I hope this isn't boring, but I thought I'd share the my experiences with my duty sidearm over an 18 year period....

Just after being hired by my new agency, I was required to purchase, on allowance, a duty pistol (or even revolver, the specifications were pretty loose in this respect back then). At my prior agency, they had issued Model 39-2's, and the department armorer had been kind enough (probably for no other reason than I showed an interest) to school me on servicing them. So the 39-2 was a gun I knew intimately, shot well, and for which I already had all the leather gear and extra magazines. So another 39-2 was more or less a no-brainer for me, although now I couldn't tell you where I ended up buying it, or what I paid. At the time, it was near new, though, and accompanied by the box. It turned out that a couple of old hands in my division also preferred the 39-2, so I wasn't frowned upon for my choice.

I was unfaithful to the old girl just once. When it was the new "last word" and what everyone was switching to, I decided I needed a Glock 17. I even remember the serial number of that gun - AH 038. Now all you law enforcement types know what "Adam-Henry" stands for, and I was assigned to my department's Station 38. So I had to go for it. Bad idea.

On the range, the first thing I noticed was that the rear sight was jammed askew into its recess. So back to Glock it went. Upon its return, it was hardly any better, so off it was sent again. This time Glock got it right, so finally it was time to wring the pistol out on the range. First thing I noticed was that it ejected every shell casing right back into the middle of my forehead. No matter how I adjusted the ejector, same thing. I quickly developed a flinch that absolutely destroyed my usually excellent marksmanship. Then I noticed that already the notches in the plastic magazine bodies had peened to the point that the magazines no longer seated all the way up.

I know that Glock has undoubtedly long since remedied such problems, but I'd lost all confidence in that 17, and never carried it for a single day.

My 39-2 held up well over the years, but after several thousand range rounds, it began to get finicky. So I rebuilt it (you'll recall I'd received some informal traning in this regard) - new main and recoil springs, a fresh hammer and sear, fitted a new barrel and bushing that mated up tightly, but not too much so. Voila! All the functioning woes were gone, never (yet) to return. Near the end of my carrer, my department decided to start issuing +P ammunition. This increased the felt recoil substantially, but the 39-2 otherwise handled the more energetic diet just fine.

Like me, my 39-2 is now honorably retired. These days, it resides in the nightstand, because I'd still stake my life on it.

Attached Images

39-2.jpg (27.8 KB, 429 views)

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Great story and great gun. Thanks for passing that along.
TACC1

Great gun, great story.
Thanks for sharing.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I have always enjoyed reading non-fiction...well-written, happy ending.

I knew those Model 39s were great guns. Thanks for the story and reminding us of how a great gun is a wonderful thing.

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J.D. Roy

Great story Steve. Thanks.
Leo

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Living a dream - S&WCA #2364

Cool story.

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Boomer Sooner

Almost as good as a man and his dog story. Thanks for the read.

Good read. Thanks for posting.

39s are underrated over achievers, and thanks for sharing! Dale

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"Long live the S&W 3rd. Gen.!"

Great Story!

But - what rear sight is that on your 39-2? I have original sights, and two different styles of fully adjustable sights for my 39s, but none look like that.

and I'm not even a 39 shooter (I do have one). I too jumped on the Glock bandwagon back in 1989(I think) and bought a 17. That darn gun put brass down my shirt(front and back), in my face and behind my glasses, etc.! It soon got traded for part payment on a Python and a Gold Cup.....still own and shoot both.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

Wondered if anyone would spot that. It's an MMC (a very high quality aftermarket sight that years ago was available in a configuration that was a drop-in fit for the 39/59 series). Installed right after I bought the pistol.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Thanks! I remembered there was something like that, but I couldn't put the name to it.

MMC rear sight, too. VERY nice gun.

It's certainly no longer "as new" though. The anodizing shows some holster wear here and there, but I always took the best care I could of it within the bounds of being a carried weapon, thus it's still pretty presentable.

A few months back, I noticed that this MMC sight had loosened up, and could be rocked a bit within its mount. I had put in a shim to tighten it up, and yesterday fashioned a nice blued steel one to permanently and completely do so.

Another thing I did recently was replace the somewhat worn Pachmayrs it'd had for years with new ones. I also redid the orange dayglo paint on the front sight (the rear sight does have a white outline that I freshened up as well). So regardless of the onset of old age for both of us, it's remains an ongoing relationship....

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Goony, thanx for the story...I've been debating trading my 39-2 off and on for the past 6 months or so, thinking a needed an SD or M&P in 40 caliber, but your story helped me make up my mind. Although it's the most comfortable in the hand of my 9's, it's not my first choice for carry, I generally go with my HP or 3913. Partly because I'm afraid of marring the beautiful blue finish, so much so that I forget just how nice the 39 shoots.
I'm not even sure why I need a .40, but it will be in addition, not a replacement to the gun box.

Boox

Hard to beat those single stack 9's.

Thanks for sharing!

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S&WCA # 2045

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the MMC sight....

Attached Images

MMC.jpg (33.4 KB, 92 views)

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Very cool story. Nothing provides a sense of security like a history of success.

Back in the day, when my department was about to transition to automatics, I was given the task of testing different brands of pistols for evaluation purposes. The Glock was very new on the market and we got one for testing. I hated that gun, because it had the propensity of bouncing empties off of my forehead! And here I thought I was the only one that experienced that. Obviously Glock corrected that malady as about a year or so later I had the opportunity to fire the then new Model 19. Now that gun I loved. No more tapping on the forehead!

Nice story and great gun. They'll always be one of my favorite Smiths!

One of the nicer feeling pistols to my hand, and always fun to shoot. A natural "pointer," in my opinion possibly better than any other handgun, with the possible exception of the Browning Hi-Power. I don't know why I don't shoot mine more than I do. Thanks for your nice story and continued good luck in retirement to both you and your 39.

Great story!

I put an MMC sight on my Model 39 way back in 1971. Easy to sight in with any ammo at any range you fancy. Wish I still had that gun. Got another 39 with MMCs a year or so ago, it had been carried some. Guy had given some thought to the gun, even though he might have been wrong: he'd removed the magazine disconnector and spring. I have replacements coming.

Edited MUCH later. I just found the special little screwdriver that came with my first MMC sight. It's just a little piece of stamped steel, with a hole in the handle for attaching to a keyring. It's used for the elevation adjustment. Now it's got a tag on it and it residees in my 'S&W Auto' parts box.

Now I know how to ask questions of. So are the optional w&e factory sights a rare thing, or just not something seen very often.

olwogo: They're not particularly rare. I don't know how often they were installed on factory guns, but they also were available in blister packs; I have two of them. I suspect a lot of the ones we see on pistols now came from aftermarket pruchases, since it's so easy to remove the sights.

Well I like the feel of this weapon. I first thought I would sell/ trade this weapon at the first chance, so I could buy me another ccw. But having had the chance to research and play with this thing a little... Thinking I'll keep it. i never have been much on nickel, but this thing is nice! How is the best way to keep a nickel finish? Thanks for the reply! I have found excellent informatioon on this forum! To all the boys; Thanks for your help!

Great story, superb pistol. Thank you for all your years of service! Regards 18DAI

i still need to get a 39 great story

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The Lord cometh and right soon

I too, enjoyed your "Love Story", and thanks for your service! A Model 39 is on my S&W want list...even more so now! Regards, Skip48

That is an awesome love story. Non-gun people simply do not understand the relationship someone can have with a gun.

I hope that both of you enjoy your retirements.
Frank

Enjoyed your story. It inspired me to pull out my 39. This photo shows a newer magazine in it but I have an original 8-rounder too.

I bought this pistol off Gunbroker some years ago, five or six at least. I finally got curious and sent off for a letter from Mr. Jinks. Seems as though this gun was shipped to a distributor in Arizona in 1959.

It's the only semi-auto I own. It feels great in the hand but I have to admit I shoot my revolvers much better.

Every once in awhile I think about trading it to buy something new but your story will help me resist that unsound impulse.

Attached Images

Model 39.jpg (169.6 KB, 47 views)

I carried a gov't 45 from 61-64 while an MP in Germany. When I got out the first civilian semi I bought was a Mod. 39. At first it felt light and flimsy compared to what I was accustomed to, but it shot a heck of a lot more accurately than the gov't issue. I wish I still had it, it is a very attractive pistol.

That is an really inspiring story. I took my new to me 39 no dash to the range a few weeks ago to see how it shot. I was amazed. I am on 1st name basis with one of the range officers (in his 30's). He was really interested (curious) in an old semi auto so I let him shoot a magazine. He owns a lot of semi autos.. mostly new stuff, mostly polymer. He shot the magazine and turned and said 'why don't they make guns like that now?
They are maybe the nicest shooting 9mm ever made

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

I had a model 39 in chrome several years ago, wish I still had it. But at that time was a new husband, new father and low paying job, just starting out in life. Had to sell my gun to pay bills. I liked you're story and I think I will try to obtain another 39 one of these day's. Right now enjoying my 645 very much.