UPDATED 11/25/2019
Thanks to Bill Cross at S&WHF, I have a copy of the original invoice (for over a year now) to Jesse Harpe, with 1021 (experimental X-type upper). It is only recently that I noticed, Jesse Harpe was not charged for SN 1021 on the shipping invoice. It seems 1021 was also shipped as a gift, as were 1001 to 1020.
The Invoice to Harpe has 6 S&W firearms, with 1021 as one of those six, however, there is no DOLLAR amount listed on the invoice next to 1021, Further logical proof, adding the prices of the other 5 listed, add up to the correct total on the bottom for the 5, thus the "cost" for 1021 is not listed.
I wrote Roy a few weeks back, who said, when he has time he'd research a little further to see if there are any other notes on 1021.
My thanks over all these years on this, specific, pre-39 to Bob Hart, Tom Quirt, Michael Tait (RIP), Roy Jinks ... and ... to Kevin Williams, who without his friendship and tutelage, I would have been a less educated Model 39 collector. I'd like to think I may have helped a little, to reciprocate, in sharing of odd and interesting data and physical "39" finds that were "unusual". Now I need is a model 44 and STILL need, at least one, verified, GO pistol. I'm currently waiting on Historical letters, with more yet to request, hoping I might already have a GO pistol.
DCW, member and fellow collector stated he'd give me some Florida, "Good-Ole' boy" insight on Jesse Harpe Co., and Jesse Harpe, himself. That will be a treat. Jesse Harpe, it seems, was one of the "original" semi-auto pistol aficionados, "back in the day" and a bullseye shooter to be reckoned with. Per Roy Jinks, S&W shipments for the Winter shoots held in St. Petersburg / Tampa area, went through Jesse Harpe. S&W in those days, would send Jesse Harpe the presentation guns for the winners.
Also, I will always be thankful to Richard "Mac" McMillan who first helped me with data in the pre-internet days when I first started collecting the 39 series. Back in the days when "the" only way of receiving or sharing data required, photocopies of data and articles sent via U.S. Mail. Thank you, Mac !
>> PLEASE RATE THIS POST, so I get my new toaster from Lee (NOT) >>> Update end.
ORIGINAL THREAD CONTENT:
I've followed this one since the mid 1990s, purchasing it from a long time member of the S&WCA who had purchased it from another long time member of the S&WCA, all here in Florida. 1st purchase by a known member in mid 1990s in Lakeland, Florida (as the purchaser / seller best recalls).
I knew, when I first saw it, it was "special" and not like the standard production 9mms. It did not have the commercially released "production" slide with the wide extractor that everyone dogs on (said or rumored to break easily) but something different that I had seen before ... somewhere.
With the help of the members that first acquired it and 2 other, tenured 39 collector / members it is known that all available commercially released specimens pre-39s SNs: 1001 to 1020 shipped with the standard commercial upper (slide and extractor). Also, all of the SN range 1001 to 1020 were either gifts and / or military shipments, with 1020 being listed in Kevin Williams' GO Pistol book shipped to USAF.
It also seems all subsequent pre-39s that can be located, SNs starting with 1022 to 1093, (of those that could be located and/or documented) also shipped with the standard commercial upper (slide and extractor). I own 1093 and have seen 1054. I also have reliable data on 1027 (IIRC) from another member .. all shipped with the commercial production slide assembly (with long extractor). on 11/19/2019 (or near there) serial number 1029 went up for sale in Germany, at auction. It seemed to have (at least) "an" original box (did not show the rear of the box with hand written SN), and no papers, tools, what so ever. Added here to verify 1029 also had the commercial style wide release extractor type. So 1021 seems all alone with the experimental extractor in and near a close SN range. Good luck in your research, guys.
SN: 1021 has the identical upper (slide and extractor) documented on at least 2 other known, prototype (or experimental), pre-production 9mms.
This shipped to Jesse Harpe Co. a large S&W distributor, in Tampa, Florida, in early 1955. Jesse Harpe, himself, was a serious semi-automatic handgun aficionado. So, from 1955, where it was shipped to Tampa, and where it surfaced, 40 years later, it traveled less than 40 miles. Pretty neat, eh ?
I am only speculating that Jesse Harpe, being such a semi-automatic handgun-guy, probably took an earlly interest in the S&W 9mm project which was S&W's first venture back into semi-automatic pistols in approximately 30 years, since the failed .35 auto of 1913 and subsequent .32 auto, which also failed just by association. It appears that 1021 may be "the" first or (at minimum) "one of the first" shipped to the commercial market.
For you guys that did not known, S&W "borrowed" heavily from the German P-38 taking (almost verbatim) the Walther's safety and magazine. Also, S&W R&D chose to incorporated the slide type like the Colt 1911, with the floating barrel instead of the fixed barrel like the P-38, in the early stages of development. Remember, after WWII, captured German technology was royalty free, typical of S&W. It could be stated the M39 S&W appears as though a hybrid of both the P-38 and the 1911 Colt, in 9mm.
It is only my opinion that S&W intentionally designed it NOT to look like the P-38, as captured P-38s were then (and are now) all over the place, many still being traded at very reasonable prices but post WWII they were dirt cheap. Post WWII the P-38s could be found at bargain prices from most large wholesalers so why would someone buy a S&W if it looked exactly like the P-38? BTW, the P-38 is one heck of a great pistol. Actually, it could be said that the solid barrel configuration of the P-38 makes for a more reliable, stable and accurate shot.
Then later on for the model 59, added some of the Browning Hi-Power features for the wide body and magazine.
Enjoy. R.S. "Sal" Raimondi, Sr. a/k/a MODEL3SW
UPDATED DATA: early pre-39 with prototype upper
Linear Mode
