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1. I picked up an Israeli surplus model 59 a couple of years ago and can echo Pat’s comments. It is a solid, reliable gun. I have used it as a fun run entry in a couple of local matched and it went bang every time and consistently hit the target when I did my part.

2. Pat, I hope you do not mind a short story time. You and I are old enough to remember and young enough to tell the tale. I went through the police academy in 1974. On the range all carried revolvers but one had a S&Wmod 39. The original was designed in the 1950s in the day when every gun shop had a box of Dad’s bring back Lugers, P-38s and Army 45s. The US was looking for a new automatic in 9m/m. The 39 was born. Bring a first generation it had a few flaws. It was first adopted byThe Illinois State Police for general issue in about 1969. When originally designed, all the ammo that existed was hard ball, full metal jackets. When hollow points came into use they would not feed properly. The mod 59 was designed around the browning high power magazine. For a US Navy contract. But that is another story. These were the first generation.
   Then came along the second generation, product improved model. They still had a few bugs. These guns were all made with fitted parts. No computers in those days. The early second generation had an ambidextrous safety, held on with a screw. It would come loose and become lost. Also the slide stop or release, what ever you prefer, was powered by a round with an angle cut. The round was staked in place. It could come loose and cause malfunctions.
   Then came along your model. You might call it a transitional second generation. The slide stop was changed to a spring steel type and the safety was held on by a dovetail, detent, and spring. This was a good pistol until the plastic generation came along in the 1980s. Who could possibly want a plastic gun? The rest is history.
   The Smith&Wesson mod M&P Shield is as good as any and better than some. It just took a while to get here. Your gun is Grand Pa but I loved old Grand Pa. He cannot run with the big dogs, but can get off the porch and bark from time to time.
   Thanks Pat for remembering.

   1. Hi There,

      I cannot reveal my father’s name for OPSEC reasons but he was a Police Officer in Illinois for over 35 years and retired as Deputy Chief in the city he grew up in (Western Suburb of Chicago) I have many news clippings from articles praising him as he won many awards for all of the shooting competitions he was a part of throughout the state. Just my family’s little part of a story.

      Have a Rockin great day!

3. I bought my Model 59 in the late 70s, about the time the Army was spinning up the selection process for the 9mm handgun. I have kept that gun and carry it regularly. One of my favorite features is the M59 ability to put a round in the chamber, then decock it with the thumb safety. One push of the thumb as you draw the weapon and it becomes ready to fire.

   I’m half heartedly looking to supplement the M59 with one in .45 cal, either a 645 or 745. For some reason I’m not comfortable carrying a M1911 in condition one.

4. I like S&W, except those made during the treasonous years while the Clintons were in the Whitehouse. A matter of principle.

5. I bought a brand new S&W Model 411 from a local gun show many years ago (20+).
   It’s a 3rd Generation auto-pistol from the American Pride Series. The gun is in .40 S&W and came with 2 magazines that hold 11 rounds, giving it an 11+1 capacity. Shortly after I purchased it the Brady bill was passed and S&W came out with the model 410 (10 round mags) to comply with the new law. The 411 looks very similar to your model 5904 and was my EDC weapon for a long time. In all my years of ownership it never failed to go bang when it was supposed to, eating any and all ammo I ran through it whether they were reloads or new factory ammo. A very nice firearm IMHO, especially for the price $425 + Tax if memory serves me well.

6. I have a police trade in Model 459. It works, and I trust it with all the loads I use.

7. The first gun I ever bought on my own was a beautiful Model 39-2, all nickel plated. Like yours, it digested all ammo without fail. I bought it from a detective at the PD in Oregon where I was an Exploder Scout and Reserve. I loved that little gun, and when I got my Concealed permit at 18 (one of the last to do so before they changed the age to 21) that Model 39 went everywhere with me. Tucked in nice and tight on long motorcycle rides. Sadly, it was stolen from my apartment in California when I was a Marine deployed to the 1st Gulf War. The MPs did contact me later when there was an NCIC hit for that serial number from a shooting in Chicago- but the Chicago PD refused to return the gun to me… funny how that happened. Many fond memories of that all-metal beauty.

8. My first 9mm was a 439. Aluminum framed with an eight round magazine. I bought in about 1984 and traded it in on a Beretta 92F which I still have today. It was a very reliable gun. It fed all my hand loads including hollow points. The only issue I had with it was that the frame showed some galling at the rear of the frame just below where the safety was. While I had it only a few years I shot a lot of competitions with it and put a lot of rounds down range. I liked it enough to buy a 645 in 1987, I might be wrong on the year. It was a while back. I still have the 645 a great gun. If I remember correctly the model 39 and 439 had a barrel bushing like a 1911 and the 645 dispensed with that system. Thanks for the great article. TTFN

   f

9. Pat,FYI, demolition of Lincon Square Mall was completed last year, we probably met at one time or another as my friends and I spent a lot of time there.

10. I hated the 59 and 04 as well as other models. I’m one who went to the plastic and never looked back because they work, aren’t too heavy and have decent triggers. I’m still using my gen 1 plastic.
    That being said I am glad to see the history and still love their revolvers.

11. Accepted into the LASO Reserve academy for the city of Glendora Ca In late ’82 I believe, last class to start at BC in east LA. I was issued a 59 and it was it was a mess. I purchased a 59 from a LASO Sgt. and it was a dream. Glendora was continuously having us take them to a smith in Monrovia for updates. In 1984 I won the dept. trophy for 287 out of 300 doing monthly qualifying. The gun was a winner and I still have it. Great piece.

12. I like the 39 models because their grip/frame angle almost replicate JMB’s(PBUH) 1911 grip angle. That said my EDC is a modified 3914 which I converted back from a NYPD DAO to a SA/DA with an un-bobed hammer.

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