I've somehow developed a hankering for a M39 - never owned one, but always liked the ergos on them. And, they represent an important part of the evolution of service-oriented autos.

Looking for any advice and/or pearls of wisdom on anything within the M39 world to look for, to watch out for, etc.

I'll soon dig into my SCSW to learn more, as I'm curious about the design changes of steel frame to alloy, etc, and I know ISP used them for some years, running +P and perhaps later +P+ through them. Curious as to how they did with all that.

Thanks fellow enablers

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

The ultimate would be a steel framed pre-39. If you want something to shoot, my personal preference is with the 2nd Generation guns... I like getting away from the alloy frame and going steel (5XX) or stainless steel (6XX) series. I personally inherited a 39-2 and it is equipped just as i like it, but to preserve my heirloom, I'm doing a similar build for myself based on a Model 639, which as far as size, function, etc go is simply a stainless 39. Of course it's your $$$ so it's your choice.

Froggie

Mike will be around shortly to correct us but I don’t think there was ever a steel frame pre-39. The steel frame was an experiment that was determined to not be viable for the market. Less than a thousand were made in two different serial ranges.

If you don’t own any 39’s, chasing a steel frame 39 isn’t the way to start.

I will definitely disagree with Green Frog, I would much rather have a 39-2 than any 2nd Gen S&W 9mm, if the goal was a lovable range gun. Trigger on the 39-2 is likely to be significantly better than any/all 2nd Gen S&W 9mm pistols.

Hello Old Corp, wise choice on a 39. Try this, go to Search and type in Seductive.. It should lead you to a multi page Thread on the 39. If not PM me we will try something else.
WARNING! 39s are seductive and addictive. Be careful. Arm yourself with knowledge. Keep us posted, welcome. Mike

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

39-2. The bugs (such as they were) were worked out by then. I owned and carried two as duty guns at different times and for a full size gun for CC I find them hard to beat. The first had been worked over, "accurized" and was priced accordingly. I sold it to buy one of the first 469s to hit the market (improved design! higher capacity! combat sights!) with which I struggled to qualify and finally replaced with a box-stock 39-2 that had spent it's entire life under the seat of a car. I could not tell a nickel's worth of performance difference between it and the first one.

I bypassed all of the other modern semis until the Shield because they had abandoned the grip profile of the 39 that fit my hand perfectly in order to imitate a Glock or a 2X4 or something. The Shield almost gets it and fits in my pocket, which the 39 never did.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

Hey Buford,If you have a Colt 1911, put it on top a 39 and tell me how close the profile is.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Speaking for myself I would go for a blued 39-2. They were made for a decade or more so there are many out there. A very nice shooter without the box but in good shape would be a good starting point. If you get the fever you can then seek out the example you pine for while always having your shooter to enjoy. I have 2 LNIB (one nickel and one blue) but have never shot them so they are lookers only. Truth be told my blue shooter has brought me more enjoyment than the safe queens...but I'll keep them anyway. Note that my shooter has a red ramp (not paint) which I like but don't see often! And if IIRC my shooter (pictured here) came from a forum member. I would stick with standard ball ammo 115g, 124g or 147g and stay away from +P. I don't shoot +P in any of my stuff...if I want more power I have larger calibers. But that's just me and a different conversation. Replace the recoil spring and enjoy!

Best of luck in your search and let us know what you decide.

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[QUOTE=gmborkovic;140828068]Hey Buford,If you have a Colt 1911, put it on top a 39 and tell me how close the profile is.[/QUOTE

I had the camera out so if it's OK to butt in on the 1911 size comparison I took a couple of pics with a S&W 1911. Apologies to Buford if I overstepped. Sorry I don't have a Colt 1911...yet.

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lhump1961, you dont have a Colt 1911? Well goo get one.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

It appears to me the 39-2 is closer to Commander size than Gov’t Model size, right?

Froggie

My advice is to save a lot of coins. My first 39-2 quickly became “several”.

I’m so confident in the 39-2 that it’ll be what greets you if you come down my driveway without an invitation.

Mr. frog, absolutely. I was thinking frame, grip, configuration.
Sorry.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

I’ve mentioned this before so forgive me for anyone who has heard me say it. But there is a class of S&W guns that were SO good and so popular that they sold like hotcakes and S&W made tons of them and people kept buying them.

The net result is a particular class of S&W guns that are fantastic AND they made so many that they are not hard to find and their prices are typically affordable.

K-22
Model 10
Model 28-2
Model 39-2
Model 469
Model 5906
Model 915
...and others.

Roy Jinks has said that between 1955 and 1983, more than 347,000 units of the 39 were built and sold.

They aren’t expensive. They are iconic. They are easily lovable. I only have three. That leaves a lot left for you guys!

The first 39 replaced a Commander when my department simultaneously banned .45s and SAs (actually, they mandated DA 9mms). It was that 1911A1 grip shape that worked so well for me. The 1911 straight backstrap that is popular again never fit me well.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

The Model 39 is almost the exact same size as the Colt Commander, but they will not share holsters. The S&W is taller from the top of the slide to the bottom of the trigger guard than the 1911, Overall width, length and length from the top of the slide to the bottom of the magazine well are very similar to the Commander. The shape of the back strap is also similar to that of a 1911 with the curved mainspring housing.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I agree on the 39-2. My favorite of the bunch. Its just like shaking hands with an old friend.
Shoots great too!

Interesting the drift in this thread to M1911's.
My current plan is to sell or trade an older Colt Combat Commander, blue in 9mm in order to fund a M39.

A caveat on the Colt is that it's not entirely original - Ed Brown beavertail, long trigger, carry sights, unknown aftermarket barrel.
Hope I can move that to fund the 39.
We'll see.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

No need to apologize, Mike... I was thinking overall size. You’re absolutely right of course, when it comes to frame size and configuration. Anyone who is used to handling a 1911 design gun will be able to hold a 39 series gun quite comfortably, and if they are used to the arched mainspring housing on the 1911-A1, so much the better. Other than the change in location and operation of the thumb safety (and of course the DA first shot) a person who spent a lot of time with “Old Slabsides” can pick up a 39-2 and feel right at home.

Its wide use and popularity are proof positive that the Model 39 was a great design, and the fact that it went through 3 major and many minor revisions and was always so strongly accepted says even more in its favor. Coming from a revolver guy, it took the 39 Series to convert me!

Regards,
Froggie

PS Can you believe a 65 year old design that has been discontinued by the factory for about 30 years still draws this much interest and discussion? It truly must be a classic!

Old Corp, many years ago I had a Combat Commander 45 in electroless nickel. It was stock looking except for the Novak rear sight. It had been slicked up in the trigger and feed departments and would feed anything, including empty cases. I added a blue "upper" assembly in 38 Super to get a product that looked a lot like my current Franken-Smith... in fact that may have influenced this project subliminally!

Anyway, I got it all up and running to suit then as was my habit in those days, got interested in other things and sold it to get something else. I wish I still had that old Colt. You should have no problem at all swapping off the Colt for a 39-2, but if were mine I'm not sure I would... that 9mm Combat Commander is a pretty rare bird.

Froggie

Note to friend Sevens: through luck of the draw I must have gotten an unusually good trigger on my 639. While fiddling with the levers on top of the frame during field stripping and reassembly can be a pain in the tush, the trigger pull, which I haven't messed with at all, is not noticeably different from that on my 39-2 in spite of the extra parts moving around in there! My first trip with to the range with the 639 as purchased also included the 39-2 for comparison. When fired side by side, there wasn't a nickel's worth of difference in their trigger performance.

I would never try to dissuade someone who wanted a 39-2 for themselves, especially in view of the lighter weight to carry, but for me, the added durability of a (stainless) steel receiver is worth considering. This may be the last 9mm I ever "have to" buy. It pretty much does it all for me. YMMV.

The fact that this and several other threads on a series of guns that was discontinued nearly 3 decades ago show bring enthusiastic discussion would certainly reinforce their "iconic" status!

Regards to all my new found friends in the world of Metal Framed S&W 9mms!
Green Frog

I have an early 39-2 I have shot and carried since the early 70s.
It was blue but now a little shiny. It has been thru rain, snow and sweat.
Shoots perfectly.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Amen and amen, brother Mike. The 39s and their various descendants with aluminum or steel frames were a high point in the development of American 9mm firearms, and will likely keep working just about forever!

Join me saying "NO" to Combat Tupperware!

Froggie

Hello Sevens, I spoke with a S&W authority who was at the factory.
About the sequence of steel and aluminum frame manufacture.
They were made both made at the same time in DA and SA configuration. The Factory was covering all their bases for the upcoming trials at Springfield Armory. All I got. Mike

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Back to triggers. I just sat here at home dry firing my 39-2 and my Franken-Smith 639 side by side (DA and SA) and I have a hard time telling which is which if I’m not looking at them. I guess I just got lucky.

Now the heirloom 39-2 can go back into the safe while the F-S 639 will be in heavy rotation for Concealed Carry and Home Defense. I’ve definitely come to the conclusion that you can’t go wrong with the 39 Series of auto pistols. I hope the OP will be as happy with his as I am with mine.

Froggie

The Model 39 is not only iconic, it's one of the most ergonomic pistols out there. Not many feel as good in the hand.

I agree that the 39-2 is probably the most desirable from a functionality standpoint. Previous bugs had been ironed out quite well.

This one is mine. I took it to a combat match many years ago as a backup to a 1911 I had foolishly worked over when I was a neophyte with such things, failing to keep the lower lip of the feed ramp on the barrel about 1/16th of an inch forward of the frame feed ramp. Of course the darn thing jammed on me. Thank gosh I had the 39. I used it for the rest of my matches, and it worked flawlessly. It was shipped in 1980, and I have the box and original goodies that went with it. I used a photo of it for the chapter I wrote on the 39s in my book 101 Classic Firearms.

Find a good one and enjoy it!

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

While the39 court is assembled, would "cerakoted" 39s at $450 make good shooters although the collector value is destroyed?

I'd be leery of that - 39s should be kept original - you could not guarantee that functioning would not be affected due to different fitting tolerances, and you wouldn't find a ready market for it if you ever wanted to sell. Get an untouched original as your best bet.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

OOH! $450, would stay away.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Definitely a hard pass. There are still tons and tons of 39-2’s out there waiting for a new owner to love them, no reason to pay real money for a pistol that some fudd spray painted.

When handling and dry firing a 39-2 and a 639, the first difference that I feel after the large weight difference is the physical shape and contour of the trigger itself, mostly the trigger face and how it interacts with my trigger finger.

The 639 trigger is typical, well and good. It is expected and familiar.

The 39-2 trigger is BETTER. It has a rounded contour that is just better and friendlier to my finger.

I have found myself blessed in that I can hold and shoot any handgun and enjoy it and do so with some proficiency. But then there are some that I like a LOT more than others, that fit better, more naturally, that just hit all my happy buttons. The 39-2 and especially the contour of it’s trigger is one of those.

Sevens if you will:

We are both 745 fans and I may have a hankering for a 39-2 to supplant my 1911-9. If you don't mind kindly expound on your opinion of the 745 vs 39. I know it is a tough assignment. Thanks. bob

Friend Sevens, I have often shown myself to be an unwashed, insensitive Philistine, but I honestly can’t feel a nickel’s worth of difference in the triggers of my 39–2 and 639. The triggers are both pretty sweet, not up to my Bullseye tuned Gold Cup, or my 22 High Standards, but sweet, nonetheless.

Froggie

All good! But is the shape of them the same? I very much wish I were in front of my safe at the moment but I am not.

Wow, 745 and 39-2 comparison. I’d say this is an odd pairing for comparison but I do love ‘em both so why not?

These two were marketed for different reasons, but these days I’ll make the argument that time has put them in a similar place: people buy them now for nostalgia, pride of ownership and simple shooting enjoyment on range day. I say this because one was born as a working service/duty gun and the other as a competition pistol and today, neither is going to fill that role almost anywhere.

The 39-2 is easier to find and buy. They made infinitely more of them. 347,000+ says Roy, and the 745’s production number is much more vague but it’s been argued to be 10,000 to 15,000 units.

The 745 is going to have a higher market price and arguably, value. In the five examples I own between these models (and the 6 others that my local buddies collectively own) it’s safe to say that I have had some solid trigger time behind multiple examples of each. I’ve concluded that the 745 has the higher potential for accuracy. At the same time I have to add that I have consistently found it easier (sometimes much easier) to wring target accuracy from .45 pistols rather than 9mm pistols. Many will agree. At the risk of sounding like a jerk — the folks who absolutely require the top accuracy that a pistol can muster also choose .45 over 9mm at a rate so tilted that it almost makes the 9mm a statistical anomaly. NOTE: I do not, myself, have the ability of the true Bullseye competitor, but I hold them in exceptionally high regard.

The 39-2 is going to be easier to find parts for, easier to find accessory grips/stocks for, and both of them are fairly easy to find compatible magazines for.

The 39-2 was a massive success, produced for more than 13 years and when you consider that (basically) the updated extractor is the only difference between the 39 and the 39-2, you could make the case that this gun was made from 1955 to 1982. It has a long pedigree as an issue gun to major LE organizations and foreign governments and military. The 39 is iconic in American semiautomatic pistol history... while the 745 was merely a short 5 or so year blip in time.

Functionally, the 39-2 is DA/SA with an extremely nice single action trigger pull. The 745 is single action only and it’s trigger pull is truly fantastic for a late-80’s production gun. The 745 has a trigger stop adjustable for over travel and one for pre-travel too. The 39-2 has a magazine disconnect safety and a manual decocker, the 745 has neither, only a hammer block safety in the same location. Both pistols were designed to use an 8-shot single column magazine.

I believe the 745 caters to a specific buyer and the 39-2 probably attracts a much more broad audience. I think the 39-2 would win the beauty contest between the two in the opinion of most, and I also believe that more folks would find it naturally comfortable and naturally pleasing in their hands.

If someone said “RANGE TRIP!” and I could only choose one or the other, I’m grabbing the 745. If a friend who is newer to handguns sends me a txt from a gun show and asks me which I would recommend for him, I may well steer him toward the 39-2.

S&W parts list says models 39 and 439 share the same trigger. (103120000)

S&W parts list says models 639 and 659 share the same trigger. (103140000)

I DON'T have a 39 or 639.

I DO have a 439 and a 659.

Both the 439 and 659 have the same wide, early style trigger, (with the same curve) except the 659 trigger is chrome plated.

To my discerning finger, both triggers "feel" the same although the trigger "pull" is noticeably different between the two, unsurprisingly, although both mechanisms share the same parts and geometry.

John

I would be worried about what the Cerakote is hiding. $450 for a Cerakoted 39? No.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

After wanting a Model 39 for most of my adult life, I lucked into a very clean Model 39-2 at the Raleigh Fairgrounds Gun Show. I didn't get a bargain but it came with 3 magazines. Upon firing it with both factory and handholds, I discovered that the gun needed a new extractor spring, which I obtained from Woolf Springs and did the changeover. Has run flawlessly ever since.

Great gun and great ergonomics. And then the high-capacity autos came out, which to me, felt like common bricks in the hand.

I'll chime in again on this thread and comment on the trigger of my 39-2's. As I have said in other posts none of my 39-2's have the best DA pull when compared to my 3rd gens. My shooter 39-2 when compared to my shooter 3913 is a little less than 1lb heavier in DA and not quite as smooth. 9lbs DA on the 3913 and just short of 10lbs on the 39-2. My Timney scale has to ride the center of the trigger so neither feel that heavy when dry fired because my finger is naturally pulling below center on the trigger giving more leverage. BUT...the SA pull and reset on both is EXCELLENT with the 39-2 breaking at 4lbs and the 3913 breaking at 5lbs. Both very nice with a short, crisp reset much better than any striker fired gun I've ever owned or shot even with Apex triggers. I think they rival the SA triggers on my revolvers.

I'm totally happy with both guns (all my Smith autos really) but there is just a special satisfaction I get from my 39-2. I'm not choosing between the two because neither are going anywhere but the 40 to 50 year old 39-2's will be bringing smiles to owners faces for decades to come!

Just picked up a 39-2 SN A128*** with two factory mags. No original box or goodies. But, who cares. This pistol is beautiful. Amazing how well it feels in one's hand and the trigger (dry fired with dummy rounds) is smooth. Spent an hour cleaning her. Going to spend some range time tomorrow. Guessing only about 20 rounds max given the ammo shortage right now. Can't wait!

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5906tsw,MP15,Shield9/45,39-2

Congratulations pa5906tsw. I obviously like the whole 39 Series of “iconic” pistols. The Model 39-2 as a shooter seems to be one of the great “Modern” but pre-Plastic Era auto pistols. I resisted as long as I could but then had to jump in with both feet and assemble my own package on the design. I hope you will enjoy yours fully as much as I am mine.

Froggie

PS Other than holsters and additional mags, the only accessories I could dream of adding to my 39-2 were an ambi safety (2nd and 3rd Gen parts work) and the fully adjustable lollipop rear sight. Any other available funds can go straight to ammo or reloading components.

Hello Mr. frog, the factory adj. rear sight is still aval. I found that its a bit cumbersome. The 39 has a windage adj. Its a self defense pistol and meant to fine tune with one load that suits you. So try that at diff. distances.
Or get the adj. sight and experiment with different loads. I await to hear your range report. Best. Stay safe

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

The hunt continues.....
Found one I liked on GB - it closed late at night and I had nothing better to do.
Nope - it went for higher than I was willing to go. I have to remember that I am literally '9mm poor'. Have far too many shooters in that caliber.... - but darn it, NO M39's. My only S&W 9mm is an M&P compact and that's really the wife's. And kinda like owning a Glock - it almost doesn't count for any pride of owning a quality firearm.

So, as many old accumulators here know of, the 'hunt' can itself be entertaining. Once you get it, that's fun, but not a whole lot better than 'the hunt'.
And from the looks of what stuff on GB is going for, now's not a great time to be searching out guns anyway.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

Mike,

I put the factory optional fully adjustable rear sight (along with a Gen 2 ambi safety) on Dad’s old 39-2. I really like the total package now, and think Dad would have approved.

I just like to be able to adjust the sights on most of the guns I shoot a lot since I often swap loads as well. This may not be an issue with my latest acquisition, but I’m feeling the itch already.

Froggie

Mr. frog, feed the itch, it is contagious and will spread. Mike

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Mr. frog, had an after thought. One thing I would like to try on a 39 is a serrated or checked trigger!

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member