Smith 9mm: 659 and Up....

[Confederate]

After the disastrous 39/59 issues, the Smith & Wesson 639/439/459/559/659 series were much improved. But in subsequent issues, part of the back portions of the guns were whittled away and better-fitting plastic grips inserted. Other than that, what were the problems associated with the 639/659 guns? First the extractor was thin on the 39/59, then thick, then thin again. Then the slide stop was changed.

I've been amazed at the improvements of the newer generations of the Smith & Wesson, but I'm also astounded that it took so long to get the problems fixed on the old gun and implemented on to its successors. But I'm curious as to the improvements on the stainless guns in particular, especially the 5906s. Which was considered the better gun? I've heard that Smith cut some corners on the 5906, but if it made it lighter, I'd prefer it.

Thanks for any info!

 

[Mortech]

Have a 39-2 , no disasters encounter , but yes they are good pistols . I'm working on collecting a few . Right now the only 3rd gen I own is a 1006 , fit and finish is impecable so if the 5906 is built to the similiar standards I wouldn't worry .

 

[intrepid953]

Anyone have any experience with a 6906? I just bought a used Ex LE one and was wondering if there are any problems with them. Seems like a good gun so far.

Dan

 

[JoeHatley]

Extractor issues with the 39 were corrected with the 39-2.

what were the problems associated with the 639/659 guns?

I'm not aware of any. Mine is almost perfect.



Joe

 

[MD_Willington]

No problems with my "beater" 5906...

 

[KI4LIV]

659 issue

I have a 659 a number of years ago. The ONLY issue I ever had was the damned screw holding on the right side safety! I couldn't get it to stay on for the life of me!

I tried loc-tite, superglue, and anything else I could find. It would always work it's way loose! Changed screws several times - didn't help.

One day while shooting at the Lake Elsenore (sp?) outdoor range, I lost the right side safety. I can only imagine how stupid I looked coming up on the firing line before opening the next day with a metal detector to find it.

 

[Confederate]

That's strange, indeed! Did you ever get the problem fixed?

Yes, there was an extractor problem with the 39/59. From what I understand, the 639/659 fixed them with the wider extractor. Then an even better fix was made and the extractor size went back to its regular size.

But what about the 559? Do these have any collectors value? I had one at one time and I dumped it for a Beretta. Probably a dumb thing to do looking back on its short run.

The 639 was a beautiful gun, incidentally. I think it was horribly underrated.

 

[[email protected]]

"Anyone have any experience with a 6906? I just bought a used Ex LE one and was wondering if there are any problems with them. Seems like a good gun so far. "

The only problem I have encountered is that there is a piece of metal just to the rear of the slide stop lever that gets in the way of pressing it. If you have long thumbs, you probably have not even noticed it but I have.

Other than that, I am so impressed with it that I have made it my bug out bag gun. It is perfect for that role IMHO. For me, a BOB gun has to be certain things:
1. RELIABLE, most improtant. The 6906 is stone cold reliable.

2. Compact, you may have to hide it as you enter a shelter or other place where you are not "supposed" to have it.

3. In a caliber that can be obtained as easy as possible. 9mm is one of the most common cals even today so that makes it a good choice.

4. Tough and rugged. Fixed sights, SS and alloy frame make it low maintanance and tough.

5. I can afford to lose it so I am MUCH more likely to have it with me even if I am not in full panic mode. I might think twice about throwing a $1000 pistol into my dirty old backpack and leaving it there. It might sit in the car for weeks and a nice blued 1911 would look like hell after a few weeks of moist car living.

I also have some 5906 mags that work in the 6906 which gives me 15+1 rds just like in the big boys. The mags only stick out about an inch so they can be carried in the gun if needed.

 

[GRIZ22]

Anyone have any experience with a 6906? I just bought a used Ex LE one and was wondering if there are any problems with them. Seems like a good gun so far.


The agency I retired from used 6906s for over 10 years and I was a firearms instructor the entire period in an office of approx. 100 agents. I also attended Armorer's School at S&W. I'm not an expert but I have a little bit of exposure to them. The only problems I saw were:

1. When cleaning mant shooters would lay the slide upside down and slop solvent over the interior to clean it. The dirty solvent would seep to the interior of the slide and leave carbon and gunk around the firing pin. Over a year or two this the firing pin would wind up being trapped forward in the channel in the slide. This would result in the gun being tied up as the next round didn't have the You could visibly see the firing pin sticking thru the breech. I saw this happen 3-4 times in the 10 years. I saw this happen later on with Glocks also.

Solution: Complete disassembly of slide, clean it out.

Prevention: Flush out the firing pin channel when cleaning with mineral spirits, gunscrubber, brake cleaner, carb cleaner, etc

2. The tip of the ejector would break off. This did not tie up the gun and it would still function. You wouldn't notice it until you stripped the gun to clean and found you didn't have enough ejector to push down for reassembly. saw this happen twice.

Solution: Replace ejector.

Prevention: None

3. When you drop the hammer do it slowly and watch the safety. The hammer should fall before safety covers the red dot on the slide. If the safety starts to cover the red dot the sear release lever is worn. In other words the hammer should drop before the red dot is covered by the safety. If you ignore it the gun will eventually discharge when the hammer is dropped. I never saw one so worn that this happened even one where the hammer dropped when the red dot was completely covered. Replacement of the sear release lever is the only solution. A cheap part but it may take up to an hour to fit. Had to fix two guns with this problem and they were high use guns.

Overall the 100 or so 6906s I took care of only needed fixing about 10 or so times the most common problem being the hex screw holding the ambi safety would fall out and the agent would lose the safety lever on the right side of the gun and hex screw. These guns had 10K to 20K plus rounds thru them when we turned them in and for about 1000 man years of use there were few problems.

I have a 659 a number of years ago. The ONLY issue I ever had was the damned screw holding on the right side safety! I couldn't get it to stay on for the life of me!

Try the red Loctite.