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Old 04-10-2019, 02:43 PM
procol procol is offline
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Default Model 39-2 question

I recently bought a S&W 39-2 and the barrel looks a bit strange: 1) it has no 9 mm Para marking, 2) is not blued (looks like stainless steel) and 3) protrudes about 2 mm from the bushing. Otherwise it is identical as in my other 39's. What could that be?
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Old 04-10-2019, 03:34 PM
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Sounds like one of the replacement slides of the day. Pictures?
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Old 04-10-2019, 04:31 PM
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You are talking about the barrel, not slide? I don't ever remember seeing a blued barrel.
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Old 04-10-2019, 04:36 PM
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what looks like stainless? barrel or frame and slide. be a aliitle more specific, pls.
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Old 04-11-2019, 07:28 AM
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It might be an aftermarket barrel. Please post some pictures.
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Old 04-11-2019, 12:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by procol View Post
I recently bought a S&W 39-2 and the barrel looks a bit strange: 1) it has no 9 mm Para marking, 2) is not blued (looks like stainless steel) and 3) protrudes about 2 mm from the bushing. Otherwise it is identical as in my other 39's. What could that be?

Might be from a newer model, e.g. 639, 659 etc.
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Old 04-11-2019, 01:16 PM
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Here are some pics.
The barrel is a little longer than barrels on other 39's I have (about 2 mm longer) and looks great. My wife: "Oh, what a nice barrel!"
It has a bulge near muzzle, similar to that on the M52 barrel though not that prominent, and fits the bushing tightly, like in M52.
And BTW, I have two early 39's, one steel and one alloy, and I have different mags. Which is correct with early 39's, matt or shiny finished?
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File Type: jpg barrel.jpg (82.1 KB, 114 views)
File Type: jpg muzzles.jpg (31.7 KB, 117 views)
File Type: jpg both-barrels.jpg (37.3 KB, 115 views)
File Type: jpg mags.jpg (91.3 KB, 103 views)
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Old 04-12-2019, 08:12 AM
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I do not think that is a factory S&W Model 39/59 barrel. The feed ramp profile reminds me of the very early "humped" ramp 39 barrels, but the machining of the barrel in the cam blocks and the edge of the chamber do not match those of S&W produced barrels. There were very few aftermarket S&W 39/59 barrel manufacturers. Bar-Sto was one, but their barrels would have been deeply roll marked on the top of the chamber. EFK may have made barrels for the S&W 39/59, I just can't remember because if they did, they would have stopped making them a very long time ago.
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Old 04-12-2019, 10:18 AM
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Are there any markings on it? Sounds like an aftermarket match barrel.
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Old 04-12-2019, 12:31 PM
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No markings at all.
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Old 04-13-2019, 11:22 PM
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Not sure about the barrel. I don't think it's a factory S&W barrel, hopefully it's a quality aftermarket replacement and not a garage fabrication. Good rifling?

I'm not too familiar with the early 39's and haven't seen that matte finish on a magazine before. I know the older magazines used a metal, X-shaped follower, and the newer ones were black plastic. If you post pics of the followers another member may have something to add.
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Old 04-14-2019, 07:03 AM
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The riffling is perfect and the barrel looks really ok. I will take it to the range to check it but it turned out that the manual safety plunger was missing (fortunately the spring was still in its well) so the plunger will be rolled by the locksmith soon.
The followers of both magazines are X-shaped metal.

Last edited by procol; 04-14-2019 at 07:17 AM.
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Old 04-14-2019, 10:56 AM
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The metal "X" followers were the first version Model 39 magazines. I think the black plastic follower was introduced during 39-2 production.
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Old 04-14-2019, 11:42 AM
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Thank you, that's I know, but I am uncertain about the finish.
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Old 04-14-2019, 12:46 PM
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I have seen both matte finish and gloss blue finish on two magazines in the same box, bought together new. No rhyme or reason.
I believe the matte finish was less common but just barely, as I have many examples of both and they are from varying years of 39 series pistols.
The follower you have came with most no-dash 39 pistols and their predecessor, the S&W 9mm.
The floor plates got a bit shorter at some point as well. I believe with the 439/539 issuance.
Your barrel looks a lot like an un-marked 639 barrel.
For kicks I put the 639 barrel in my early 39-2 and it is 1mm longer, marked differently, obviously stainless (shown in the pics next to the blued one) and otherwise the same.
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Old 04-14-2019, 05:24 PM
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Mine has no markings at all, but has a nice bulge that causes a tight fit with the bushing. And it is really nice, all polished and shiny.
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Old 04-14-2019, 06:24 PM
Aircrewman Aircrewman is offline
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My initial impression is that it's a Bar-Sto replacement barrel. I had a Bar-
Sto for a Glock which had no caliber marking and was slightly longer at the muzzle. It was also very highly polished. If it is a Bar-Sto, it is a very well made barrel and you will appreciate its craftsmanship an accuracy.
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Old 04-20-2019, 03:48 AM
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Default A Short Primer: Models 39, 52 and 52-A Magazines



In the above image, the magazine to the left carries a largely flat magazine follower and accompanied the so-called "Pre" Model 39 and would at first also accompany the newly named "Model 39" (at serial number 2625).

At first and roughly though serial number 8000, only one magazine, with the flat follower, was supplied when packed for retail sales.

Later packed with two magazines from the factory, the variously named "skeleton" or "X" magazine became the first magazine revision associated with the newly named Model 39, this according to The Smith & Wesson Model 39, Its Variations and Modifications, by Richard A McMillan, ca. 2005.

The 39-2, released for sale in 1971, incorporated a number of changes and, with respect to the magazine, was especially influenced by Smith & Wesson's famous and still fabulous mid-range target pistol, The Model 52 Master, which carried a black nylon magazine follower well before the considerably revised Model 39-2 hit the market.



Also laid at the feet of the Model 52's introduction in the early 1960s was the loss of the above-pictured "9mm," as was found on the Model 39's magazine butt, or bottom plate inasmuch as Models 39, 52 and 52-A shared a common magazine bottom plate.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Later.
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