and bullet. Two cents a round. And, a LOT of time. I was casting one bullet at a time, and then they needed to be inspected, and then sized and lubricated, on a Lyman sizing press.

I had a single stage reloading press, as well. It certainly wasn't fast, but it worked well. I didn't even have a carbide sizing die; I had to lube the cases before sizing them. Messy. I found out a sizing die was good for about 20,000 rounds. They you have to buy a new one.

I bought a Browning HiPower 2 years later, with the factory adjustable rear sights, and found it wasn't as accurate as the S&W Model 59, though it did function almost perfectly right out of the box.

The Model 59 took a fair amount of ammunition, a few hundred rounds, to 'break in' properly. The Browning only needed about 50 rounds. The grip on the Browning is much slimmer, too, than the grip on the Model 59.

I liked the Model 59 better.

 

[sodacan]

I have to go with PALADIN85920’s vocabulary. John Browning’s 13 shot and the French MAB PA-15 15 shot both preceded the 59 and neither single actions aroused enough contempt in Jeff Cooper and his buddies for them to scorn them as “wondernines.” It took a double action trigger to boil their blood.

While I didn't strongly dislike them, I couldn’t get attached to the 59. I wasn’t thrilled with the cartridge, aluminum frames or especially the boxy grip. They did have a very short trigger reset and good single action trigger pulls, plus I don’t remember mine jamming. The flood of police surplus 5906s made my 59 so affordable that it’s hard to see them as collector items, but it‘s been awhile.

So what did Jeff Cooper think of the 1911?

 

[S&W5906]

So what did Jeff Cooper think of the 1911?

jeff cooper's five facts of 1911 life: John Browning?s revolutionary semiautomatic pistol was still being used like a Colt six-shooter until Jeff Cooper came along.

 

[KYGirl]

Advice on the M59?

Hey there guys, I'm new to the forum - just had a question. I bought an old M59 today from the son of a collector who passed away, never fired - box, papers, even the original S&W wax paper it was wrapped in, and 2 magazines. Serial starts with 407. I bought this as my CC sidearm, but from what I've been reading, it seems like maybe I shouldn't fire this thing and ruin its value. Thoughts? I've bought 3 boxes of ammo and some dummy rounds - so I'm waiting for target practice tomorrow. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I would argue that the first "wondernine" was the Browning Hi Power. I once owned a model 59 and "wondered" why I bought it.

Yep! First "wonder nine" was the Browning High Power aka P35. Introduced in 1935. 14 shots on tap. I've owned one since 1972.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Yep! First "wonder nine" was the Browning High Power aka P35. Introduced in 1935. 14 shots on tap. I've owned one since 1972.

That is a common misconception. The Browning HP had a larger than usual magazine. That was only one element. Commercial double stack mags actually go back to the Savage 1907 pocket pistol - "10 shots quick."

The "wondernine" label came about with the Model 59, which combined the double action feature of the P.38 and the Model 39 with a high-cap magazine similar to that of the Browning HP. The first of the breed.

John

 

[JudgeColt]

I bought a fairly early one (A1708xx) in 1993, supposed to be unfired post-factory and looks it. It has the smooth front strap and serrated backstrap, apparently one of the first 200 made.

Apparently, the early features were not strictly linier in production sequence. I have A1705XX NIB and it has serrated front and back straps.

I have A1803XX that has been shot a lot and used as a "house gun" for thirty years. Contrary to what some say, I love the grip feel and especially the "pointability" of the Model 59. It is truly a "Wonder 9!"