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RARE SMITH & WESSON MODEL 459 PROTOTYPE SEMI AUTO

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,500.00 USD
RARE SMITH & WESSON MODEL 459 PROTOTYPE SEMI AUTO

PISTOL. Cal. 9mm Luger. S# A881393. Mfg. late 1984 w/ numerous unusual features. Total Model 459 production dates 1981-1988. Slide has left side only safety/decocker. Plain fixed sights w/out white highlights. Matte flash chromed bbl. having almost stainless appearance. Matte blue (flat black phosphate?) finish. Matte finished S&W checkered high impact plastic grips w/ greenish black appearance. Normal trigger guard w/out squared serrated front. Photocopy (unknown source) of article by Don Schumar titled "Smith & Wesson's mysterious military pistol" (p. 35) suggests about 800 made for U.S. Military trials which were won by Beretta. Article states S&W surprised that less than a dozen delivered for trials & balance of production (A880900-A881800 range) released through normal commercial distribution channels. Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson indicates 803 similar finished firearms produced for FBI as Model 459 & that 30 prepared for 1980-1981 Military trials as Model 459A along w/ a second trials group as Model 459M. Product code 103004 is listed as fixed sights & non ambidextrous safety mfg. 1984. April 4, 1985 factory letter to Valley Gun Distributors references this as 1 of 803 fixed sight non glare blue finished pistols that had not previously been mfg. Further states special required government agency features including those used in FBI Model 459's plus high impact grips also used on XM9 trials pistols. Non glare finish was specified by State Department & under consideration as a standard finish for fixed sighted Models 459 & 439. Last sentence states this variation "has never been produced nor offered to any commercial and/or Law Enforcement Distributors prior to this distribution." Obvious inconsistencies between factory letter & "experts". Blue Book refers to this as FBI Model. Further, factory box label w/ correct S# indicates Model 459, product code 103004 & special order 4256." Second detached box label w/ same S# but product code 103011 & special order number 4268. MAGS: 2 factory 14 rd. mags. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: original box, 2 labels, tool kit & 459/559 manual. Also includes above mentioned article & letter. CONDITION: appears test fired only in near excellent condition. PROVENANCE: Estate collection of Fred Inganamort. (22-1598/BH). MODERN. $650-900.