Model 639 and SD Myres - Made for Each Other

[ordnanceguy]

Gentlemen:

Did you ever buy some gun-related item thinking that you don't need it now, but someday it might come in handy? I suffer from that kind of thought process, and as a result I have piles of random stuff hanging around waiting for the golden moment that may never come.

Well, I'm here to tell you that the planets do come into alignment occasionally. More than 20 years ago I bought an S.D. Myres holster. I have always been a sucker for that maker. Proof of that is the fact that I would buy Myres holsters for guns that I didn't own, and some for guns that I knew for sure I would never own. I just could not turn down the beautiful craftsmanship of the Myres company.

And that is how and why I ended up with a Myres holster for the Model 39 pistol. It was an example that someone had paid extra for because of the basketweave and the lining. I liked it and bought it, all the while doubting that I would ever own a Model 39 to put in it since I am mostly a Smith revolver guy. I think it is probably from the 1960s or so.

Fast forward to the 2018 S&WCA Symposium in Reno. While there I spotted a really nice Model 639, essentially a stainless steel M39. And that's something else I like, stainless Smiths. It was in real nice shape with 2 mags, no box but a fair price. We quickly worked out a deal and soon it was shipped and transferred to me.



I don't know much more about the M639 than what is found in the SCSW. That informed me that this must be an early production gun because of the rounded trigger guard and the serial number, A839582. S&W only made this model for about 4 years, I understand, and then the higher capacity guns overwhelmed the auto pistol market. I think this one is from 1983-84, but if anyone has a more accurate date than my guess please let me know. Thus, it is considerably younger than the holster.



I went to work to find that holster and located it in the bunker today. I mated it with the M639 and I think they now make a beautiful couple.



I had a few minutes today to take a couple of quick cellphone pics. Not very good pics but you get the general idea. Here is the reverse side of the holster with the SD Myres marking.



So, I ended up waiting 20+ years to find the pistol for the holster. It usually does not work out that way, but this time it did. Now, if I could only find a use for the rest of that giant pile of stuff I have accumulated over the years.....

[jimbo728]

Very Classy.
Jim

[brjr51]

Nice rig, and a 639 is on my short list.

[jsbethel]

Very nice. Make sure your 639 passes the recall test - http://smith-wessonforum.com/139617057-post5.html

[ordnanceguy]

Thanks for the tip, jsbethel. I just ran the test and the pistol passed with flying colors.

I am going to enjoy shooting this one.

[adwjc]

Charlie,

Beautiful combo you have there!

One other thing to test - make sure that the holster won't hit your magazine release button and release the magazine (don't ask why I raise this issue).

[Engine49guy]

Very nice setup, Good things come to those that wait

To help pin down yours is in between my two

Model 539 Serial A792711 Shipped March 1983
Model 639 Serial A841347 Shipped April 1984

BTW my 639 is the same as yours except it has an ambi safety lever

[tsillik]

Very nice combo!! terry

[SPEEDGUNNER]

I need that S&W ammo box!!

Nice looking rig.

[Jeppo]

Destiny
That gun and holster were supposed to mate.

I do some trading with a great group of people on a local forum. One day, up popped a 639 (A808***) for sale quite near me. I began a conversation and learned the gun was being sold by the son of the original owner who no longer enjoyed shooting it. We made a deal and I had the gun home within about an hour of the original post. The first time I shot it (my first experience with a larger, all metal gun) was amazing and I was hooked.

Flash forward to a week ago. My daughter and I are wandering around a local gun show. We're standing at a table admiring the offering when up walks a guy with two gun rugs. He says to me, "I know you". I turn and don't recognize him and he says "You're the lawyer that bought that 39-2 from me" (sorry NCBeagle, not sure how he could confuse us ). Seems he's stopped renting show tables and now just trolls around shows trying to sell what he's got. We made a deal and I took home a pretty 539 (A746***).

Those two share the safe with the 39-2 I bought from that fellow (with the considerable assistance of "the lawyer") and will soon accompany the 39-2 Nickel that was high on my shopping list and 659/6590; both of which should ship to me this week.

Destiny

[Tenn2]

Sometimes it works the other way around. I have had my 639 since the mid 80s. Being a lefty made finding a nice holster difficult.

Thanks to BG38 (Bob) a nice left handed holster and mag pouch came my way and now my 639 has good company.

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

The M639 is one of the Great Underappreciated Handguns.