|
|
03-28-2013, 04:01 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Central TX
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 1,007
Liked 4,522 Times in 1,242 Posts
|
|
Model 39 Military Magazines
Never used magazines and dust cover:
These were designed in hopes of appealing to military customers, but other than small shipments, S&W never landed a big contract for the Model 39. After a couple of years of tracking early pre-Model 39 and Model 39 pistols I cannot detect any pattern as to when the military magazines were shipped with a gun and when a standard magazine (with holes, rather than skeletonized) were in the box. It appears to be random. Same with the dust cover. Does anyone know differently?
Regards,
Kevin Williams
__________________
Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208
|
03-28-2013, 05:25 PM
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Pompano Beach Fl
Posts: 635
Likes: 2,420
Liked 889 Times in 343 Posts
|
|
I can tell you that Navy Seals in Viet Nam had access to S&W 39s. I am told by former Seals from that time period that the 39s had NO serial numbers or markings of any kind on them. I am also told that they had steel frames. Perhaps they used that type of Magazine.
|
03-28-2013, 05:49 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Cleveland
Posts: 966
Likes: 403
Liked 522 Times in 244 Posts
|
|
I have read about ( I think it was here on the forum) about a dealer who would give purchasers of model 39s a dust cover as sort of a "throw in". Like you, I beleive S&W probably shipped model 39s randomly with military magazines until the inventory was exhausted. We will probably never know for sure, it seems S&W did not document which (military or commercial) magazines were shipped with each pistol sold. I have an early 39-2 transitional that came with a dust cover, but no way to know if it was shipped from S&W or added by the dealer. I recently bought a military magazine, but the seller had no history on it, nor any idea what it was.
Last edited by grif684; 03-28-2013 at 05:54 PM.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
03-28-2013, 08:13 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: kentucky
Posts: 1,419
Likes: 1,142
Liked 427 Times in 300 Posts
|
|
Thanks for the info and pics.
|
03-28-2013, 08:48 PM
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,262
Likes: 1
Liked 8,848 Times in 1,529 Posts
|
|
I've really not studied the M39, but once owned this steel framed M39, it had two mags - one was the military mag - do not know if it was originally shipped.
Have only seen a couple dust covers, never had the chance to procure one.
Is Richard McMillan (sp?) still around and active? I'm sure he could provide some info, he was a pretty dedicated M39/M59 collector. Not sure if he's a member here.
__________________
.............SmithNut
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
03-28-2013, 08:50 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Central TX
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 1,007
Liked 4,522 Times in 1,242 Posts
|
|
Nice one! Do you mind sharing the SN (PM, if you like) so I can add it to my survey?
Thanks for considering it,
Kevin Williams
BTW--Mac is still around and I correspond with him pretty regularly.
__________________
Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
09-22-2020, 07:59 PM
|
|
SWCA Member Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2006
Location: South Florida, USA
Posts: 3,577
Likes: 7,970
Liked 4,671 Times in 1,606 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by kwill1911
Nice one! Do you mind sharing the SN (PM, if you like) so I can add it to my survey?
Thanks for considering it,
Kevin Williams
BTW--Mac is still around and I correspond with him pretty regularly.
|
Kevin, found this old post. I have one black and 2 "chromed" military magazines. I'm uncertain if the chromed mags were OEM S&W or done afterward. I presume they are chrome as I evaluated that they were chrome when I purchased them about 25 years ago, and ... true to my belief that they are chrome and not nickeled is that all these years they never even slightly tarnished. They are as bright and clean as the day I purchased them.
What's a fair value on these. THe black/blue is as new, too. thank you. Sal Raimondi
__________________
ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425
|
09-22-2020, 09:08 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central VA
Posts: 8,660
Likes: 1,571
Liked 9,429 Times in 4,226 Posts
|
|
OK, now that this thread is back active, I’ll ask a question... how does the dust cover work? What does it do (besides keep dust out) for the gun? Is there a reason I should make an effort to find one? Inquiring minds want to know...
Froggie
|
09-22-2020, 10:35 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Western WA
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 605
Liked 761 Times in 361 Posts
|
|
Dust cover
And does it have any markings on it?
|
09-23-2020, 08:31 AM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Oviedo,Fl
Posts: 2,329
Likes: 756
Liked 4,992 Times in 1,591 Posts
|
|
I too would be interested in what these military M39 mags are worth .
|
09-23-2020, 09:03 AM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: VA & SoFL
Posts: 8,699
Likes: 473
Liked 5,748 Times in 3,213 Posts
|
|
Mr. Frog, the cover not only protects the ejection port but very nicely
scratches the side of the slide. Just an added benefit.
__________________
Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
09-23-2020, 09:27 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Euclid,Ohio
Posts: 3,098
Likes: 49
Liked 4,134 Times in 1,879 Posts
|
|
Do the mag bottom plate indicate S&W and 9mm ?
|
09-23-2020, 09:35 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central VA
Posts: 8,660
Likes: 1,571
Liked 9,429 Times in 4,226 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by gmborkovic
Mr. Frog, the cover not only protects the ejection port but very nicely
scratches the side of the slide. Just an added benefit.
|
I wondered about that, Mike. Also, in view of their likely use in high stress scenarios, would a Model 39 with dust cover installed be able to be fired, or would it become jammed? This seems like it would be a major consideration!
Also, could a standard Model 39 mag be “skeletonized” to the same configuration as the Military ones or are the holes too widely spaced. With the growth of fakery in the collectors’ markets, this could become a concern.
Froggie
|
09-23-2020, 09:57 AM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: VA & SoFL
Posts: 8,699
Likes: 473
Liked 5,748 Times in 3,213 Posts
|
|
Mr. Frog, I have fired my 39 with the dust cover and experienced no
problems. I guess you could mill out a standard mag body. Never tried.
The ones I have, are stamped S&W on the long base plate.
The prices are all over the place, $100 to $200.
__________________
Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member
|
09-23-2020, 01:51 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Oviedo,Fl
Posts: 2,329
Likes: 756
Liked 4,992 Times in 1,591 Posts
|
|
Oldman10mm , mine says S&W , the & is sideways , but no 9mm .
|
09-24-2020, 10:47 PM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 451
Likes: 23
Liked 263 Times in 113 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by gmborkovic
Mr. Frog, the cover not only protects the ejection port but very nicely scratches the side of the slide. Just an added benefit.
|
Must be bent. Mine does not touch the slide.
|
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|