I recently picked up a 39-2 in great condition, I am looking for breakdown instructions before I take it to the range.

If you mean field strip for cleaning, if I recall correctly, the 1st Gen Autos take down the same as the 3rd Gen, except that the bushing is removeable, and so you have to turn it like the 1911 when you get to the step of removing the barrel.

Owner's Manuals - Smith & Wesson

I have a pdf file of the Model 39 Instructions for use that I can email to you. Please let me know if you'd like a copy.

Regards,
mlfox

I, too, need field stripping directions. I have S&W's 4-page "instructions" - document identified as 05-01-0177 Rev. 2/78 - but I can't see that the field strip instructions apply to my gun. If you have a different document, could you please email it to me? Thanks.

Here is the Breakdown Diagram
and the S&W Owner's Manual for the S&W 39.

586L-Frame

S&W 39 - Breakdown
http://stevespages.com/ipb-sandw-39.html

S&W Owner’s Manual for S&W 39
http://stevespages.com/pdf/s&w_39_59...539_559_52.pdf

586L - Thanks but that manual doesn't have break-down instructions, just says "Since field stripping procedures vary for each model, please read the instructions in your owner's manual."

Wiley - that manual did the trick. The only thing missing was instruction that you have to remove the barrel bushing before the barrel comes out, but I figured it out. I don't think I ever had that manual with my gun.

Thanks for a great forum--about the best gun owner's forum I've ever seen.

Thanks much
Dan Ross

HI FROM HAMDEN CT, I JUST RECEIVED A MODEL 39-2
AND SEEN YOUR EMAIL ON THE S+W FORM. IF YOU COULD ,COULD YOU PLEASE SEND ME THE PDF FILE YOU SPOKE ABOUT LEE
LEEPARTYKA@GMAIL.COM

Hello:

I have inherited a Model 39-2 and would also appreciate a copy of the owner's manual. Clicking on the link in the forum only yields a message saying I don't have permission to access that pdf file.

Thanks.

Charlie:

Just noticed this thread.

Run the slide back so you can push the slide stop out of the gun - use the tip of a bullet to do it. There's a cutout in the slide to allow it to come out.

Move the slide off the frame.

Push forward (from the rear) on the spring guide rod to pop it clear.

Remove the bushing (turn it one way or the other - I forget which).

Pop the barrel out. Can't remember whether is slides out of the front of the slide, or from the rear.

That should do it.... Re-assembly is the reverse.

I've found that it's better to cock the hammer while doing most of this, but be very careful to catch it as the slide comes off - it'll pop a decock lever back there. During re-assembly, be careful to put both of those little levers under the slide as it comes back.

Getting the slide stop back in is kinda fun, but you'll get the hang of it.

I think you can find a copy of the manual on S&W's site, someplace - it's been a while. I bought mine new in the early 70's.

(Starsky & Hutch were on TV and the City PD Detectives grabbed some up - the dealer let me have one at the same price. Would you believe $125!)

Regards,

__________________
Stu.

http://stevespages.com/pdf/s&w_39_59...539_559_52.pdf
Charlie,
Try this link. this is the manual that should have come up. It is a little hard to read on page 5, and this is a later manual and does not mention bushing. Do pay attention to not letting the hammer fall when pulling the slide off. The barrel does come out the rear of the slide, and when reinstalling, the key is to get all the levers down under the slide. I use the handle of a toothbrush to push them all down at the same time as the slide hits them.
Great gun isn't it? Post some pictures!
Gary

Please email me the Model 39 PDF MANUAL. demingr@bellsouth.net

demingr:

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore...l_06_16_08.pdf

is VERY generic, but close enough. The gun's a "TDA", and the "Safety" is a firing pin lock as well as a decocker - some models in this group only use the lever as a decocker. Brownells may have a schematic on line. The original manual (I've got one here someplace) really says nothing much more, other than the "don't let the hammer whack the frame during disassembly" warning that I didn't notice in this PDF. (I still think it's a good idea.)

Between us, once you've seen the PDF, the only reason to have a manual for these guns is to include it (might raise the value a bit ) when you sell it. An original box might be more useful.

Regards,

__________________
Stu.

One of those files is an exploded diagram.
So-so rendition, and not any real help in sequence of disassembly.

The other file is an uber-lame factory insert that was shipped with M39 pistols. Basically tells you nothing that you couldn't figure out in two minutes of looking at the gun, and assuming you have seen a gun before in your life, and assuming you know things like unload-gun-before-cleaning.

Here is what you need to do.

Remove magazine.

Jack any live rounds out of the chamber.

Retract slide so that trapezoidal-shaped notch on left side of slide lines up with takedown lever.

Takedown lever protrudes through the other side of gun.

While lever is still lined up with notch, whack the protruding part to knock takedown lever out of gun.

Be sure that selector is in FIRE postion when you knock the takedown lever out. Otherwise, the lever will take a chunk out of the top of your left grip panel if the slide moves forward with the lever in the SAFE position.

Pull slide assembly forward off of gun.

Restrain the hammer as you do this, or it will fly forward, and smack the frame of the pistol. If you allow this to happen every time, the hammer may damage the frame.

Remove recoil spring assembly from slide. It just pops out.

Rotate barrel bushing slightly to align tab on barrel bushing with notch on slide. Remove barrel bushing.

Wiggle barrel out of slide.

Reassemble in reverse order.
Try not to leave idiot-marks on the gun when re-installing the slide-stop lever.

That's probably as far as you need to go for most cleaning.

If you want to remove the firing pin to clean the crud that accumulates in the firing pin channel, its pretty easy.

With the slide already off the gun, and barrel and recoil spring removed, be sure the selector is in the FIRE position. Use a punch to push the tail of the firing pin forward, past the selector shaft. While holding the firing pin forward with the punch, pull the selector out of the slide. This is a good opportunity to lose the selector detent and/or the selector spring. Do this job over a towel in a clean area. Capture the detent and spring before you lose them, and don't let the punch slip. If you let the punch slip, and the firing pin is pointed at your face, you will get a tattoo between the eyes. Wear eye protection.

If you have stripped it this far, you can remove the grip panels, and then drown everything (except the grips) in your favorite gun oil. I like Break Free. Blow-off all the excess oil with compressed air.

Blot areas that are still wet. Wipe off all the accumulated crud. Auger crud out of the firing pin channel with Q-Tips.

Unless you are replacing broken parts, I can see no reason to remove the trigger axis pin, or the extractor pin, or the backstrap retaining pin.

If you remove the rear sight (pry up at front, and rotate 90 degrees) you can get remove the magazine disconnect plunger and spring. It really is unnecessary to remove the rear sight to get the disconnect plunger and spring clean enough. I just blast Break-Free around it from the underside of the slide. Manipulate the plunger some with a punch. The plunger assembly will barf-out most of the accumulated goop. you can see the exposed plunger spring through a hole on the underside of the slide. Blast Break-Free into the exposed spring, and allow the barf to all run out that hole and around the shaft of the plunger. No need to remove the sight

I can't think of much else you need to know about disassembly of the M39.

I posted a bunch of pics, and wrote about my initial experience tearing apart the M39 at Model 39's at AIM - which "European police" dept?

Hope this helps!

__________________
WWSSD?
What would Skeeter do?

AIRBIRD
JUNIOR MEMBER
BEN LOOKING FOR THESE,THANKS A BUNCH.JUST LOVE THIS 39-2.

I have a 39-2 where the hammer won't stay cocked in SA, I changed the Sear Release Lever after noticing it had been filed. Afterwards it would stay in 1/2 cock but not in full cock. Thought it might be hammer and/or sear. Any suggestions? And, will other Smith model's parts fit the 39-2?

This video was extremely helpful when I needed to disassemble and clean my inherited 39-2. But seriously, watch out for that recoil sprint. That sucker will fly if you're not careful:

Smith and wesson model 39-2 disassembly - YouTube

I am looking for a owner's manual for a s&w model 39-2

This manual generally applies with the exception that the barrel bushing is not fixed on a 39-2.
http://stevespages.com/pdf/s&w_centerfire_pistol.pdf

The M39 has a barrel bushing that must be rotated a bit (I forget which way) in order to remove the barrel. It also doesn't have (AFAIK - mine doesn't) a right-side safety, and the rear sight is bayoneted (I guess that's the right word) onto the slide. Essentially, there's a flat strip of metal forward of the rear sight that needs to be lifted, and then rotated, to remove the sight. The magazine disconnect may go flying if you do that.

I bought mine new sometime before 1975, carried it for a number of years, and had it on the range last week. I switched to 1911's (and M&P40s) a while back, and now find the "backwards" safety a hindrance, so it's a range gun now.... No regrets, though.

(The front sight on mine is integral to the slide, too. The pic in the PDF shows one that's removable.)

Regards,

__________________
Stu.

I just purchase a model 39-2 in like new condition made in 1975 for $450.00 with no box. I am looking for the S&W box for the 39-2
Thanks

My question isn't directly related to this thread, but since it is the most active thread on this firearm I might as well give it a shot. I have an old style Model 39 that I received as a gift many many years ago. Parts for the slide are hard to come by for the 39 these days, but not so for the 39-2. I was wondering if anyone knew if the slide for the original model 39 and the 39-2 were interchangeable.

Also Tony, I saw a box for sale on gunbroker.com just yesterday.
Smith&Wesson S&W Model 39/59 Factory Pistol Box : Other Pistol Accessories & Parts at GunBroker.com

FYI: page 5 of the pdf is messed up and not completely legible.

eBay has them constantly-have fun bidding as the competitions fierce and FWIW wont get any worse by me saying so. For the record, I just am not paying that price for a paper box. I have a watch on them in hopes of sniping one someday.

Post #20 above augments my Model 39 info nicely and is appreciated!

I made a pdf of the 39 manual since the copy on stevespages is messed up.

http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php...13642175780812

W.E.G, My left thumb thanks you! Love this 39!

Here is a copy of the original Model 39 owners manual, it includes the parts schematic, field disassebly AND slide and frame disassembly. https://www.dropbox.com/s/tpr9l69i2a...6w_39.pdf?dl=0 Sorry, my bad, this is the manual for the early Model 39 not the dash 2 model.

How did you solve the problem?

SuarezF,

I wish you had revived this thread BEFORE last Wednesday when I took my 39-2 upper apart to change out the safety! There’s a lot of info here I could have used. Regardless, welcome to the Forum, and if you don’t get the inf here that you need, you might want to try the gunsmithing sub-forum below.

Green Frog