Picked up a really clean 39-2 at my LGS yesterday.

Ran a box of ammo through it and it performed flawlessly: Great S/A trigger, accurate, etc.

Took it home for some TLC and when I removed the ugly Pachmayr grips, I got a bit of a shock (see pics) the previous owner had etched his name and ss# into the front strap.

Naturally, I had just bought a set of correct factory grips so re-installing the Pachmayrs isn't Plan A.

Any suggestions on how to fix this?

Thanks and Happy New Year to all!

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Most economical I can think of is to smooth out the etchings and then use a cold blue.

Doc

That is an easy spot to use the "shoe shine" sandpaper technique. Sand it, polish it and then use a cold chemical to recolor it. A little careful handwork in blending the edges and the average person will never spot the correction. .......

The frame should be aluminum alloy unless it's one of the very rare steel ones. Not going to be able to cold blue it.

Essex 08 xxxxxxxxx

To me means a juistiction and a case #.

Evidence in a case marked under grips was standerds in agencies I worked for. Leave it!

39-2s were also available in nickel plate finish.
Send it to APW Cogan for their nickel finish.
Or their hard chrome finish.
Either will be perfect.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

You could try aluminum black after polishing out the engraving but i've never seen it work so that it matches the original finish. I think nickel plating after polishing out the engraving is your best solution.

Not sure if you could find a set like these for a Model 39, but these were made by Eagle grips for a 59. Something like this would solve the problem.

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Another option-have fore strap milled similar to a 1911 and then refinish with black.

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Patriots Forever!!

+3 for a nickel job. I've used Birchwood Casey Aluminum Black before with mixed results for SMALL touch ups. I wasn't overly impressed with it personally. If thats an evidence# I understand why it's there. If a previous owners Social Security# it's a hellova ****** place to put it.

I liked the idea of having the front strap checkered. I'd then either have it re-anodized or get a brushed nickel finish applied.

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Dave Frost

I covered the front strap with skateboard (traction) tape & relieved the front edge of the wood grip panels slightly so the edge tucked under. Less bulky than Goodyears.
I've used various alloy blackening but none was durable.

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NRA LIFE
Reserve Officer 9yrs

I have had some positive results on Sig aluminum frames using a product called Black Magic. It is also a perfect blend on Remington Express finishes. Just be sure to have all oils removed. I usually use electric motor cleaner.
gaf

I'm with Flagman1776. The least expensive way is to get some skateboard tape and put a strip of it over the offending etching. The skateboard tape will add a nice traction surface to the grip. I have it on my 39-2 and I love it. You can't beat the price and the little effort and time it will take.
The skateboard tape I have is black, (is there any other color?) so you hardly notice it when looking at the gun.

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Remember...Squeeze!

Sure hope you got a bill of sale on this one! Those markings is they are evidence numbers means the gun used to be in an evidence locker. They usually do not get out of the evidence locker under ordinary circumstances.....just sayin........

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Forum consigliere

I am betting that there will be no way to really fix that anodized aluminum frame. Expensive lesson in what needs to be checked on a used gun...

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Pisgah

Down here they resell 'em if the Original Owner cannot retrieve
due to being jailed/etc, or is not able to retrieve them...
as in suicide/etc...once the case is totally cleared.

They figured out that they could buy a lot of gear if they sold off
the used guns for profit at auctions...

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Marlin & Calico Specialist

I'm doubting the gun was evidence. Evidence marks are seldom nicely concealed. Under the grips is something an owner would have done back in the 70s when anti-theft marking was encouraged.

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NRA LIFE
Reserve Officer 9yrs

Thanks to all for your suggestions and advice.

I've decided to have the gun bead blasted, cleaned up, and re-anodized.

As soon as I get it back, I'll post pics and we'll see how it turned out.

As someone has already mentioned, this has been a learning experience!

Back in the olden days; the 1970's....the local police would come to your home and engrave SSN's on anything you had of value.

At the time - it seemed like a good idea!!!!

Find the best & most expensive place to get the refinish job + any possible improvements you can think of and use the guys name & ss# to hack his identity to pay for it, it's the least he could do. Seriously if you have a bill of sale & it was not a private sale try to get your $ back for non disclosure if it bothers you that much.

This would be my first thought. I don't know if its actually an option for you.

Yeah, it certainly was "the thing" in the early 70s. I had my SSN engraved inside the dust cover and on the underside of the barrel extension on my original owner 1969 Model 41, just for the sake of ID. It probably took half the value off when I tried to sell it a couple of years ago.

Also, one of the places I stored it, either the college ROTC or the armory on the ship wanted it marked somehow to prove ownership. The SSN in two places suited them fine.

I would start by taking it back to the LGS and asking for a refund. He should have examined the gun and advised you of this.
Lesson to learn: Examine any used guns carefully before buying. Take the grips off.

1) I agree that this is an evidence marking. Probably officer's surname and case number. (I never understood the sense in defacing someone's property when there was a manufacturer's serial number present, particularly stamped into a durable item rather than just on a tag. I introduced many firearms into evidence without resorting to this and never lost any of them as evidence.)

2) This could have been recovered property from a burglary rather than a "crime gun".

3) Who can tell at this point whether the current grips were on the gun when the offending marks were made or whether they were added later specifically to cover the scars?

4) Spending the money on a refinish is a good investment, since it will deter you from selling or trading away the best all-around 9mm you will ever own.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

For 33 years, 20 as csi ( before it was cool) I marked guns in evidence under the grips. Was taught in 1974 to do so. Maybe I was in unusual section of the LE community.

Sorry for all the trouble, but when I owned it, the gun was a great shooter! Best of luck with it.

Regards,
Bill Essex. .

p.s.
You are doing what I'd do, refinish the frame...

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NRA Life Member

I'd leave it alone. It adds character.

And seriously, where are all the folks from that other thread I started who say it doesn't matter a hoot what a gun looks like just as long as it still shoots?

I'll be interested to see how you make out with that plan. I was going to do that to a frame-marred 3953 I had found but I eventually decided against it due to logistical complications (i.e., multiple separate steps by different companies) and after being told that the re-anodizing process would slightly weaken the frame.

Some of the spray and bake finishes go on pretty thick. I bet some careful sanding and then a spray finish would work and be relatively easy and cheap.

That's what I was thinking. Sell it to one of them and buy another one. Be a lot cheaper and a lot less aggravation than pursuing the options suggested above. They ain't that hard to find.
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

Hi Bill,

Thanks for clearing up the mystery!

The gun is still a great shooter and I am looking forward to many years of fun with it.

It is always kinda cool to outshoot the latest plastic wonder nine with a beautiful old piece of history.

Thanks for taking such great care of it!

a strip on non-skid tape will be the easier and cheap, lots of people use on the front straps anyway.