Had a couple of blued 39s over the years. I like the 39 very much. Feels right in my hand. I have a 659 I picked up a few years ago. Ugly. I hate the look of stainless and this one has that horrible elongated trigger guard. Yuck. That's exactly why I bought it.

I needed a working gun. A tool. I didn't want something valuable or that I thought was beautiful and didn't want to see worn or maybe even lost. I wanted something I would not cry over. It's perfect.

But everyone knows I like the shiny ones. I would see a nickel 39 and I would want it. But I could never justify the purchase. They got a little pricey in recent years and I could never bring myself to spend the money. I had it, I just couldn't make myself spend it on something so far removed from being a necessity.

If we're honest with ourselves, we only "need" maybe a half dozen guns at most to do everything we need to do with a gun. Most gun purchases are based on want rather than need. And as a friend said to me, "You getting any younger?"

So about a year or so ago I found a nearly pristine nickel 39-2 on Gunbroker. Looked like it had never been used. Think it started at $495 and I was the only bidder.

I have no Earthly use for this pistol. I don't need it at all. It serves absolutely no purpose other than it makes me happy to own it.

That may be the best reason of all to buy a gun.

Attached Images

Nic 39 on red.jpg (58.8 KB, 101 views)

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No life story has happy end.

I went through almost the same thought process, but I wanted a shiny gun I could shoot. The Model 639 is the next generation up from your 39 and only a few ounces heavier in all stainless steel. Fortunately for me, buyers’ interest seems to have skipped from Gen 1 straight to Gen 3, so the Gen 2 guns, especially shooter with moderate wear, don’t command the higher prices of either their older or younger siblings. Don’t tell anybody though, I might want to buy “just one more.”

I’ve got a shiny (well, half shiny - I went retro two tone) gun I can throw it into a holster or range bag and enjoy without fear of damage. Win-win!

Froggie

" It serves absolutely no other purpose than it makes me happy to own it . "
If that's not "The Best" reason ... I don't know what is !

Nice one !
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

Nice Model 39, and a nice post. You’re absolutely correct. There is no better or more practical reason to own a gun than it makes us happy. Your friend is also correct.

That is one beautiful 39! I look at these really nice guns and find it hard to realize that they were meant, not for collecting, but for using as a tool. Says something about the old craftsmanship that folks would create these works of art, knowing that they would carried, and shot, their finish worn and scuffed. Wood scarred and bruised. Amazing. That one is a keeper!
Ralph

Indeed. As I say, I'm past halftime and in the 3rd quarter.

So if you can, do it.

Very nice pistol and post.

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BTDT, Got The T-Shirt

That is probably the best looking "pistol" that S&W ever produced, followed close by the blue version and then the 5906 with adjustable sights and round checkered trigger guard-the 5906 being boringly acuurate and dependable and all of those I mentioned being perfect in size for the parabellum....very nice score on your part with the nickle model 39-such a handesome piece...

I love the lines of the 39/39-2/x39 pistols and they just feel right in my hands. I'd like to have one in nickel, but alas, when they turn up, they are usually priced out of my comfort zone.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I love the Nickel 39 for exactly the same reason. They just look good... no awesome. Nice gun you bought! You stole that at $495 even with shipping and transfers. I sold mine locally a few months ago to a guy who was just head over heels for one. So I sold it to him. It made him happier to buy it than for me to own it. Now I wish I had one.. and so it goes with me at least. I can't count how many gems I have sold (not because I needed money) and then bought again later because I missed the dumb thing. Fortunately I have never sold a gun because I needed to. That day may come but for now it's about WANT!

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John 1:17
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