Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Semi-Automatic Pistols > Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols
o

Notices

Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols Other Smith & Wesson Semi-Automatic Pistols from the 1950's to Present


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-24-2017, 07:58 PM
H Richard's Avatar
H Richard H Richard is offline
US Veteran
Early 39/52 extractors Early 39/52 extractors Early 39/52 extractors Early 39/52 extractors Early 39/52 extractors  
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: West Central IL
Posts: 22,758
Likes: 18,437
Liked 22,313 Times in 8,245 Posts
Default Early 39/52 extractors

I understand the (long) no dash and -1 extractors for both the Mod 39 and Mod 52 wore prone to breakage, and are literally impossible to replace of broken.

1st, Is the Mod 52 extractor exactly the same part as the 39?
2nd, Does any one know of a source of extractors? Can they be manufactured by a reasonably accomplished machinist?

What has been the actual breakage rate? 2%, 5%, 10%, 20%, (best guess or hard information please).

(Should I buy a 52-1 with a long ejector at a reasonable price, or will be be reverted to "parts" if the extractor breaks.?)

Thank you.
__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Last edited by H Richard; 09-24-2017 at 07:59 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-24-2017, 09:03 PM
colt_saa's Avatar
colt_saa colt_saa is offline
SWCA Member
Early 39/52 extractors Early 39/52 extractors Early 39/52 extractors Early 39/52 extractors Early 39/52 extractors  
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Cocoa Beach, Florida
Posts: 10,559
Likes: 3,037
Liked 22,454 Times in 5,824 Posts
Default

That old wives tale has been circulating for decades.

Buy the gun and enjoy it. If/when it breaks then worry about getting it fixed.

It is not the same extractor as the model 39

No part is impossible to replace given a large enough application of cash.

I have no idea how many tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition have been put through my Model 52 by myself and it's previous owner.


At one point in time I too was worried about the old wives tale of extractor failure. Somewhere I have a spare extractor that I purchased decades ago. I am still waiting for mine to fail.

I only know 5 or 6 Model 52 shooters. None of them have broken an extractor yet either.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #3  
Old 09-24-2017, 09:19 PM
M29since14 M29since14 is offline
SWCA Member
Early 39/52 extractors Early 39/52 extractors Early 39/52 extractors Early 39/52 extractors Early 39/52 extractors  
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Indiana
Posts: 11,907
Likes: 10,039
Liked 10,047 Times in 4,758 Posts
Default

I agree. Buy the gun and worry about the broken part IF it happens. Keeping the extractor, the spring, and the channel or groove it sits in reasonably clean and lightly lubed would be my main concern. Gunked up parts seem more likely to cause a failure than ordinary use of a regularly cleaned gun.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-25-2017, 11:59 AM
Sevens Sevens is offline
Member
Early 39/52 extractors Early 39/52 extractors Early 39/52 extractors Early 39/52 extractors Early 39/52 extractors  
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Ohio
Posts: 7,827
Likes: 9,401
Liked 14,752 Times in 5,026 Posts
Default

I have zero hands-on data and experience with broken, earlier style long extractors. I have long wondered where the absolute bare truth lies behind the years of rumor and "conventional wisdom."

My own personal thought or idea of how we got to this "conventional wisdom" goes like this:

Early 39's had the long extractor. It is the same exact design as the 52/52-1 extractor (but not likely the same part, with different dimensions on the claw end) and I have to imagine that more folks with 39 pistols had some manner of extractor fail than did anyone with a 52/52-1. This is just simple math... far more 39's in use than the elite Model 52 and the 39's likely also worked in a far more harsh environment (service/duty) and were used and handled often by LE... which also meant men who were issued guns they did not own, and who may or may not have been handgun enthusiasts.

Basically, I would tend to believe that 39's received far more harsh handling and I would also imagine that MOST extractor issues were the result of dropping a slide, full force, on to an already chambered round. We know these days that this is NEVER a good idea and not the proper way to handle nearly any semiautomatic.

Smith & Wesson evolved the design and in doing so for the Model 39... they simply went ahead and did it for the similar extractor design on the Model 52.

I have also heard many stories of 52/52-1 shooters that bought a back-up extractor and never needed it. I have seen more than just a couple 52/52-1 pistols for sale and in the "bag of stuff included" comes a back-up, never needed extra extractor.

Yes, I don't envy the position of anyone that happens to have a 52/52-1 with a broken extractor because the part is not easy to find and not inexpensive. However... I can surely say that NO I simply do not hear of people having extractor problems with the 52/52-1. This is not an epidemic.

Knowing what I do know about firearms trends of the 60's-70's and 80's... I would bet some money that some highly respected magazine gunwriters back in the day spread the word about these extractors being a problem... and now it is absolute legend that shall never die.

Just how I see it.

At the same time, if I am looking at a 52-1 and a 52-2 for sale and all else is equal (unlikely!), I would expect the 52-2 to either have a higher price or demand more interest. I myself would choose the 52-2 if the price were the same. I would suggest that MOST other buyers might agree.
Reply With Quote
The Following 5 Users Like Post:
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
For those of you with blown out extractors on your M&P 15-22... I have a question. allglock Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 51 05-13-2020 12:40 AM
Difference in extractors for K-22 jrd1976 S&W-Smithing 2 05-22-2015 04:38 PM
extractors ceg54 Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 1 12-06-2010 11:09 AM
External extractors kilroy2721 Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols 9 05-22-2009 01:04 AM
Tell me about the 4506 extractors mr kablammo Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols 8 08-16-2008 06:52 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:44 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)