I am looking at buying a NIB, never fired S&W model 39-2. Asking price is $650, includes 2 magazines and the original blue box. Is this a deal or stay away.

Where you are located, if the gun is as described, that would be a good price. 39-2's are a great classic, largely unappreciated by the culturally unenlightened people of the world before the turn of the century.

I have to agree. In a normal market, a box-fresh new, unfired 39-2 with that original box, papers and two mags is worth more than $650 and in California... jack it up higher.

Definitely a fantastic buy at $650.

Truly new (unfired) in its original factory box with everything? In California no less? Sounds like a winner to me!

FWIW bought a still new in box 39-2 with only two magazine about 6 months ago for $400..............for this market it was a good deal.

Calf......... I guess you pay what you have to for what you can find in the state.

Wow! If by "still new in box" you mean a 39-2 that was never fired (outside the factory) or otherwise messed with, then you stole that gun. So-so used ones with one non-period magazine are going for up to $600 around here. Average used price is still mid to high-$400's, usually without box. For $350 you can usually get one with frame scratches and not too much rust on the slide.

I think I did extremely well on mine, but no way is it unfired. It may not have been used very much and it was certainly well cared for by it's previous owner... but brand new it is not. Up here, brand new carries a very high premium.

Thanks to everyone for the info. The box contains the owners manual and brush. I used to own a model 39 but sold it decades ago, Total cost of the gun will be $720, have to pay Calif taxes and Dros fees.

Next big question is should I keep it unfired and in the box of go out and have fun with it?

Shoot it. It's far from rare or highly collectible.

Tough question! I have my shooters and I have my safe queens. A new-unfired-in-box-with-everything Model 39-2 in my world would remain a safe queen regardless of what I paid for it. But rest assured that I am not lacking for shooters.

I consider myself fortunate that my own super-nice 39-2 is not unfired... so no tough decision for me to make.

Agree with TTSH! For our area I have only seen 1 39-2 which was co-signed with the asking price of $700 last year at a LGS. Came with the blue cardboard box but have now idea if it was fired or not. Seems Third Gens are goin for bigger bucks out our way to me. Wish I had one to shoot and one to save of em all!!

I agree with just about all the above posts. You are getting a very fair deal for California. If the gun is flawless, I think I'd keep it that way. Like TTSH, I have plenty of other shooters including a very nice 39-2. However, it is pretty easy to keep your gun in LNIB (like new in box) with careful handling, shooting and cleaning. I tend to baby all of my guns. At the range I'm careful how I put them down, pick them up and transport. The only guns I holster are my stainless hiking/fishing/camping guns. Dang things just cost too much to be careless with. And the next owner will be pleased with what he will be getting. Good luck with yours.

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I'm gonna grow fins.

I will disagree 66%!

It is absolutely not rare, in that I do agree. With over 347,000 produced, we can forget rare. However... one does not need to be rare to be collectible. FACT: Colt made over HALF A MILLION Python revolvers and I can assure you that they are collectible.

My position is two-fold:

I say that if it is NIB... no, do not shoot it. Production ceased in 1982. At the latest it is 25yrs old and likely older. They will never be made again and they are iconic and collectible and finding a high grade one isn't hard. I most definitely would not shoot it.

However, I will also never be in the group of folks who believe their values are THE answer, and I wouldn't blame you or condemn you or be mad even if you took something HORRIBLY rare and shot the wheels off it! These aren't people, these are handguns and toys to most of us, so if you want to shoot it or drill holes on the slide and mount an optic... it may turn my stomach but I believe it is yours to do as you like.

Buy it, shoot it, enjoy it. Take good care of it. It will never be worth less than what you paid for it, especially in Kalifornia!

I saw quite a few NIB unfired Model 39-2 and Model 59 last year at shows in my area and from owners. I "had" 3 of each last year..

This year I have not seen a NIB yet.

The Austin TX Show is July 1&2 so I'll see if any and how many are shown.If they're there they'll be in the asking $900 range for blue ones.

I have only my 90%+ 39-2 shooter and 3 original 8rd mags left.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

As with anything, the value of it is determined by what the buyer is willing to pay. I found one advertised locally over four years ago, being sold by the original owners brother as part of his estate. The seller was not an enthusiast of firearms, but knowing it was purchased new by his brother and had never been fired by him, he believed it must be worth $1,000! He was unable to sell it for several months (I was keeping an eye on his ad), I contacted him, told him I was a serious buyer, and explained the going rates for one at the time. I made him a more than fair offer and a couple of weeks later he accepted it. I payed less than the asking price, but it is still the most expensive "used" semi auto I have ever bought. I have never regretted it, ever. I will never fire it, but that`s just because I want to keep it that way (there will never be anymore 39-2`s made new). I wouldn`t fault anyone else for firing a previously unfired pistol, it`s entirely your choice.

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Totally agree with that, Grif! It has been my experience that many of us "evolve" over time in how we think and approach this hobby/lifestyle of ours. Years back, I was also firmly in the camp of "BAH! Guns were made to be shot! Never would I own a handgun that I wouldn't shoot! Nonsense!"

Well, let me describe how that has changed for me. Now, I love to own an unfired handgun -IF- the opportunity arose for a decent buy. I don't care to pay market for an unfired collectible but for sure, when the deal is right, I am thrilled and proud to own one. And when I really, REALLY like a mint or NIB gun or simply something so old that I choose to not shoot it? Well, I go out and find a well-worn companion of it and you bet I shoot that one.

I believe it's quite possible for anyone from the "all guns must be shot - never own an unfired gun" camp to evolve over time just the way that I have.

At the end of the day, it's also pretty likely that I send more rounds down range through a slew of guns than the folks who think I'm nuts for keeping a couple of them unfired.

I'm certain that we can all get along, all doing things the way we choose, however differently.

I aint going to evolve! Take that beauty to the range with a box of 50 rds and get a treat. Break her in and it will make you feel better. It works!
There is my two cents. Best.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

I'll go with those who have both shooters and safe queens. I have a bit of both myself. If you are in the market for a gun and intend to shoot it then don't pay boxed unfired prices just to turn around and fire it. There are usually very nice examples of most models without boxes and fired some but well taken care of and much less expensive. JMHO.

Now you go and do what suits you.

I sold a LNIB 39-2 with everything a few years ago for $650. I would consider that a fair price. That was in Wisconsin.

I bought the gun today and have to wait for our 10 day hold to pass. I have never had a safe queen. I bought the gun because I had a model 39 back in 1974 but sold it in 1976. I liked the gun, and that is why I bought this new one. The gun shop I go to has not had a model 39-2 in the shop for the past 3 years, not a common gun to see in the shop. I may put it in the safe but don't know long I can avoid the temptation to shoot the gun. Tough decision to not shoot a gun at a that price but it looks better than any similar models I saw on Gunbroker.

Well, I certainly have no idea about the California market... but well used 39-2's are amongst the easiest guns to find, and for low money in my circles. Whatever you do, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. 39's are easy to love.

Excellent move...iconic gun. Now that you've made your move I can come clean. I have 4 39-2's but I only shoot one of 'em! Two nickel and two blue and I shoot one of the blue one's. The shooter I take out as much as I please and the others will go to the grandkids of which only one is born so far and 1 1/2 years old. (I'm sure they'll shrug their shoulders and sell them on GB for the newest Glock!)

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Well, I'll tell you what I did. About a year ago I bought one from a dealer I know, unfired with the box and goodies. I have $650 in it. Too nice to shoot, so it is a safe queen. Then, i searched the pawn shops and found a nice condition shooter. Cost me $325. And I run it like a rental car. They are too fun to shoot.

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

I wish it was easy to find other 39-2 guns or even later 2nd gens pistols but living in California I cannot buy a gun that is not on the Dept of Justice roster. I can buy only private party guns with a transfer done by a local gun shop. Cannot buy on Gunbroker or other auction sites, limited to what comes through a local shop. Sucks living in such an anti gun state. I can buy new guns that are on the roster but I pay the new gun price.

Funny how things turn around....five years ago 39-2's were on gunbroker selling for 295 - 350 any day. Then a couple of years ago they started creeping up..............today OUCH. Still very nice handguns. I still have mine from 1975!!

Just scored a NIB 39-2 in its original box with all goodies. Two mags are still wrapped in wax paper and don't have any sign they have been loaded. Question: the mags are so "un-used" and are covered with sort of dried gun oil or something. Upon I pick it up in 10 days, should I clean it or leave it as is, I mean, in case I don't want to shoot them for now. If I clean the gun as well as the mags, can I still claim it as NIB? Thanks!

I definitely would and folks who own and display guns at shows (actual shows, which I attend) certainly will clean up a long stored/forgotten but unfired/NIB gun.

So take the items all out and wipe them down carefully! If it were mine, I'd certainly field strip, take off any old dried up crusty lube and lube it properly now.

Thanks! Will clean it up and post some photos!

My humble opinion... worth exactly what you are gonna have to pay for it ... is as follows:

Since the mothership stopped making Model 39-2 pistols in 1982, 35 years ago, the terminology "new-in-box" applied to any such gun really isn't all that accurate to begin with. It implies no prior sale at retail, no prior owner, no transfer or registration record on it anywhere and manufacturer warranty in full effect.

We certainly know what you mean and I'm sure it is in pristine perfect condition just as it left the factory (no corrosion or finish degradation, etc.) so may I suggest that what you really have is an unfired "as-new-in-box-with-everything" vintage handgun. Absolutely nothing wrong with that! I wish it were mine!

In regard to the ability to "claim it as NIB" after you have messed with it a bit and cleaned it up, I still think that my suggestion above is a more accurate and honest description. Will the resale value go down as a result of your messing with it a little? Maybe a small amount depending on the potential buyer and how he or she views it... but probably not enough to worry about.

Shoot the 39-2 and enjoy it to the fullest.

It will not be a collectable in your lifetime.

Every year more of the Model 59 and 39-2 show up here in Central Texas as NIB in both nickle and blued.

I recently saw a Model 559 NIB.They are much scarcer than the 59 and 39-2

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

Stop, your shovel is full!

The 39/39-2 was a tremendous commercial success in any way the term is defined. Out of production since 1983 but yet folks are STILL buying them, thrilled to get them and cannot wait to come here to talk about them.

There isn't a thread of truth when you say it "won't be a collectible", it is already well established that it is.

Yes, it is not rare. Does not need to be rare to be collecible, it ONLY needs to be in demand. In the case of a 39, it is long out of production, much loved AND in demand.

I've been told, or have read, that every handgun in my collection, with no more than 4 or 5 possible exceptions, is not a collectible handgun... ... and yet here I am collecting them. What the heck?

Let me offer up the notion that any brand or model gun can be collectible if someone chooses to collect them... so saying something is or isn't collectible doesn't make sense. On the other hand, a particular gun may be collectible to one person and not of interest to someone else. I get that too. I don't think there is an organization that decides what is or what isn't collectible unless you start talking the Fed's C&R list or something like that for antiques.

To me, an S&W Model 39-2 in top shape with everything is a highly-desirable and collectible handgun. To others, maybe not. I'm very pleased that I finally found mine. I wouldn't mind finding a few more like it.

I had the same problem...found one unfired in the box with all the stuff...paid $700 for it.....then went out and found a $350 pawn shop one in good shape so I could shoot it.

Robert

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760