I will be going out to a local shooting range soon, but had some questions before I arrive. My father-in-law gave me a S&W 9mm 39-2 and I've read a little on the history of this double action weapon, but I'm a very basic novice and really don't understand what the double action is about.

Questions I had--

1) Can the weapon be fired by pulling the slide back, and then pulling the trigger? Is it a longer trigger pull then, and then easier thereafter?

2) Again--I'm ignorant (the weapon did not come with a manual either)--but there appear to be two safeties on the left side. One is a short lever-looking near the rear by the hammer; the other is longer, extending from just above the grip to above the trigger.

* Are both of these safeties?
* Which way do these safeties need to be located for them to be in the "safe" position?

Thanks--as you can see, I'm starting from a level of no knowledge whatsoever.

Lloyd,
Here is a quick link to a website of owners manuls.
This one is specifically for S&W semi auto's, NOTE: they are all slightly different with regards to certain features.
This is the closest owners manual that applies to your handgun.
Your 39-2 is a double action handgun, With one in the chamber pulling the trigger with the hammer up or down will discharge the firearm.

I cannot overemphasize this enough...
Practice, Practice , Practice so you are 100% familiar with your guns features before touching any bullets.

http://www.firearmsid.com/FAManuals/pdf/s&w_pistol.pdf
Understand and practice the functions of your handgun before going onto the range.
The shooting range is a place to practice what you know, NOT to learn.
The Smith 39-2 is a fine weapon and deadly dangerouse in the hands of the inexperienced.

Please take great care before attempting to use this firearm, Many people have been maimed and killed because of a momentary mistake and misunderstanding of proper function of a firearm.
Best regards

Double action trigger pull (hammer down) is very very long and it will seem like the safeties on -be careful. Once the hammer is cocked the pull is much lighter. You really should learn about the gun BEFORE you go to the range - Read the manuals and good luck with your new pistol.

Lloyd, when you pull the slide back you are chambering a round from the magazine and assuming that the safety is off, you will cock the hammer and the gun will be in single action mode. A slight pull of the trigger and the hammer will fall and the gun will fire.

There is one safety and that is the lever just above the stocks on the left side of the gun. When the tip of the safety is pointing down the barrel, the safety is off and the gun will fire. Rotating the safety down toward the trigger puts the safety on and drops the hammer without the gun firing. There is actually a piece of steel that rolls up to cover the firing pin to prevent the gun from firing. The other lever forward of the safety is the slide lock and will hold the action open when the slide is pulled back and the lever pushed up. This will also happen when the last round in the magazine is fired, the gun locks open to let you know that you are empty.

Single action is when you thumb back the hammer to the cocked position and fire the gun by pulling the trigger. You actually squeeze the trigger and pull is merely a descriptive term.

Double action is when the hammer is down and you pull the trigger to cock the hammer and then drop the hammer in one motion. No thumb involved.

As has been suggested, practice these operations with the gun empty until you are comfortable with it. The safety can be put on or off by using the right thumb. This will also drop the hammer if the gun is cocked.

There is also a round button on the left side of the stock area just rear of the trigger guard. This is the magazine release button. Depressing this button will drop the magazine out of the bottom of the gun. And I mean that literally. Make sure that you place your left hand under the magazine as it is dropping out so that it doesn't land on the ground and perhaps get dinged up. That will not make you or your father-in-law very happy.

When handling the gun, always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire. Also always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction in case is goes off accidentally. When unloading a semi automatic, always remove the magazine first and then pull the slide back to eject any cartridges that are in the chamber. If you do this in reverse, you will load another cartridge when you operate the slide and then when you drop the magazine, there will still be a round in the chamber.

When handing the gun to someone, always remove the magazine first and then clear the chamber by working the slide. Lock the slide back with the slide lock button, check that the gun is empty by looking inside and then hand it to the other person without pointing it at them. Again holding the muzzle in a safe direction.

When you first load a magazine into a semi automatic, the chamber will be empty. You must pull the slide back and let it slide forward. This will pick up a round from the magazine and load it into the chamber. The gun is now ready to fire.

I hope that helps. Should you have any questions, feel free to ask. Better to ask now than ask after an incident. Remember to always treat a gun as if it is loaded. If you always do this and visually check yourself, you should never have an accident.

__________________
James Redfield
LM #497

As other have said, be careful with the pistol until fully aware of its control and operation. If you have a junior college nearby, check to see if they have a firearms safety class. Or check with a local gun store. The NRA has safety classes for the public and are highly recommended.

Specifically the Model 39 is double action/single action (DA/SA) pistol, sometimes referred to as a traditional double action (TDA). As the phrases imply, it can be fired double action (hammer down, long trigger pull) or single action (hammer cocked, short trigger pull). The gun is safe holstered with the hammer down over a loaded chamber, safety off (up). Some police departments (early proponents of the Model 39) taught officers to carry hammer down, safety on (down), with the safety flipped up to "fire" on the draw. This practice gives a further margin of safety but isn't necessary in normal or civilian usage. The gun can be carried hammer cocked and safety off, but that's highly dangerous.

One item that need so be mentioned is the Smith&Wesson magazine safety. From the factory, almost all S&W double action pistols came equipped with a magazine safety or disconnector. With the magazine removed, a pistol so equipped can't fire. The trigger will move, but is disconnected from the hammer. If uncocked, the hammer can't be cocked by the trigger and if cocked, the hammer can't be released by the trigger. The safety lever will drop the hammer safely. Please be aware, however, the magazine safety is easily removed. I owned a couple Model 39s and it took a few minutes and a screwdriver to remove the magazine disconnects. It's as simple to reinstall as remove and I'm told that some police officers took out the safeties of their carry weapons. It's easy to check if your gun has the mag safety: Make absolutely certain the chamber is empty (gun unloaded), remove the magazine, check again it's unloaded, and see if the trigger cranks the hammer. If not, the mag disconnect is intact and functioning.

It's an excellent weapon and will serve you well for years if handled safely. Bobble it, however, and like any other firearm, it can kill.

I'm smart enough to know when I'm ignorant, and when to take this good advice, and appreciate it all greatly.

Thanks to all for the replies.