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10-30-2018, 07:24 PM
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Model 39-2
Hi, I am brand new to this site, found it while trying to research info on a 39-2. I am looking at a very nice 39-2 for sale, I was told it was a steel frame but I believe it to be aluminum. I have been trying to find out a little about approximate age but most posts I have seen either have no Letter before serial number or the letter A. This 39-2 has a serial number of G-56xx8-1, any info would be appreciated.
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10-30-2018, 08:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Neil74
Hi, I am brand new to this site, found it while trying to research info on a 39-2. I am looking at a very nice 39-2 for sale, I was told it was a steel frame but I believe it to be aluminum. I have been trying to find out a little about approximate age but most posts I have seen either have no Letter before serial number or the letter A. This 39-2 has a serial number of G-56xx8-1, any info would be appreciated.
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I can't explain the "G" serial number.  Neither can the Bible. Very strange. 
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10-31-2018, 06:52 AM
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That's odd. There were no 39-2's with steel receivers, all of them were aluminum alloy. The serial number is also strange, definitely does not follow S&W's pattern for serial numbers. Perhaps the receiver is not from S&W, but is actually an aftermarket receiver. I know there was a company that made a bunch of stainless steel receivers.
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10-31-2018, 08:19 AM
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I am going back this morning with a magnet and hopefully get some photo's, the more I research the more questions I am coming up with.
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10-31-2018, 08:44 AM
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OH BOY! Another mystery. What is the price?
Pics are the first step.
if priced right, I may buy it. Heck, roll the dice.
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10-31-2018, 01:32 PM
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Sorry guys, Serial number starts with "A" and appears to be from 73-74 according to other posts.The counter man wrote the G-56128-1 down as the serial number on his card. I must have been asleep when looking at it because I swore it was also blued which the one today wasn't. Seems like a good day to go back to bed as I am totally confused now.
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10-31-2018, 04:27 PM
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Now Neil, take a breath. So you see A56128-1? Right.
Mod 39-2 do not have five digit numbers. and the -1 as a suffix.
We need need pics man. and a price.
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10-31-2018, 06:39 PM
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Mike if I saw G-56128-1 or A56128-1 I most definitely would have both a picture posted of the numbers on my new 39-2. As it turns out when I asked the salesman for a card with the price and the serial number, he gave me a card with price and his stock number  The Axxxxxx number on the firearm was different from his card.I overlooked this when getting the card but I am still negotiating for this nickle plated 39-2 which my mind said, it was blued yesterday?
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10-31-2018, 07:11 PM
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OK Neil, I will just tip toe away, and leave you alone.
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10-31-2018, 08:09 PM
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Hey Neil,
I am looking for a nice BLUE 39-2 myself, and I have been for several weeks - maybe you have found yours? Hope so, and good luck!
kas
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11-01-2018, 05:53 AM
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There are plenty of 39-2s out there for everyone. At least a few 100,000 of the 39-2s were manufactured so there's many to choose from.
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11-01-2018, 06:05 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Neil74
Mike if I saw G-56128-1 or A56128-1 I most definitely would have both a picture posted of the numbers on my new 39-2. As it turns out when I asked the salesman for a card with the price and the serial number, he gave me a card with price and his stock number The Axxxxxx number on the firearm was different from his card.I overlooked this when getting the card but I am still negotiating for this nickle plated 39-2 which my mind said, it was blued yesterday? |
WELCOME TO THE FORUM, Neil74. I HAVE LUSTED AFTER A PRISTINE NICKEL M39-2 FOR YEARS. THE RIGHT DEAL AT THE RIGHT TIME, JUST NEVER CAME AROUND....
JUGING BY YOUR CURRENT STATE OF MIND, I WOULD ADVISE YOU NOT TO GO TO THE CASINO TO PLAY BLACKJACK TODAY.....
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Last edited by one eye joe; 11-01-2018 at 06:08 AM.
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11-04-2018, 05:24 PM
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S&W 39-2
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11-04-2018, 05:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Neil74
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Most likely shipped Sep/Oct time frame 1971. Looks good! 
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11-04-2018, 06:24 PM
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That is a darn nice mod-39. Good snag!
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11-04-2018, 06:48 PM
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That's finer than frog's hair.. You done good.
Enjoy it.
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11-04-2018, 06:51 PM
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Thank You, sept/oct 1971 she is enjoying the company of my model 10-6 bought in 1976. The 39-2 cost me $550.00 and I will enjoy it more than ANY new plastic firearm available on todays market
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11-04-2018, 10:15 PM
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You found a great looking 39-2 there. Enjoy one of the most ergonomic pistols ever made.
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11-05-2018, 08:17 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Neil74
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It looks really nice, Neil, but I doubt that is a factory nickel finish. The factory nickel finish was highly polished and applied only to the slide, receiver, back strap, magazine catch, and sometimes to the safety. I have always found the highly polished nickel to be gaudy and too flashy to be practical, so I like the satin finish on your 39-2.
I wonder if your 39-2 is even nickel plated. Looking at the color, I'm wondering if it was hard chromed.
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11-05-2018, 08:36 AM
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Picture in the SCS&W 4th page 343 shows a nickle 39-2
Bright polished nickle frame and slide; nickle on both "match"....... hammer, trigger and sights are blue.
If it were mine I'd be rooting for hard chrome which was a popular aftermarket finish for hard use in the 70s and early 80s before stainless took over.
If you want to get rid of it I'd swap for a 39-2 still in the box; that's a safe queen. 
Last edited by BAM-BAM; 11-05-2018 at 09:02 AM.
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11-05-2018, 08:55 AM
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I agree with chrome (which would have to be over electroless nickel on these frames) for the pictured piece, and the slide looks like stainless. (Could be hard chrome also)
Either way, it's a very nice looking piece and the finish is superior to the factory nickel, in my experience.
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11-05-2018, 09:36 AM
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safe queen
I apologize for the confusion because I had stated in an earlier post that I had found a safe queen, these 39-2's are not as scarce as some here claim them to be. I passed on the nicer safe queen and the gentleman who was competing with me was very grateful as he carried her home to be locked away and forgotten in his safe. I was in fact looking at two blued and well used and worn 39-2's in Tampa and a 3913 in Marsgate and the safe queen in New Port Richey when I came across this gem. The only thing polished is the sides of the slide all else appears to be bead blasted to a satin finish, the frame has all numbers and letters still intact with an obvious heavy hand on the S&W logo. The slide to frame contact surfaces are excellant as is the barrel and rifling, no real wear on the grips and the fit and function are as smooth and crisp as any semiauto I have ever held.I bought the weapon to shoot the heck out of it and carry it everyday
Last edited by ditrina; 11-07-2018 at 08:55 PM.
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11-05-2018, 11:03 AM
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I've owned my Model 39 since 1967 iirc. Serial # 80XX1. Still my favorite single stack 9mm. Still a 98+% pistol.
Last edited by samnev; 11-06-2018 at 06:51 PM.
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11-05-2018, 01:08 PM
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Hello Sam, a little confusion on the Sn. for a 39-2. Some pics would be great.
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11-05-2018, 01:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Neil74
these 39-2's are not as scarce as some here claim them to be.
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Roy Jinks has stated in multiple factory letters that the model 39-2 was made in excess of 347,000 units.
It is a fantastic, iconic, lovable piece of American firearms history, but it is nowhere near scarce, rare or hard to find.
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11-05-2018, 04:49 PM
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Many, many shooters and carry pieces out there as I stated two right now in Armslist one in Orlando for $390.00 and one in Tampa for $350.00. The safe queens are harder to come by as the owners will not let them go for any price. I can understand this because I have a S&W model 10-6 bought new that has between 30 to 50 rounds fired through it, it has never been in a holster and for that reason I now hate to even shoot it. Forty two years later and I realize I deprived myself the pleasure of shooting a firearm that I really enjoyed shooting but did not. That is the reason I passed on the safe queen 39-2, it was obvious the gentleman who was patiently waiting for me to decline it wanted it as bad as I wanted my 10-6. He deserved it to cherish and collect and I found another shooter, both of us walked away happy. I believe I am finally going to put my 10-6 in a conceal carry holster and enjoy it for the reason I originally bought it. Maybe even talk my brother into loading his Colt Python bought the same time as my 10-6 and finally shooting it instead of his Colt detective. Life is short have to enjoy the rest and stop waisting the years.
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11-05-2018, 06:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gmborkovic
Hello Sam, a little confusion on the Sn. for a 39-2. Some pics would be great.
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Correction 80XX1 Didn't hit the the key hard enough for the last digit. Here's the photo.
Sn is 80861 with no prefix. Under that is Model 39 no dash.
Last edited by samnev; 11-06-2018 at 06:49 PM.
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11-05-2018, 10:38 PM
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Just returned from my uncles house and showed him my 39-2 and asked him his opinion on it, I told him it reminded me of one we used to shoot in his back yard. He went to his safe and showed me a 5903 that he believes he bought in 71, this 39-2 is finished exactly like his 5903?
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11-06-2018, 08:23 AM
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Unless time travel was involved, there is no way a Model 5903 was purchased in 1971, nor 1981. 1991 is more like it as the 3rd generation pistols made their debut in 1989. A 5903 would have a satin silver-gray anodized receiver and a bead blasted stainless slide.
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11-06-2018, 08:59 AM
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Yup your right, I need to wear my glasses and stop depending on Uncle Al's 91 year old memories
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11-06-2018, 01:43 PM
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M39 Photo shows Sn 80861 no prefix. Under that is Model 39 no dash.
Last edited by samnev; 11-06-2018 at 06:49 PM.
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11-06-2018, 04:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stansdds
Unless time travel was involved, there is no way a Model 5903 was purchased in 1971, nor 1981. 1991 is more like it as the 3rd generation pistols made their debut in 1989. A 5903 would have a satin silver-gray anodized receiver and a bead blasted stainless slide.
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Was it common to try and refinish a 39-2? What was available in factory finish for the 39-2? I came to this site to learn from collectors and experts with the knowledge and expertise that I obviously lack. I had thought stainless steel slide but it was magnetic? At this point it is what it is, shoots and functions flawless. Extremely nice trigger and reset, looking for another magazine or two, right now it has a Pro Mag smi 16 which works. Thanks
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11-06-2018, 04:55 PM
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Hello Neil, I have asked this re-finish question on alloy 39s and have never gotten a response. I wish you luck!
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11-06-2018, 05:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Neil74
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WOW---THAT IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS ! ! !
CONGRATULATIONS, AND BEST WISHES Neil74.......
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11-07-2018, 07:56 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Neil74
Was it common to try and refinish a 39-2? What was available in factory finish for the 39-2? I came to this site to learn from collectors and experts with the knowledge and expertise that I obviously lack. I had thought stainless steel slide but it was magnetic? At this point it is what it is, shoots and functions flawless. Extremely nice trigger and reset, looking for another magazine or two, right now it has a Pro Mag smi 16 which works. Thanks
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S&W offered the 39-2 in only two finishes, blued slided/black anodized receiver and polished nickel slide/polished nickel receiver.
Yours appears to have been given an aftermarket hard chrome plating. Hard chrome has a number of advantages. It is a very durable finish. It adds a hard surface to the underlying metal. It is extremely resistant to corrosion. Back before stainless steel became a more common metal for firearms, it was not uncommon to send a handgun that was to be carried for defense off to a shop to have it plated in either hard chrome or some sort of nickel.
Plating destroys any collector value, but it does make for an attractive shooter grade firearm. Enjoy your 39-2. Treat it well and don't beat it to death and it will reward you with decades of service.
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11-07-2018, 08:52 AM
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Thank You, for the info on hard chrome.
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11-07-2018, 09:37 AM
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Quote:
Life is short have to enjoy the rest and stop waisting the years.
Reply With Quote
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Yes it is and yes we must.
Neil, refinished or not you have a really nice model 39 that should give you years of service; enjoy it.
The only model 39 I have is close to being to nice to carry or shoot much. In 20-20 hindsight, I would have been better served by buying something such as the one you bought.
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11-07-2018, 09:38 AM
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Connecticut State Police commemorative
S&W made a 39-2 with a nickle slide and black frame for Connecticut State Police commemorative.
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11-07-2018, 02:35 PM
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My Uncle told me "The only thing you can count on is never say never with a S&W, if you like it buy it! Every damn one of them is a piece of art"
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11-07-2018, 08:26 PM
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Yes, S&W did produce some special runs with a mix of nickel and blue, but not hard chromed. Special run pistols are special only if they are still in their original cases.
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11-07-2018, 08:57 PM
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Boxes are harder to take care of than the firearm itself I would have to dig my 3 1/2 inch double action topbreak out and recheck the numbers but if my memory serves me right the box and the 38 are 1895, my 38 special model 10-6 and a little .380 bodyguard and a Beretta .22LR all have their boxes.
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