Purchased this super clean 439 at the LGS last week. Other than slight muzzle wear, it's mint. Unfortunately there's no box (still can't understand why they get tossed or lost), but it came with 2 factory, and 2 aftermarket mags.
The dealer told me that the original owner was the same guy who had engraved his SS # on the frame of the Model 29 that was up for sale 3 months ago, but thankfully he didn't mar the 439.

Any ideas on production count?

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Very, very nice!

And yes, thank God the former owner decided not to mar the frame on your gun!

Thank you!!!

I looked at that disfigured 29 in person. The head shaking happened afterwards.

Ugh! And here I get upset when someone has buzzed a number into a magazine.

Anytime an interesting Smith & Wesson semi-auto comes up for sale and is wearing full wrap-around grips, I always insist on them coming off so I can confirm that some prior owner didn't go crazy with an electric engraving pencil.

You have a nice, later model 439! It could be just my eyes, but the grip panels look a bit long (not being critical). I am certain that you will enjoy it!

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Judge control not gun control!

Thanks for the compliment.
It does look that way, but everything evens out with a magazine in the pistol.

I think you should giddy-up, giddy-up to the range with your 4-3-9!

good play on the lyrics

I'll take it on the next range trip. Will find out how well the aftermarket mags work with it. I have no idea who made them, and they look nothing like the factory mag at the bottom of the pic.

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The 439 just looks so good...

The 439 had a fairly long run, started in February, 1981 and running into the third quarter of 1988.

The Model 439 became the Model 3904.

Inasmuch as the model started with the singular "A" prefix but ended with the beloved (right?) triple Alpha deal, production numbers are difficult to devine. Two knowledgeable sources essentially said, "Huh?" to an inquiry on the subject.

ASP chose to produce a few more of its (in)famous Model 39-like conversions using the 439. (I didn't "get off" on the ASP). (Indeed, had I used illicit drugs during the time periods when either ASP conversion occurred it's highly likely I would've used 'em to forget about the ASP.) Having said such, I should've bought a couple when offered those o' so many decades ago. A "Quest For Excellence" ASP sold for $6,900 in a 2015 Rock Island Auctions, well, auction.

As mentioned by a preceding contribution, the M439 had but two trigger guard styles: an early curvy guard (which also used the short, thick extractor with the silver BB)(I don't care for "round." which requires a dissertation if any explanation is to be made. Ain't gonna do it here); while the second style had a pointy thingy and size 02 sandpaper on the front for goodness knows what. I mean, it wasn't necessary to puncture skin and bleed so as to hang on to it; nor did I experience hassles in distinguishing it from the trigger found to its rear.

Your paid price was a fair price, so sayeth the Blue Book of Gun Values. Also contributing to the information herein is this Forum's gospel, the wondrous 4th Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson.

All things considered, ya did good on your purchase!

Later.

Wow, that is an extremely clean, high grade 439!

I am a little different than some gun guys when it comes to things like original box, electro-pencil name/SSN, "sporterized" milsurps, etc etc.

Oh YES, I love an original box, of course! And no, I don't care to have a guy's name or GOVT issued number carved in to my gun, but I don't lose sleep over it and I sure don't question the sanity of an owner from decades ago. Frankly, this sort of thing was nearly common, in any way we might measure it. For some folks, this was due diligence. It wasn't a ludicrous, sacrilegious defamation of art, it was simply a calling card of an earlier time. Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it. Sporterized milsurps are the same way, this wasn't a big deal when an old issued rifle was a fifteen-dollar buy, best one sticking out of the barrel that you could find.

Even still, to see a 439 that seems to be in this high condition and doesn't have the original box seems odd. But yeah, people just didn't keep the silly cardboard box for a handgun they planned to use. That custom came later.

She is a beauty.

Now you're going to have to get you a "4 speed, dual quad, posi-traction 409" to cart that baby around in! Very nice purchase.

Awesome! Sure wish they never would have gone away but great to see many of these treasures available still.

The few millennial gun owners out there have no idea what you guys are talking about.

While that may indeed be true, it just means they have a whole lot of FANTASTIC coming to them, one day in the future when they discover some of the great guns from "our day." And it wouldn't surprise me even a tiny bit if these same younger folks really latched on to these pistols when eventually they realize what they have been missing.

I began my fascination with firearms in the mid-1980's. It's feels normal to me these days that I absolutely love handguns from the 50's, 60's, 70's and beyond.

These guys who love the plastic today may be fawning heavily over steel & walnut tomorrow. The more, the merrier.

Yes 439 are beautiful handguns.

Mine

HCH...maybe this will help 'em along:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...c58e40220d.jpg

That is a nice looking, later production 439. My 439 is earlier production, with the round 39/39-2 style trigger guard, and fixed rear sight. So glad that the previous owner did not engrave his personal ID information on yours or mine. The thing about engraving social security numbers on guns, items of value, even car windows was super popular during the late 1970's through the mid- 1980's. I remember my local police department encouraging citizens to do such things. The 70's and 80's were strange times.

Yes it is a very nice example of the 439 and it is mine now. I received it yesterday after purchasing from jughed440. It is everything he described and more. It will go to the range Saturday. Great guy to deal with. You can trust what he tell you.

Thanks a lot, Doug. You'll put it to much better use than I did. It has been stuck inside the safe because i don't have enough range time.

She is absolutely gorgeous, my friend! Excellent find.

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Find a way or make one.

This is without any doubt, for me,for:a) its beauty based in the great armony between wood and blueing,b)the seize,c)the acuuracy with FMJ ammo,---- the best, 9mm pistol ever built, I would like very much that S&W considered to list in their Classic Series a new Model 439 pistol!!!!!
I would also say that this could be honestly, the best handgun ever seen in 9mm caliber!!!
Congratulations you have one of these beauties!!!
Best Wishes
Roberto Renauld

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"Off we go..."

I like the idea of a Classic Series 39. Can you imagine how much nicer it would be with CNC milled parts and, dare I say it, MIM fire control parts? If it were to happen, I would prefer to see it with the 3rd gen fixed barrel bushing and sights. Basically, a 3904 top and fire control parts mated to the 39/39-2 receiver.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I think we can say with much confidence that this will never happen. But it seems to me that you could probably assemble something like this with all the goodies that are available. It would be interesting.

Well, you saved your pennies and you saved your dimes,
Before you knew there would be a time,
That you could buy a brand new 4-3-9.....

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Pine_Worker
Ex-LEO, NRA Life

I've considered a 469 top end, but I don't know that reducing the top end length by 1/2 inch is worth $200-$300.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Lovely gun. Lovely 1960s lyrics on this thread. Makes me want to surf, or race for pinks.........or something.....

In re why folks don't keep boxes - who knows? But I lost a closet full of S&W and other brands' gun boxes in my 2018 fire. I felt really badly about that.

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Come and take it!!