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Old 01-26-2016, 01:52 AM
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439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539  
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Default 439 versus 539

I've got 3 pistols in the 39 series: 39, 30-2 and 439.

LGS has 539 for $350....and I'll be dropping by tomorrow to take a look. I'd have to sell/trade the 439 (or one of the others) to finance this as the current rule is one gun in, one gun out.

Near as I can tell the only differences are the all steel frame on the 539 and the fact they only made 8,000 or so. I need to check condition...but wondering what the price differential between them is all other things being equal. I don't mind paying a bit more if the trade isn't even-steven....if condition proves out and it's actually worth more. I'd even sell/trade either the 39 or 39-2 if it turns out the 539 is a "better" pistol.

Comments?
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Old 01-26-2016, 01:57 AM
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439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539  
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The 39-2 is more common than the 539 or 39 (no dash)...probably more made than 439's as well but condition would dictate my decision on both ends.
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Old 01-26-2016, 04:02 AM
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439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539  
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Redcoat, I guess it all comes down to condition and liking the extra weight.
If it were my decision I would not trade the 39 or the 439 to get the 539. 39`s are way cool to own and the anodized frame of the lighter Model 39-2 and the
439 really is nice too. I think I might try lay away or partial payments
in order to to have all 4. As far as price goes, your 3 pistols could be worth more than $350. $350 is a very good price for a good 539 shooter and a very good deal if it`s in very nice shape.
Anyway, I hope you dont have to trade away and still get the 539.
Jim

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Old 01-26-2016, 11:09 AM
t-bird t-bird is offline
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439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539  
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I'm with Jimbo on this one.
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Old 01-26-2016, 03:14 PM
Sevens Sevens is offline
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439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539  
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This is a tough situation but I can tell you exactly how I would approach it. I'm not sure how or why that would help -- as you are not me.

First off, the one gun in/one gun out rule is so foreign to me that you may as well be speaking Greek. And it's tough to ask a forum full of gun nuts to think that way.

A no-dash Model 39 has collector value but beyond that, I can't see one little bit that it offers over a 39-2 except that shooting it and imparting wear to it simply attacks it's collector value. And damage that extractor and now you're deep in the hole. So unless there is sentimental value, you seem horribly stuck with that gun eating up space and keeping your hands tied at shopping. Not only that, but it's likely to bring in the kind of money that makes shopping fun.

Sell the no-dash Model 39.
Now the 39-2 and the 439 are very similar guns. The 439 has some upgraded safety parts and that makes it (by far) the better choice for carry or defense work. Of course... I use soulless tupperware for that duty, so I have very little care for the safety parts in a classic S&W. It's also been my experience that the single action trigger break in a 39-2 is simply (on average) going to have a much more pleasing feel than any of the 2nd Gen pistols.

That means to me, I'd much rather have the 39-2 than the 439. However... if you get rid of the 439, it's going to be harder to find if you want a do-over. There are truckloads of 39-2's and finding them is no trouble.

Lastly, the 539. It almost sounds to me like there is a mistake somewhere in the reporting. If a shop has a 539 for $350, it needs to be purchased ASAFP. If it just also happens to be in very nice condition... for $350, then you could maybe nearly double your money on that if you find you don't like it. These are pistols that seemingly do NOT appear in the places I look, and I look a lot.

It'll also have a much different feel than all of the alloy frame single stacks. I think it might be the sweetheart of ALL the pistols you've mentioned.

Find out who made these "rules" and make an exception for simple mathematics. You can't leave a 539 somewhere with a $350 tag on it, because that's just silly.
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Old 01-26-2016, 04:01 PM
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439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539  
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I appreciate your feelings completely. Only thing of concern is the value part. Unfortunately the 539 and 559 pistols have not appreciably
increased in value or collector interest because of their limited production. Your 39 will. If your 39-2 shoots
well, keep it. Not all do. The 439 is a keeper for most that own them.
There are not that many that turn up on gun store shelves.
But as you say, it`s your decision. Im just thinking about what I would do faced with your decision.
Hope all works out to your satisfaction.
As a parting note, I wish I had kept my best shooting 39-2 and a nice nickle 439 I let go. At least I still have a 539 but that came long after those other pistols were long gone.
Good luck
Jim
Jim
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Old 01-26-2016, 04:45 PM
44wheelman 44wheelman is offline
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439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539  
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Unless the 39 is near mint condition... I would buy the 539 & sell the 39 (here in the classifieds)

I hope you don't run into a 639 or a pre-39...that will just cause another dilemma.
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Old 01-26-2016, 08:06 PM
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439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539  
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Ya snooze, ya loose. And I lost.

Just thought I'd let folks know how it ended up.

Based on the comments here I found another gun I was willing to part with, an Astra A-70 (SA, single stack, in VG condition) and thought I'd just make up any difference in price.

Well, I had an errand to do next to the LGS in the PM and figured I'd kill two birds with one stone....and some guy smarter than me, or at least with fewer errands got there first. When I bent over to look in the case...big empty spot where the gun was. Owner confirmed he'd sold it in the morning.

I felt like *****....I already had it in my hands in my mind, was going to take pictures to post here, and go to the range this afternoon.

A lesson well learned, but after all these years, ya woulda thought I'd already learned it.

Now home sulking and cruising gunbroker.
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Old 01-26-2016, 10:38 PM
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439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Redcoat3340 View Post
the current rule is one gun in, one gun out.
Wife's rule? Practical consideration? Obviously not state law!
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Gunsmithing since 1961
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Old 01-27-2016, 12:14 AM
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439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539  
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Practical consideration: the couch in the living room isn't really comfortable to sleep on and the dog's bed, which is comfy, isn't big enough for the two of us.

It's just the accommodation my wife and I have come to over the years. I really do have (almost) enough guns and there's other stuff I'm hankern after (like a family vacation for all the kids and grandkids on Little Lake Sunapee this summer). So I try to limit my out of pocket spending to ammo or components, new grips, the Apex parts and gunsmith bill for doing my Shield, SD9, and 908, etc.
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Old 01-28-2016, 11:29 PM
MrDanB MrDanB is offline
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439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539  
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Redcoat,
I see you are in Wa. I went into a certain pawn shop in Bothell 2 days ago on my lunch break. I ALMOST purchased a HBAR Colt on the back wall, but I ended up with a model 539 instead. I then joined this site. I'm hoping that it wasn't the same gun you're talking about. Was it on Main St. next to the post office? Here's a pic. If so, I may just owe you a beer one day...
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Old 01-29-2016, 03:31 AM
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439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539  
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That same pawn shop in Bothel has many hundreds of long guns and they don't seem to care a whit about pistols. I bought my old 10-6 .357 magnum there for a song. The guy behind the counter said "which old .38 you want? They are all pretty cheap."

Really nice find on that 539. They will still be making H-Bar Colts for a long time, but will never make another 539. You made the right choice.
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Old 01-29-2016, 05:32 AM
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439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrDanB View Post
Redcoat,
I see you are in Wa. I went into a certain pawn shop in Bothell 2 days ago on my lunch break. I ALMOST purchased a HBAR Colt on the back wall, but I ended up with a model 539 instead. I then joined this site. I'm hoping that it wasn't the same gun you're talking about. Was it on Main St. next to the post office? Here's a pic. If so, I may just owe you a beer one day...
Indeed you do owe me a beer. Two! (I've been buying pistols from Bruce for a couple of years now and picked up my M&P 223 from him as well. I've done pretty well in terms of finding some decently priced 9mms...and THOUGHT I'd scored another one.)

As they say down under, "Good on ya, mate."

Well, at least a member here got the gun. Better than some stranger who has no appreciation for S&W.

Uhhhhh.....any interest in as Astra A-70?
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Old 01-29-2016, 08:52 AM
MrDanB MrDanB is offline
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439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539 439 versus 539  
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Bruce is great! Very knowledgeable, especially when dealing with military variants. Mike (guy with the jewelers headband) said that the 539 was a customers consignment. If it makes you feel any better, I spent 3 hours getting decades of black schmuts out of it I figured magazines would be cheap for it. I scoured the internet and couldn't find factory mags for under $40/ea. ProMags all day long for $18... I got my model 59 from the same store a few years back. I had no problem finding factory mags for it. Let me know when you want those beers
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