Lots of you love the 39, and I was wondering what significant differences are between the 39-2 and the 439?

My 439 has the clear anodized alloy frame, and the rabbit ear adjustable rear sights, with after market Pachmeyer rubber grips. I picked up several sets of wood grips for it as well.

This thing just feels "right" in my hand.

On a side note, I did get a very early spare mag that is probably a 39 mag. It has a funny metal follower that protrudes way down into the center of the spring. Are these relatively rare?

The mags with metal followers are old and thus somewhat more scarce than those with plastic followers. If you're a collector, they're 'right' for 39s but not 39-2s. I have no trouble with the metal follower, but think the plastic follower is a little more slick and thus less liable to malfunction.

The biggest differences between the 39-2 and the 439 are the different style of adjustable sights (windage only vs the rabbit ear style) and the 439 has an firing pin safety and the 39-2 doesn't. For some, the firing pin safety is a crucial element other don't like it. For me I prefer to have one on a pistol I carry, but for range work, I don't care either way. Also, depending on when it was made or how it was ordered, it may or may not have a safety lever on the right side. If it does have one the right side grip will have a cut out for the lever. Other than that they feel the same to shoot.

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J.D. Roy