School me on the S&W model 59

[bainter1212]

So a buddy of mine inherited a S&W model 59 in 9mm recently. His father was a police officer in San Francisco during the 60's and 70's and it was probably his duty weapon.

We took the gun to the range (I was teaching him to shoot for the first time as well) and I walked him through the four rules as well as how to operate his weapon (once I figured it out).

The weapon is DA/SA, with a heavy but smooth DA pull and a very short, nice and light SA pull. The frame is aluminum and the gun feels very light for it's size. The slide-mounted decocker doubles as a safety. The gun came with one double stack mag.

I was surprised at how little felt recoil there was despite the alloy frame. In fact, it was so enjoyable to shoot that I offered to purchase it (he politely declined). This gun is accurate! Very comfortable and ergonomic. I am not normally a DA/SA guy but sheesh! I just about fell in love.

What should I know about this model? I told my buddy I would find out all the ups and downs......so I turn to my friends here on THR. Google searches turn up zilch.....most of the info concerns all the subsequent models.

Are there any inherent flaws? Any problems I should look for?

Thanks in advance guys.

 

[Monac]

Back about 35 years ago, when I first started to make enough money to buy guns, I bought a magazine called "Handgun Tests". It was no relation to the current "Gun Tests" publications. "Handgun Tests" did not accept gunmaker ads; they simply went out, bought guns and shot them, then wrote what they thought of them in very blunt language.

The publisher (Phil somebody) specifically said that it was the S&W Model 59 that gave him the idea to do this. He said he read nothing but good things about them in the regular gun magazines, went out and bought one, and had nothing but trouble with it. He said he found out it was an open secret that Model 59's did not work properly right out of the box, but needed work by a gunsmith that knew what he was doing.

Not long after that, Smith & Wesson switched to the "2nd Generation" automatics with 3-digit model numbers...and shortly after that, I lost all track, as S&W seemed to introduce new auto-pistols every week.

That's everything I have heard about Model 59's. If you've got a good one, I'm sure it's a fine gun. But getting a good one can be tough, I guess.

"Handgun Tests" later became "Pistolero", and maybe other names. I still have one or two old issues. I think I heard that Phil somebody went bankrupt, maybe more than once.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Welcome to the underground world that is S&W autoloader appreciation.
I have a second gen model 469, always keep an eye open for other double stack 1st, 2nd and 3rd gen models.

Anyway, the 59 is a first gen, along with the 39 (single stack) and 69 (compact double stack).
They are built like tanks, eat just about any ammo. Mine will even feed empty cases. Stupid reliable. Variations of the 39, 59 and 69 lasted in full production from the 70's to the 90's.

They spawned a wide variety of models and calibers, but they are all pretty good.

Too bad your buddy didn't sell, but not surprising either.

Here's the Wiki article. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_&_Wesson_Model_59

Thankfully, despite being discontinued now for years, they are popular enough to continue offering magazines. The Marlin Camp Carbine 9mm used the double stack mags, the Kel-Tec P11 uses them as well. I've heard of the golden unicorn that is the Kel Tec SUB-2000 that is set up for these mags as well. Capacity ranges from 10 rounds to 32 rounds. Lower capacity rounds may not fit the mag well of the 59 series, but they all fit the 69 series.

http://www.keepshooting.com/s-w-model-59-series-magazine.html These are aftermarket mags, I have a couple for the 69 series, but they are fantastic mags. Pro-mag (I know, I know) offers 15, 17, 20 and 32 round mags. I have a 15 and 20 round Pro-mag and never had so much as a hiccup. Pass the links on to your pal, or save it til you buy one for yourself.

 

[rcmodel]

+1

I have a Model 39-2 I have owned for half my life.
1000% reliable and accurate gun.

I bought an early Model 59 a few years later.
And it was the worst, least reliable, most inaccurate S&W S&W I have owned in my life..

I wouldn't touch another one with your 10' pole!

The later generation wide mag Smiths were great guns.
But the first Model 59's weren't.

rc

 

[USAF_Vet]

RC, naturally, is correct. The 1st run of the 59 had issues. But many of them run flawless out of the box. As Monac said, some needed work right out of the box to run right.

To be fair, I've never fired a 59. I've fired my 2nd gen, a few third gen and a 1st gen model 39.

 

[RustyShackelford]

S&W model 59 ....

Just curious, did you ask your friend why his father never took him shooting with the S&W 9mm? Or how your friend got the firearm?
It's not strange for someone to not know how to shoot but you'd think a police officer(even from liberal haven: San Francisco) would want his son to be safe around guns, .
As for the S&W 59, it sounds nice.
From what I know the Las Vegas NV Metro PD was the first large US police agency to carry the model 59 9x19mm.
I think the IL State Police(which was the first US law enforcement agency to use the new model 39 9mm) switched to the S&W model 59 but not for many years.
I never shot any model 59 models but I looked at and handled a few, mostly LE sidearms or gun show surplus displays.
Popular gunsmith Devel was known for upgrades/custom work to the S&W model 59.

 

[Plan2Live]

What should I know about this model? I told my buddy I would find out all the ups and downs......so I turn to my friends here on THR.

The first pistol I ever owned was a S&W Model 459. It served me well until a few short years ago. The metal recoil spring guide rod eventually developed a slight bend on the lip that holds it in place against the barrel. I called S&W to order a new guide rod. While on the phone with them I decided I should probably buy a few extra parts. The Customer Service Rep had to put me on hold and in his words "scratch around" to find extra magazine springs, firing pin springs,, etc. The only barrel bushing he could come up with was stainless, my gun was blued. I bought the parts but moved that gun into second tier position and last year decided technology had moved passed a gun with limited parts availability and zero options for updating the sights so I sold it for the same price I paid for it in 1986.

 

[bainter1212]

Just curious, did you ask your friend why his father never took him shooting with the S&W 9mm? Or how your friend got the firearm?
It's not strange for someone to not know how to shoot but you'd think a police officer(even from liberal haven: San Francisco) would want his son to be safe around guns, .
As for the S&W 59, it sounds nice.
From what I know the Las Vegas NV Metro PD was the first large US police agency to carry the model 59 9x19mm.
I think the IL State Police(which was the first US law enforcement agency to use the new model 39 9mm) switched to the S&W model 59 but not for many years.
I never shot any model 59 models but I looked at and handled a few, mostly LE sidearms or gun show surplus displays.
Popular gunsmith Devel was known for upgrades/custom work to the S&W model 59.

My friend was never very close to his father.....the relationship was always complicated. In fact, all of the relationships between people in that family are complicated.
Add to that the fact that my friend has always been a liberal (still is, but his opinion on the 2A is starting to thaw). Anyhoo....

Thanks for all the replies. I should probably add that the gun did fail many times, mostly stovepipes. It also failed to go to slidelock most of the time. We were shooting 115 gr Freedom Munitions, which is pretty weak stuff.
Wolff sells a package with all of the springs (including an xp mag spring) for $20. I think I will steer my buddy in that direction before the gunsmith.

Despite the failures, the thing was still extremely accurate and a pleasure to fire.

 

[Nanook]

Add me to the list of those having troubles with an early model 59. It would not go through a full magazine no matter the ammo.

3 different smiths looked at it, it still jammed.

I sold it to a co-worker, with full disclosure of the problems. I think he liked how it looked and he bought it anyway.

It was the worse gun I've ever owned over 35 years.

 

[Ruger Redhawk]

Back in the mid 1970's I worked full time and part time for awhile in a gun shop down in S.FL. We did repairs. Back then once in awhile we'd see a model 39 with problems but seeing a M 59 come in was a pretty regular thing. It's been so many years ago I don't remember what the issues were but I do remember seeing allot of them come through our shop.

 

[Jim Watson]

Sounds like your guy got one of the good ones. Enjoy.
A friend here had one, his brother loaded for it with the .38 SWCs he had on hand and it shot like a champ. He regretted having to sell it to pay tuition.

 

[rodregier]

Had a S&W 469, 659. Worked as received.

I modified them with better sights, reduced trigger springs, heavier recoil springs, extended magazine release for the 659, smoothed up the sear engagement for the triggers and added Bar Sto barrels (not all at once

I put over 5000 rds thru the 469, probably more thru the 659. The slide stop hole of the alloy-framed 469 was becoming oval. (The barrel transmits it's recoil force into the frame thru the slide-stop pin). I replaced the frame of the 469 (that was quite a dance), and later sold both of them on. They worked fine, I just wanted something different.

I switched to Glocks.

 

[PCFlorida]

My first centerfire autoloader was a model 59. Big heavy 9mm, never had any problems with it, though I don't recall it being overly accurate. Kept it for years even after I switched to a Beretta 92 and then Glocks. Back in the mid 90's a friend gave me ~ $400 for it.

 

[Penoe Hunter]

I have a 659 that I bought new, it has fired every thing from cheap surplus corrosive prime ammo to 9MM +P+ police issue without a hiccup over a thirty year period.

 

[golden]

Stay away from that 59

BAINTER,

The model 59 became notorious for reliability problems. Some came from the factory and worked perfectly, others were ok and many were just unreliable.

S&W sold a huge number of them in a short time as police and firearms enthusiasts just had to have them. S&W eventually replaced them with the second generation autoes which solved the reliability problem, but still had heavy triggers. It was the third generation guns that fixed the triggers.

I lived in a small bedroom community with a 12 man police force at the time it came out. They used the law enforcement status to order 16 guns with every full time and reserve officer wanting one. A number had serious problems with the model 59.

I had a 439, the single collum magazine version of the second generation. It worked fine and shot well enough, but compared to my BERETTA'S or SIG'S, the trigger was just too heavy.

Jim

 

[GBExpat]

I have a 659 that I purchased from a cop 28 years ago. I have always found it to be reliable and accurate. It is the pistol that I use for testing new 9x19 loads.

 

[Murphys Law]

I would avoid the 59 as well. The one I had was only reliable with ball ammo. The third gen versions, such as the 5906 (stainless steel full size), 5904 (aluminum frame full size) and the 6906 (aluminum frame compact) are totally reliable and are excellent values in a used pistol.

 

[frankmako]

back many mango season ago the s&w model 39 was the go to 9mm auto. then s&w came out with the model 59. it was junk. we called it "jam-o-matic". it would not work without some work on it. but it you got it right it was one hell of a gun.

 

[Storm]

Third gen 5900 is good to go. Often overlooked is the second gen 459 and 659. Wonderful pistols.

 

[texagun]

I had one of the 1st Model 59's when they first came out. I thought it would be the perfect auto. Boy, what I wrong. It was extremely accurate at the range with hardball but wouldn't feed any hollowpoint, no matter what I tried. I soon got discouraged with it and traded it in for a Glock 19. Best trade I ever made. Well, maybe not the best, but I was glad to get rid of the 59. I understand the later Model 59's were pretty good guns and had a pretty decent reputation. I never got up the courage to try one again.

 

[Seven High]

Does anyone know what year the Model 59 was first released for sale? I seem to vaguely remember the Model 59 being sent in small quantities to Viet Nam. They also had problems, mainly with the extractors.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Does anyone know what year the Model 59 was first released for sale? I seem to vaguely remember the Model 59 being sent in small quantities to Viet Nam. They also had problems, mainly with the extractors.

1971

 

[Redcoat3340]

I've got all three generations of both the 39 series and the 59 series, including the 908 (compact single stack, value model). They all shoot just fine, all the time, but I'm not running thousands of rounds through them, nor am I shooting HP's (I use my Sig 6 for personal defense at home, an S&W Model 60 and the aforementioned 908 for concealed carry.)

I've had 0 problems with any of them, except one 5906 that would occasionally ftf....and I sold that one and bought another.

If your friend isn't selling his 59, my advice is to find a 5906 if you like lots of bullets in the mag and don't have smallish hands; or a 3904 for the single stack version that's perfect for medium to smallish mitts.

There is a ton of stuff on the web about 59's....esp. the 5906. Check out the write up on Chuck Hawks when the site comes back up...and lots of other places including You Tube. Also the 39 was an historic, landmark pistol....the first US DA/SA ever made. Finally, go over to the Smith and Wesson board http://smith-wessonforum.com/ and look around there....if those guys can't answer a question about a Smith, no one can.

 

[PRM]

Back in 1976 I bought a S&W Model 59. It was my first semi-auto. I didn't keep it but about 6 mos. Couldn't ever get it to function reliably.

 

[GBExpat]

Interesting ... I can recall becoming aware of the 59 (but not its reliability issues) in the late '70s and wanting to get one, but that never worked out.

As I mentioned in Post#16, I finally got my 659 in the '80s and it has always worked very well.

Reading this thread I am learning that by not chasing down a 59 in the '70s, I possibly, inadvertently, saved myself a lot of grief.