Hell gen 3 Glocks are $450-500 around here right now if you can find them, sub $400 before the pandemic. I’ve lived in Cali and know what the gun scene is like in normal times, let alone pandemic times. If you can get a M59 in Cali, get it.

Rogue makes some good points - you could do worse, but it’s a good gun.
SB

quote:

Originally posted by maxwayne:
The Illinois State police were first with the Smith 39.

quote:

Originally posted by Kobren:
Never owned a M59 but if I remember right at one time it was the sidearm of the Michigan State Police, allegedly the 1st LE agency to switch to an auto pistol. Might not be the latest greatest but if there's limited choice it's not a bad choice.

That is my recollection also

The 2nd and 3rd Generation 9mm S&W Autos are built like tanks. The Model 59 is a very good gun and still viable.

The model 59 lacks a drop safety. I am surprised that it would be for sale in CA to California pistol buyers. I would prefer the 459 or 559 if available as both have drop safeties.

The 59 is a viable option for sure for people like us that have been shooting pistols for decades. I've got a 5906 that is a very good gun. But for a first time pistol owner, I think your friend would be better off with a newer gun with parts available, night sights, holsters, mags, etc. And learning to shoot a DA auto well is not the easiest to do. It's better than nothing but for a first pistol there are better choices around here at least, but I know California is fucked up.

quote:

Originally posted by hberttmank:
The 59 is a viable option for sure for people like us that have been shooting pistols for decades. I've got a 5906 that is a very good gun. But for a first time pistol owner, I think your friend would be better off with a newer gun with parts available, night sights, holsters, mags, etc. And learning to shoot a DA auto well is not the easiest to do. It's better than nothing but for a first pistol there are better choices around here at least, but I know California is fucked up.

This post nailed it.

Yes, a model 59 could work, but there are easier choices for a new shooter.

I find the grip on the 59 difficult for people with small hands. My EDC is a 669, and it has a better grip.

I have a 5906
Very nice pistol, but heavy
Finding mags and parts gets harder as the years go by.

The other question is what kind of 59 is it? If it's a 1st Gen, I'd say no. I don't have any experience with the 2nd, but 3rd Gens were all good.

quote:

Originally posted by DanH:
The other question is what kind of 59 is it? If it's a 1st Gen, I'd say no. I don't have any experience with the 2nd, but 3rd Gens were all good.

All S&W Model 59s are 1st Gen. The 1st Gen S&Ws have two numbers in the model designation: 39 or 59.

The 2nd Gen have 3 numbers in the model, such as the 659 or 439.

The 3rd Gen have 4 numbers in the model, such as 5906 or 3913. (At least the standard ones do... There are exceptions for "special" 3rd Gen models, including some of the Performance Center competition models like the PPC9 or 945, the Budget Line models like the 915 and 908, and the Chief's Specials.)

So the 2nd Gen x59 and 3rd Gen 59xx models are in the "59 family" in that they are subsequent developments of the original 59 design, but they are not strictly Model 59s, nor are they referred to as a 59.

3rd gens are the sweet spot. My 5906 is a heavy bastage. Only rival in the CHP 4006 (?) all steel 40 I bought I while back. Those guns are hell for stout. I think lights on gins are over thought on HD guns. I put lights on our bedside guns but I don’t feel horribly equipped if I have to pick up the Surefire with the gun. I guess I’m saying that I wouldn’t feel bad using a 59 or preferably it’s later generation version as a HD gun. That CHP 40 I git would not leave me feeling under gunned. Lol

IMHO I would look for something else for him. Around here there are still plenty of 9MM pistols available and this 59 is not something I would recommend for a new shooters first and probably only pistol. Lack of parts, unknown condition/history, and warranty are one big reason why and are you sure the 59 would be a good fit for him? One thing I really like about modern poly pistols is they almost all come with multi size back straps to help customize the fit of the pistol to the shooters hand/fingers.

Have you looked online? Right now Grabagun shows 142 9MM pistols in stock including a Canik for $429. I still see Beretta APX series in stock once in a while for a good price too locally.

https://grabagun.com/firearms/...iber=9mm&p=1&stock=1

https://grabagun.com/firearms/...arrel-15-rounds.html

In the future I bet I can find more S&W 59 parts than Canik. If parts availability is the issue that stops you then I recommend buying only Glock or 1911’s. Those are the cockroaches that will survive the apocalypse. Lol

I think it’s sad that we have come to a place where you recommend new shooters steer away from a good DA/SA gun because it’s too hard to learn. Absolute horse manure. Yet there will be a 50 page thread about manual transmissions. Anything you learn about shooting DA/SA benefits you and translates to other guns. You can’t say that about strikers. Easier isn’t always the better choice. An Ed Brown custom with a pound a a half trigger is “easier”, it’s not necessarily the best choice though.

They are nice pistols. S&W had a recall in either 1978 or 1979 for some Model 59s (I do not know the SN range but think it was for earlier production guns). One of the recalls was for extractors but the others slip my mind.

Thanks for all the info. He bought it yesterday. I believe it will serve him well for his needs (HD and the occasional range trip). It's really hard to find good stuff at a reasonable price in CA right now. The next best gun I found was a Smith and Wesson 915, but it was $100 more and about 90 miles away. I usually recommend a GLOCK 17 or 19, but not for $900.

The only issue is that the frame rails tend to crack. that is for both the first and second gen. We had a bunch of 669's crack and a few 659's. The alum frames can be somewhat brittle. In the past S&W would just swap out the frame to a third gen. That no longer happens and they will not honor the lifetime warranty or repair a damaged frame . Parts are very scarce at this point.


If the price is right it might not be bad but as a first handgun it's probably not the best. The 39's and 59's in the beginning didn't have the best of triggers.

I still have my duty 659. I could hammer in nails with it.

quote:

Originally posted by elberettas:
Thanks for all the info. He bought it yesterday. I believe it will serve him well for his needs (HD and the occasional range trip). It's really hard to find good stuff at a reasonable price in CA right now. The next best gun I found was a Smith and Wesson 915, but it was $100 more and about 90 miles away. I usually recommend a GLOCK 17 or 19, but not for $900.

I was looking at that Smith on Calguns myself. The seller is member of SIGFORUM, though I haven't seen him post here in a while. We were in a Bruce Gray class at Pala a few years back. Your friend got a good deal.

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by maxwayne:
The Illinois State police were first with the Smith 39.

quote:
Originally posted by Kobren:
Never owned a M59 but if I remember right at one time it was the sidearm of the Michigan State Police, allegedly the 1st LE agency to switch to an auto pistol. Might not be the latest greatest but if there's limited choice it's not a bad choice.

That is my recollection also

The first major LE agency ("major" in this case meaning state-level) was the Illinois State Police with the S&W Model 39 in 1968.

quote:

Originally posted by navyshooter:
I was looking at that Smith on Calguns myself. The seller is member of SIGFORUM, though I haven't seen him post here in a while. We were in a Bruce Gray class at Pala a few years back. Your friend got a good deal.

I thought so. I believe I met him a while back as well. I was happy to help him. Thank You!

Parts?