S&W 659/5906

[NoAlibi]

FYI

Just for information: The S&W 559 is exactly the same as the 459 except the frame is all steel instead of an alloy. The frame is stamped "Model 559" right above the trigger.



Note: My 559 is wrapped up and stored in my safe. For my convenience I got this photo off the net. This one has the Uncle Mike's grips, but mine has the original hard black plastic grips.

 

[GBExpat]

I never knew that my 659 sported an alloy frame.

 

[dogngun]

I used to own a 5904. It was a great auto, my

all time favorite pistol, right after my 1911's. I never had any trouble with any type of ammo and I loved the alloy frame. The frame weighed less than a loaded mag. I used it as my "going to work gun" for driving through some bad sections of town in the early AM. I bought it as a former police duty pistol. I'm sorry I sold it, but I have no use for such a pistol now that I am retired and needed the money more.


mark

 

[sxshep]

I really regret selling my 5946... bought it when Cincinnati Police switched over to the M&P9mm, so they were selling them with night sights and 3 high-cap mags for $240. Sold it two years and 3k rounds through it later for $400 and bought a M&P9c for carry.

I really like the 3rd Gen Smiths... I'd love to find either a 5946, 5906 or 3913 some time in the future

 

[SwampWolf]

I never knew that my 659 sported an alloy frame.

I'm pretty sure it doesn't. All the ones I've seen have had ss frames.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I moved everything to this new thread. The other thread was 5 years old and there is enough new interest/post to give it isn't own thread

 

[NoAlibi]

Apology for misinformation

SwampWolf:

"I'm pretty sure it doesn't. All the ones I've seen have had ss frames."

You are probably right. I did a couple of net searches and I couldn't come up with anything contrary to that. I called Smith & Wesson and all they could tell me was that they discontinued production and I would have to make a request to their historian for more information.

I went to purchase 659 at a S&W distributor in Broward County, FL that only sold wholesale to FFL holders and police officers. The sales person from whom I bought over 15 handguns (who could resist at those prices) seemed very knowledgeable and he talked me out of the 659 because he knew I preferred heavier guns and said the 659 had an alloy frame. I took his word and never even made a hands on comparison between it and the 559.

I don't regret the purchase, but I do regret passing on some misinformation.

 

[9mmepiphany]

It is just easier for those of us who lived through the S&W numbering changes to remember how it works.

with S&W Auto pistols, in their main line, the Gen 2 guns (3 numbers) had their frame designators at the front and Gen 3 (4 numbers) had theirs at the end.
4 denoted alloy frames: 459 or 5904
5 denoted carbon steel: 559 or 5905
6 denoted stainless steel: 659 or 5906

 

[Landric]

I really regret selling my 5946... bought it when Cincinnati Police switched over to the M&P9mm, so they were selling them with night sights and 3 high-cap mags for $240. Sold it two years and 3k rounds through it later for $400 and bought a M&P9c for carry.

I really like the 3rd Gen Smiths... I'd love to find either a 5946, 5906 or 3913 some time in the future

My preference in the 3rd Gen autos is the pre-TSW DAO. The 5946 is my favorite of the 59xx series, and the 3953 my favorite of the 39xx. I also have several DAO .45 ACP 3rd Gens. They are fantastic pistols.

 

[NoAlibi]

"...6 denoted stainless steel"

9mmepiphany:

"It is just easier for those of us who lived through the S&W numbering changes to remember how it works.

...6 denoted stainless steel: 659 or 5906"

Yes and partially yes. S&W 669 has a stainless steel slide and an aluminum alloy frame.

Leave it to S&W to thow a monkey wrench into the mix.

This link shows the 659 to be all stainless steel and the 669 to be half and half: http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg01-e.htm

 

[9mmepiphany]

Yeah, I was aware of that...that is part of what lead to S&W to change the numbering system when they started offering combinations that surpassed the current system's ability to handle.

The model 69, be it 469 or 669 only came with an alloy frame, there is no steel framed version of the M69...like the M42. The first number doesn't describes the frame material, but rather the finish differences of the frame/slide

 

[SwampWolf]

And of course, the 6906 is another exception to the "rule".

 

[TonyT]

I always thought the 659/5906 were built like tanks. Sorry to hear that the frame on the 659 cracked.

 

[Confederate]

I never knew that my 659 sported an alloy frame.

It's not. It's a stainless steel frame.

Having both the 659 and the 5906, I can say that I don't have a preference. Both are great pistols. The 659 has more substantial grips, where the 5906 has grips that, while more ergonomic, are mostly plastic. My hand fits either perfectly, so I like both about the same. I'm sure that S&W found a way to cut some corners on the 5906, but the guns are certainly better than the old 39/59s.