What are your thoughts - 5906 or 659?

[Dave Baird]

Hi fellas.
I have no doubt this has been discussed numerous times before. But, I'm old and in the mood for a nostalgic semi I can take to the range and show-off! If I'm looking at a used 659 and in the same condition, a used 5906, which would you buy and why? I realize there were improvements going from Second to Third Generations, but are they that substantial to pass over the 659? I'm just wondering before I start a search!

Thank you in advance!!!!

Dave

 

[Sevens]

This could go either way but hopefully my reasons why can help you choose.

The 659 is a cool relic and more scarce gun. They are not rare, they are no extremely hard to find and S&W made many, but compared to the 5906, there are not nearly as many. There is definitely nostalgia here. You also have some easy grip options. The 659 is not a pistol that feels absolutely amazing in the hand — it is a massive chunk of metal. I really, truly enjoy mine.

The 5906 feels much better in the hands. They made many improvements for the 3rd Gen guns but the most obvious and useful are the ones that improve fit and feel in the hands. The 5906 will also almost surely have a better single action trigger feel and likely a FAR better double action trigger feel than any/every 659 ever made. If you get a 5906 with later MIM parts, the trigger in both DA/SA will be even better, and noticeably so if you are a trigger guy like I am.

The 5906 does not have exclusivity. They made more than we could count. And some of them you may find have tons of use and wear on them, but you'll have a larger selection from which to choose.

I might expect the chance of lower price on a 5906 because they made so many and one will be easier to find. The 5906 will have better sights in any way you want to argue it, but not better by so much that it would sway me.

Both are a great choice. The 659 might be a more "interesting" gun to have. The 5906 is likely to be a better shooter. I wouldn't worry much about the lifespan or durability of either, and they share a number of parts also.

I'll be interested to hear what others think and where you land. It should be obvious where I landed… one 659 and two 5906's.

 

[ACEd]

Personally I would go 3rd Gen - I have heard of problems with the stainless 2nd generation guns 639 and 659 compared to the 439 & 459 - no first hand knowledge but someone will respond to this.

Also have heard complaints about 2nd generation grip geometry, but that is a personal preference - others dont like 3rd gen grips.

I think 5906 can have curved or straight grips which are interchangeable and there are potentially more aftermarket options.

And as you pointed out there were design (safety) improvements in the 3rd gen compared to earlier pistols.

As to the 5906, you can also choose early (D shaped trigger guard) or late (curved trigger guard) and you get one more round in magazine 15 vs 14 - though you can use the 5906 15 round mags in a 659.

But I dont think you would go wrong either way.

Looking forward to others' views on this subject.

Best, Ed

 

[Dave Baird]

Thank you, Sevens and Ed, very much!!! I sincerely appreciate your time and expertise. Two questions I have from your posts please:
1. Is there an outward way to tell if a 5906 has MIM parts?
2. Is a 459 better than a 659?

Thank you!!! Dave

 

[357larry]

My 2 cents worth. I have never met a 3rd generation Smith that I like, and I have owned a few. I never found one with what I would call a good trigger. I don't know what supposed problems ACEd is talking about, but I have never experienced any problems with my 2nd generation Smiths. They are honestly the most reliable autos I have ever owned. I have an early 639, an early 659, and a 645. Never a bobble from any of them.
Don't fall into the hype that because the 3rd gens are newer that they have improvements over the 2nd gens. Most of the changes made were to decrease the cost of manufacturing, not to improve the product.

 

[ACEd]

My 2 cents worth. I have never met a 3rd generation Smith that I like, and I have owned a few. I never found one with what I would call a good trigger. I don't know what supposed problems ACEd is talking about, but I have never experienced any problems with my 2nd generation Smiths. They are honestly the most reliable autos I have ever owned. I have an early 639, an early 659, and a 645. Never a bobble from any of them.
Don't fall into the hype that because the 3rd gens are newer that they have improvements over the 2nd gens. Most of the changes made were to decrease the cost of manufacturing, not to improve the product.

I think you may be confusing the economy series 915/910 which addressed cost of manufacturing with the bulk of the 3rd Generation pistols which were high quality pistols.

I believe a large number of internal parts are interchangeable between the 659 and the 5906.

The 3rd Generation are supposed to have better drop safety and potentially better trigger feel - but again that is subjective and a matter of personal preference.

The frame and slide are obviously different (my recollection is the early stainless pistols may have had slide-frame issues which were not present in the 439/459 pistols but I may be in error).

 

[ACEd]

2 other concerns on the second generation - and I think some first generation - there was a recall for the hammer drop safety not functioning properly. Some pistols not affected - check s/n and there is a test. And lastly, the 2 sided safetys on the 2nd generation used a screw on right side to secure lever - some people have reported problems with screws working loose - I have seen a 459 locally with screw replaced with a non-correct screw so this appears to be an issue on some pistols.

 

[Dave Baird]

Ok, I got it, Ed about the 459 vs. stainless and the earlier guns. The one 459 I am looking at locally has an Allan screw instead of the Phillips! Thank you!!!

Thank you as well, Larry! I'm kinda an old nostalgic guy myself. I was an LEO many years ago when six shooters were being replaced by the Smiths. If I remember, right before I left, I had just gone from a GP100 to a 659, but then sold it right after without gaining any experience with it. Years ago I owned a 5906 for a short time but sold it for my WWII hobby. I am a fickle %$^#$%. But, after reading some very good article online about both these pistols, I'd like to try one again!

 

[quikdraw67]

I have a 5906 "NOS" and it's probably the 3rd Generation that I shoot best with. Great trigger, short reset, fits my hand.

I always perceived the 2nd Generation pistols as clunky, especially the ones with an adjustable rear sight.

Given a choice, 3rd Gen or go home.

 

[Dave Baird]

Thank you, QD!

 

[mikeruns]

The 2nd gen pistols are like holding a plank which in turn makes for a flighty slide recoil in my opinion. Being rectangular in grip shape does not make it comfortable like a 1911-which I have heard some state. Not a bad gun, actually a very good pistol that I'm sure one could get used to the grip. The 3rd gen does have a more ergonomic grip in either the straight or curved versions and that is what sells/sold most people. Both pistols will last for thousands of firings and handle recoil well due to their full steel construction/heft. They are both built like a tank. You will have to handle both and choose, most will choose the 3rd gen. Cheers!

 

[epj]

The 5906 will likely be the better pistol. If you can find a TSW version, so much the better. Better yet might be one of the alloy frame versions.

 

[ACEd]

The 5906 will likely be the better pistol. If you can find a TSW version, so much the better. Better yet might be one of the alloy frame versions.

5906 - Stainless frame and slide - 38 oz
5903 - Aluminum Frame, Stainless slide - 28 oz
5906TSW - same as 5906 but more precision matched and slightly wider frame & slide and different barrel
5903TSW - same as 5903 except TSW mods as above
5946 - same as 5906 but DAO (if you like DAO)
5904 - same as 5903 but blued

5903 is lighter - easier to carry, but may feel more recoil.

If you decide to consider 5903 or 5903TSW, check interface of barrel lugs to frame. I bought a 5903TSW online that was really beat on aluminum side of interface. Seller took gun back so all good. Most likely someone ran really hot loads (+P+?) and stainless barrel is harder than aluminum so frame gets the damage.

5906 tougher frame and lots more out there to choose from - also may still find a NOS gun - there was a large batch of 5906 and 5946 NOS released last year. Prices started around 600 but ended closer to 800. Also there were some decent surplus guns last couple of weeks selling at $499, but they may have been adjustable sights that many people hate.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I went in the opposite direction. I bought(NIB) and still use my 3906. Single stack. Never "cottoned" to fat, pregnant look of the 5906.

 

[Racer X]

I went in the opposite direction. I bought(NIB) and still use my 3906. Single stack. Never "cottoned" to fat, pregnant look of the 5906.

But they never made 32 round mags for S&W single stack 9s!

 

[Dave Baird]

Thanks, guys!!! I certainly appreciate the information!!! I guess I am weird, I really like those odd adjustable rear sights!

 

[Trooper224]

The 5906 is the better gun. None of the changes from the 659 were done to cheapen production. S&W brought gunsmith Wayne Novak on board to improve the design in terms of ergonomics and sight options, as part of the Autopistol Improvement Program (AIP). This highly successful program resulted in the 3rd Generation line, some of the finest service handguns ever made. The 1st and 2nd generation guns are cool in terms of nostalgia, but they're clunkers compared to the 3rds.

 

[LVSteve]

Some 5906 pistols are more special than others...

 

[jimbo728]

659 for me, Have539&559 both great pistols.
Jim

 

[Sevens]

Thank you, Sevens and Ed, very much!!! I sincerely appreciate your time and expertise. Two questions I have from your posts please:
1. Is there an outward way to tell if a 5906 has MIM parts?
2. Is a 459 better than a 659?

Thank you!!! Dave

1) the MIM hammer is the dead giveaway, it looks like a part that was created in a mold, it isn't flat-sided like the older forged hammer, it has cutouts that are obvious when you look at the hammer from the side. The trigger has a mold line on it. The MIM parts are black, the earlier 5906 forged parts are silver (flash chrome?)

The forged hammer and trigger are absolutely fine, but the MIM parts tend to have better triggers in my experience and in the experience of many others.

2) the 459 and the 659 are similar but the 459 is a blued slide on an alloy frame, the 659 is all stainless. The 459 would be better for all day duty carry, the 659 would perhaps be more enjoyable for shooting and would certainly have more durability.