39 LONG EXTRACTOR

[1990shadowboats]

I HAVE A 39 WITH THE OLD STYLE "LONG" EXTRACTOR
HOW FRAGILE WERE THESE REALLY? I KNOW THAT THIS WAS THE MAIN CHANGE THAT S&W MADE "PLUS THE HUMP BARREL" BUT IT WAS IN PRODUCTION FOR YEARS
WITH THIS LONG EXTRACTOR. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE LONG ONE BREAK? DOES ANYONE ELESE HERE
KNOW WHERE I CAN BUY ONE AT NOW OTHER THAN NUMRICH? OR WOULD IT BE BETTER IF I BOUGHT A OLD 39-2 SLIDE AND MATE IT WITH MY FRAME? CAN THIS BE DONE? WOULD I ALSO HAVE TO CHANGE OUT THE BARREL?
THIS IS A BEAT UP OLD 39 THAT HAS NO VALUE BUT IT DOES WOK WELL.
THANKS

[1990shadowboats]

I HAVE A 39 WITH THE OLD STYLE "LONG" EXTRACTOR
HOW FRAGILE WERE THESE REALLY? I KNOW THAT THIS WAS THE MAIN CHANGE THAT S&W MADE "PLUS THE HUMP BARREL" BUT IT WAS IN PRODUCTION FOR YEARS
WITH THIS LONG EXTRACTOR. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE LONG ONE BREAK? DOES ANYONE ELESE HERE
KNOW WHERE I CAN BUY ONE AT NOW OTHER THAN NUMRICH? OR WOULD IT BE BETTER IF I BOUGHT A OLD 39-2 SLIDE AND MATE IT WITH MY FRAME? CAN THIS BE DONE? WOULD I ALSO HAVE TO CHANGE OUT THE BARREL?
THIS IS A BEAT UP OLD 39 THAT HAS NO VALUE BUT IT DOES WOK WELL.
THANKS

[handgunner356]

Drive it till the wheels fall off then get something new.

[HKSmith]

I bought a 39 no dash brand new in 1965. It was my home defense and sometimes carry gun for many years. Around 1980 it got put away and not shot again until about 1995, when I started shooting about 1000 rounds per year through it. After about 4000 rounds plus another 2000 or so from the earlier days, the extractor broke.

I sent it to S&W for repairs, and to my surprise they returned the gun saying they no longer had parts. After a couple of false starts, I finally got a long extractor from Numrich (I think it was $35). I could not get it to fit properly and brought it to a local gunsmith, who was able to install it (another $50). The gun now works well and I still shoot it occasionally.

I hope that's helpful.