Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Anybody use a S & W Model 59..

for anything other than pistol whipping someone.




Found a nice one for $300 that's why.

Check to see if magazines are available, might be pricey.

$300 is a great price, provided it's in decent condition. Magazines from a later series S&W auto (e.g. 5906) work, only difference being they have a plastic floor-plate instead of the original steel. At least if you have to "tune someone up" (pistol whip them), being they're metal, they won't crack and break like a Glock!

People either love them or hate them. I happen to be a big fan of the 39-2, but the ergonomics of the 1st gen 59's just don't work for me.
Back in the '80's they had a very mixed reputation for reliability, but I have always found them to be pretty darned reliable. The SEALS used them during Vietnam and they were generally pretty happy with them.

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I use one for a truck gun and my youngest daughter loves shooting it over all the other handguns. Mags are still available from Mecgar

I had two of the more advanced versions back in the 1980s. Completely reliable. Both had the tendency to back out the screw on the mag release under recoil, so needed periodic retightening. I didn't find that they were particularly natural pointers.

The Model 59 (1st gen) is a serviceable pistol that was slightly improved in the 459 (2nd gen) and vastly improved in the "5900 series" (3rd gen). The 5900 series represents a line of pistols with ally or steel frames, different fire control systems, safety styles, etc. The 3rd gen pistols were a result of S&W's collaboration with Wayne Novak of Novak Sights (and a top combat-style pistolsmith). A 3rd gen pistol comparable to the 59 would be the 5903. IMO, the only reason the 3rd gen pistols are out of the market is price.

Also IMO, the only problem with a $300 Model 59 is that the price is too close to a 5900 series pistol. Occasionally on Gunbroker, police trade ins, or local gun shows, 5900's keep popping up in the $350-$375 range. I saw a 5906 (steel frame) recently for $275 - that's unusual, but it happens. I would hold out.

The Model 59 was introduced in 1971, so while they probably made the scene, most of the credit should go to the Model 39 and its variants.

My Dad has a 5906, and it's a great shooting gun. He bought it as a police trade-in with 5 mags for about $350 I think. That's the only experience I have with the 59 series though.

That's right, it was the 39 (old and feeble brain). They were all steel frame versions of the 39. S&W actually developed the 59 as a double stack version of the Hush Puppy, but the SEALS weren't interested in the 59.

Two digit S&W pistols (i.e., the Model 59) were banned as duty weapons by many police departments 25-30 years ago because they had a tendency to fire if dropped muzzle first, even if carried with the safety engaged, as the safety does not block the firing pin from movement. There is no firing pin safety in two digit S&W's. That feature was added in the three and four digit S&W's (1.e., the 459/ 5906) for just that reason. As a result, I suggest that you keep the pistol in "condition three", which is with a loaded magazine in place, but the chamber empty.