Smith and Wesson Model 59

[Colt562]

So I might be purchasing one from my uncle, I know the basic things about the model 59 but can someone tell me any of their experiences with it? and how much it might be worth? its stainless

[Fherot]

My mom has a nickel slide / black frame one I recently detail stripped and put back together for her. After learning it's ins and outs and mechanical operation by tinkering with it I think it's a good pistol. You can still buy mags for them and some Wolff springs if you want to lighten up trigger some though I felt my mom's particular 59 had a nice DA/SA pull and operated smooth as butter after a cleanup despite being neglected by previous owners and never cleaned since the 1980's.

They aren't worth particularly much. Mom got hers with a Galco holster and 1 magazine for $300 I think but that's cheap even for a 59. Not junk by any means just not wildly sought after like a registered magnum or something.

[Colt562]

OK thanks and yeah i know they arnt worth much cause my uncle has had it for 10 years or so and I dont know if he has even shot or cleaned it. Thanks for you input

[bohoki]

they are decent

you just have to use the slide stop as a tool then reinstalling the slide as there is like 3 or 4 little saftey levers you have to depress all at the same time

[003]

Unless you want it for the family value/connection, I would stay away from it. You can get many newer better quality 9mm pistols today. I speak from experience. As a young police officer I was issued and carried one of the first model 39’s out. For being a first generation 9mm it worked ok, but did have its issues. When the 59’s came out many on my Department, (and I was among them) purchased a 59. As I recall the ones we got were from just about the first factory run. At that time they were LE only, which of course made them that much more desirable to own.

In a word, they were junk. As I recall during range qualification, not one officer on the line could get through a full magazine without one or more stoppages. I did my best to follow established break-in practice and fired 200-300 rounds of factory ammunition and never got through a magazine without 2-3 stoppages. I think I got over 50 stoppages out of the first 100 rounds I fired.

After seeing not only my results, but those of my fellow officers, my gun went up for sale at a local shop, as did just about all the other guns purchased by other officers. All were immediately scooped up by collectors, which shows the power of advertising (and gun writers) and the interest in owning one of the first double action high capacity “wonder nines”.

As a collector item they may be ok, but not as a serious self defense gun, so I guess it depends on why you want it.

[Colt562]

It's more for family, my dad also patrolled with it

[gumby]

I must have got lucky, both of my 59's worked great and I still have them. My dept. though is long gone, absorbed by the sheriff's dept.

[Rivers]

I bought an all-nickel Model 59 when they first came out in the 1980's. Still have it. When it was new, it was very reliable. Today, the occasional FTE so I think that it may be due for some new magazine springs. The trigger is very decent out of the box. The FTE's could also be from very aggressive hollow point ammo rather than practice ball ammo.

If carrying, the only caution I'd make is to use the manual safety if you have a round in the chamber. This is a difference between the 59 series and later generations. Also, no +P ammo, at least in my version. The alloy frame won't appreciate it.

All in all, a decent gun. Not excellent but certainly better than even some current guns. Especially with the family connection, I'd keep it.

[bwiese]

Agreed with Rivers.

I'd love to have a 59 myself.

(Prob actually a 459 since those had NICE blueing.)

[den888]

My Dad had a 59 and I owned a S&W 459, which was super reliable. Never had a FTE/FTF and sold it in 2010.

[mtenenhaus]

i've had good luck with the model 59, has been very reliable for me. not too heavy, not too wide, new springs really seem to make it run great.

[Colt562]

Where did u get the new spring set at?

[mtenenhaus]

http://www.gunsprings.com/Semi-Auto%20Pistols/SMITH%20%26%20WESSON/NUMBERED%20SERIES/cID1/mID58/dID261

[pyromensch]

i have 59, got it third hand, was nickel plated, had it stripped, and blued, but it never functioned well, and wasn't very accurate. my dad, has it somewhere at his house.

probably why S&W went to the three number, then 4 number series

[Colt562]

Well I hope this one functions like some previous positive posts