Good morning all,

I just acquired a 539 nickel LNIB and have found what I perceive to be rough machining marks on top of the slide running 1.5" back from the front sight toward the ejection port. My question is, with the rarity of this gun, do these marks affect its value?

Thanks for your input,

Brian

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I've seen those machining marks before. It wouldn't prevent me from buying it.
As I've said before, I've never seen a 539 in person let alone a nickel one. You have a rare bird there. How about some more pic's.

I really have to agree with the way 824tsv just put it. That's a typical "look" for these pistols, it also wouldn't otherwise prevent me from buying it. Without sounding like an apologist or making excuses... these guns were kind of produced to fill a duty or service type of job, and to that end they were not exactly finished with an elite style of detail or polish.

I expect that some produced look a little better and some look a little worse, but for that gun, I wouldn't say it takes away from it a whole lot.

Well, easy for me to say I suppose.

Just spoke to Smith & Wesson historian Roy Jinks who advised this is a very rare bird indeed....roughly 500 produced. He also stated the gun was made by people who do make mistakes and it is possible these are machining marks. He felt since the gun was so rare that I hang on to it....which I will. Thanks for the input everyone!

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My 539 is blue. I never thought the overall finish was great but I bought it new in 1983 because I liked the idea of a steel frame 39.
You have a cool 539. Looks ok to me. The machining, I could live with.
Jim

Could cover the marks with duck tape, the silver kind so it blends in.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

I don't know if the nickel plating has anything to do with the defect, but the finish on my blued 539 is as fine as any other older S&W, which is to say it's close to perfect (minus the user-added light high points wear, of course).

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SWHF #448

That's just machine tool "chatter", blade was probably a little dull, or the application pressure a little "high". No biggie, a lot of Smith's from that time frame were indeed a little rough, for example most 629 no dash 44s have always looked a little rough, I have seen a few exceptions, and at the end of the 70s beginning of the 80's that was true of lots of guns.

By around 90 through the early 90s they produced some of the most beautiful guns I have ever seen, if anyone knows of a 5" Classic DX, I would be happy to buy it if reasonably priced. They were almost without exception, beautifully machined and finished.

-db-
That`s a nice finish on your 539. Wish mine held up as well.
Mine was carried a lot and shot little. It didnt take long, even with good care, to see wear on the frame front grip surface. The safety lever on my 539 is plum colored which is common on many of them. Yours seems a normally blued color.

My 559 seems to have held up better.
Jim

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If I saw that for sale I'd be on it like a fat kid on a smartie.....

It's beautiful and I would be proud to have that in my collection, and show it off at every opportunity.

PSSSST!!!
When the guy above says a "Smartie" he is basically talking about a plain M&M, lacking the identifying "M&M" on it. To him, a Smartie is not that chalky sugar disc that we know.

Here's a 439 nickle, 539 nickle and 639. Only 1975 nickeled 539s were made.

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That is a stunning trio Cyrano.

I have an immaculate nickel 539. I was searching the forum and not finding anything on them but this thread. I am not certain mine has ever been fired. I'm considering parting with it. If interested you can contact me at [email protected].

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