I picked up this Gunbroker deal yesterday. The 669 in the middle. The seller had perfect A+ feedback and I think he was conservative on the condition rating. It's nearly like new. It needed a good cleaning which it got this morning. I think it's going to be happy with it's two 3rd gen siblings. Actually, the trigger on it is every bit as good, if not better than the 3rd gens. Another surprise.
S&w 669
- Thread starter Racinbob
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wnycollector
Member
congrats on a fine pistol. I love S&W 3rd gens also.
Thanks wnycollector. I love the 3rd gens too but the 669 is a 2nd generation. I had a 669 many years ago and remember loving the feel of it. But that one was in pretty bad shape mechanically and to some degree physically. At that time I didn't know much about working on firearms and sold it as is. Now, after quite a bit of learning I don't hesitate to take most any firearm down to kit form. The 3913 was purchased at a dealer so I knew what I was getting and it was like new. The 4513 was also a Gunbroker purchase and when it arrived it was mint. The 669 didn't look nearly as good in the posting but I set my top bid at what I thought was low and won it before it passed what I would pay. I figured it would need some work. Nope. All the internals look great and it's far better than I expected. I'm going to a gun show tomorrow. Just maybe I can find a deal that I can work on.
I was looking for a 469/669/6904/6906 but could never get the money synchronized with availability in the marketplace. Meaning every time I found one at a good price, I'd already purchased something else and was busted. Finally the planets aligned thanks to Summit Gunbroker and I bought a 6906. I prefer the Novak sights but like the grip design on the 669 better. Go figger! Enjoy.
jolly roger
Member
Suggest replacing the recoil spring. These were known to have frame cracks after some time so it would be good insurance. Nice gun though.
Walt Sherrill
Member
I had one of the 669s, and had a fine trigger job done. (Remember Gunsmith George Stringer, some years ago, who was a regular on the forum?)
I later sold it to the guy who owned the indoor range where I shoot. A year later it developed a crack in the frame, and S&W replaced the gun -- seemingly embarrassed by the crack. (They didn't replace the trigger job, however.)
I don't know that changing the recoil spring will do much to protect the frame -- as the recoil spring isn't primarily intended to protect anything, or even to attenuate recoil -- but simply to close the slide.
(In some guns, a much stronger recoil spring will actually make things worse, as the stronger springs store more of the recoil power and send the slide slamming forward with greater force, and the only thing stopping it is the slide stop...)
I later sold it to the guy who owned the indoor range where I shoot. A year later it developed a crack in the frame, and S&W replaced the gun -- seemingly embarrassed by the crack. (They didn't replace the trigger job, however.)
I don't know that changing the recoil spring will do much to protect the frame -- as the recoil spring isn't primarily intended to protect anything, or even to attenuate recoil -- but simply to close the slide.
(In some guns, a much stronger recoil spring will actually make things worse, as the stronger springs store more of the recoil power and send the slide slamming forward with greater force, and the only thing stopping it is the slide stop...)
Walt, how long ago was it when S&W replaced the frame? I'll only be shooting mid lever reloads in mine but for S&W to repair a pistol this age is amazing. I may bump up the recoil spring another pound.
lechiffre, 2.5 gen, that's funny! Makes sense though. One of the things that caught my eye on my 669 was the safety lever. I think the ambis on the 2nd gens are ugly with that screw holding on the right side lever. I don't even care for or need an ambi. This one is left side only (right handed). I've replaced the ambi on my 3913 with a left side only (saving the parts, of course) and thought about it on my 4513TSW but I think that one will stay as is.
lechiffre, 2.5 gen, that's funny! Makes sense though. One of the things that caught my eye on my 669 was the safety lever. I think the ambis on the 2nd gens are ugly with that screw holding on the right side lever. I don't even care for or need an ambi. This one is left side only (right handed). I've replaced the ambi on my 3913 with a left side only (saving the parts, of course) and thought about it on my 4513TSW but I think that one will stay as is.
Walt Sherrill
Member
It was 7-8 years ago and the owner was also an FFL/ dealer, which may have added some extra muscle to the discussion. I don't think he expected S&W to do much, and was clearly surprised when they did. I was the second owner.
orionengnr
Member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2005
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- 5,717
Don't see too many threads on these...
My fourth handgun (and second 9mm) was a 469, back in...had to be '84 or 85? I've had two 469s since then...just can't seem to hang onto one more than 2 or 3 years.
Honestly, I have a love/hate with the whole DA/SA concept (more hate than love) but the 469 is probably the closest thing I've ever owned to a perfect double-stack, double-action anything...and that includes Glocks, XDs, and some exotics-- HK P7 M10 and M13...
Still, a 469 (or 669) thread still catches my attention and brings back good memories...and makes me want to go look for another one.
Enjoy that 669, and thanks for setting "the bug" back in my mind
My fourth handgun (and second 9mm) was a 469, back in...had to be '84 or 85? I've had two 469s since then...just can't seem to hang onto one more than 2 or 3 years.
Honestly, I have a love/hate with the whole DA/SA concept (more hate than love) but the 469 is probably the closest thing I've ever owned to a perfect double-stack, double-action anything...and that includes Glocks, XDs, and some exotics-- HK P7 M10 and M13...
Still, a 469 (or 669) thread still catches my attention and brings back good memories...and makes me want to go look for another one.
Enjoy that 669, and thanks for setting "the bug" back in my mind
USAF_Vet
Member
My second pistol was a 469. Still have it, still carry it. Built like a tank. Would like to get the stainless 669 to complement the black on black 469. I don't see too many of the 2nd gen S&W pistols.
I wouldn't mind getting a spurred hammer and ambi safety for mine.
I wouldn't mind getting a spurred hammer and ambi safety for mine.
For me, I'm not a fan of ambi safeties. The 3913 (on the left in my OP picture) has the trigger, hammer, slide stop and single side safety parts from a 908 or 910 (stupid me, I didn't make note of which). I like the black controls and got the right hand only safety. I believe the black parts are MIM but it was actually smoother after I installed them. Of course I still have the original parts if I decide to go back. The 669 is right hand safety but I think most are ambi. The 4513 is ambi but I'm not changing anything on it.
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