Model 39 issue, follow up

jdlii · #1 01-09-2021, 06:50 PM

Previously I posted an issue with a "new to me" Mod. 39-2. The pistol was acquired in October and when heading out to the range for the first time, I grabbed a box of Winchester Range Ammo, 9mm in steel cases.

I fired or attempted to fire the pistol with this ammo. It would not extract properly and it became necessary to clear and re-chamber another round every other cycle.

When I returned home and attempted to field strip the pistol for cleaning, I could not get the slide off of the frame. I discussed the issue with my gunsmith and he took it home with him.

He got it apart and brought the unassembled pieces to me for inspection. I seems that a steel shaving had become lodged in the top, rear section of the slide and got wedged in the slot where the sear release lever "rides," between the side of the slot and the sear release lever.

The steel shaving left a noticeable burr on the sear release lever. My gunsmith stoned the burr and smoothed it out. The pistol was reassembled and operated without issue.

I had to wait until deer season ended, along with testing positive for COVID-19 and thankfully experiencing only mild symptoms. I was very, very fortunate and my wife, who tested "negative," never experienced symptoms.

Today I was finally able to get to the indoor range with the Mod. 39-2 and some of its friends. It performed flawlessly. The prior owner had sent this one back to the "Mother Ship" for an accuracy job and it showed!

I have attached a photo of the pistol before the issue, one showing the burr on the sear release lever and in the rack, with its cousins, after cleaning. I believe it is a definite keeper!

M29since14 · #2 01-09-2021, 07:07 PM

I’m happy to hear another example of someone “escaping” from corona without too much trouble. We’ve certainly been hearing plenty of bad news lately.

I hear these stories from time to time of metal chips sizable enough to cause trouble getting into the mechanisms of new S&Ws. It’s not all that uncommon. I am fairly familiar with metalworking, manufacturing, and “employees.” Whenever I hear these stories I always wonder whether the problem was purely accidental, whether there is a serious process problem, or a process is not being observed, or ... whether some sort of devious behavior was involved.

Anyway, good to know you got the 39 squared away without it being seriously damaged.

gmborkovic · #3 01-09-2021, 07:09 PM

Hello jdlii, so lesson learned, dont shoot steel case ammo?
Glad you got out of the Covid grip.