HELP: Mystery 39

[DCW]

Here we have your everyday, run-of-the-mill mystery Model 39. Hardcore 39 types have likely already noted an aberration or two and are well on the way to a bunch of others. That's cool. So cool, in fact, I'd appreciate your noting them below.

In the meantime, onward to a second pic . . .

And like the above left side, the right side also provides a few thoughts, surely.

Here's a little background before yet another pic goes up:

I found this gem of a mystery in a literal hole-in-the-wall gun shop about 60 miles from my usual haunts. The elderly gentleman who owned the shop wasn't able to provide much knowledge about it, other than the standard deviations from the everyday Model 39.

From beneath.

And, for comparison's sake, another Mod. 39 from my collection . . .

I will assuredly appreciate some input!

 

[M29since14]

Customized early Model 39 with bobbed hammer, odd rear sight, and what appears to be a hard chrome finish. I don't see anything too remarkable about it. What am I missing?

 

[Engine49guy]

Yes definately a hard chromed late 60's 39 no dash with bobbed hammer and other mods,
Someone wanted a more user friendly carry piece before S&W offered the 639 and 669.

 

[dacoontz]

Checkering on the safety lever, checkering on the slide release, a little contouring done on the trigger guard, and of course the finish is interesting. Slide looks buffed, and frame looks like a later alloy looking finish (hard chrome as described?).

It's certainly interesting to me.

 

[koz5614]

I dig it. I like the relieved trigger guard and shortened beavertail. Your rear sight looks like an MMC adjustable. If it has a white outline, it is exactly like the one I have on my 59.

 

[grif684]

Bobbed, beveled, and smoothed (backstrap). What's not to like? Awesome personalized 39!! Whoever did it, did it right. Beautiful pistol. Period.

 

[RonS]

Looks like nice work, very understated. I wonder if there is anything under the grips that would give any clues.

 

[scwv67]

All I can tell you is that it looks nice!

 

[Smith-Nut]

Nice piece. Is it ALL steel?

 

[Sebago Son]

I'm liking those smooth factory stocks in Goncalo ... Not easy to find.

 

[tom-tom]

Other than the sights and the cut down safety lever, I'd say that's a nice package. Although it may not be practical, the slimmed trigger guard adds a unique frisson. It's been a long time since I handled a -39. Didn't they also come with a grooved front grip?

 

[t-bird]

Very nice customized 39 that I would love to own. I bet the mystery of the 39 would be the owner that had it customized or customizer. Thanks for the pics.

 

[nocents]

a tastefully customized 39.......personally love the hard chrome finish......very nice find

 

[DCW]

I buy all I can find and, gee, I don't really know now that I think about it, but have probably 20 pair in a box. Goncalco alves' grain, the depth of its beauty when viewed from angles. A lot of, well, "near-misses" out there as a result of their scarcity but there are some quick-telling differences between the SW "real" and pretenders. Thanks for your input. -- DC

 

[DCW]

After spending the better part of Saturday and today (Sunday) taking more pictures and etc. Wow, I never imagined hat I'd need to put into this project, but it's a necessary one for me. Thus, I appreciate the time everyone else has or possibly will put into it.

Herein comes some answers, and supporting images, to those questions posed as of Saturday evening.

But first, a "gripping" image courtesy of thoughts provided by Sebago Son:

 

[DCW]

Checkering on the safety lever, checkering on the slide release, a little contouring done on the trigger guard, and of course the finish is interesting. Slide looks buffed, and frame looks like a later alloy looking finish (hard chrome as described?).

It's certainly interesting to me.

Insofar as I'm able to ascertain:

The slide is stainless steel, of such there is no doubt. The topmost part kinda stumps me, though. It appears as though it may have the same finish as that on the frame. I tried various positions, lighting, F-Stops, apertures and more to get the look of the the slides top but the best I could come up with (for now) is this one.

If you look at the demarcation line between where the slide's top curvature begins as distinguished from the the slide's side (hmmm, say that five times) you can kind of catch the, um, duller finish because it doesn't reflect as does polished stainless steel.

And, while we're in the slide's neighborhood: As best as I can make it, a stainless (as distinguished from nickel) slide didn't appear in the "39" line until the all-stainless 639 in 1982. Furthermore, take a gander at the slides frontal area, where an angular cut is found. I'm having a hard time finding that angle in the S&W line.

 

[kwill1911]

A couple of observations, for what they're worth (not much!):

1. That gun was sold on GunPoker.com a few months ago.

2. The modification to the trigger guard is exactly how Bill Jordan modified the TGs on his revolvers.

3. I would be shocked--SHOCKED--if that slide is actually stainless steel. What makes you say "there is no doubt?"

 

[t-bird]

I'm with Kevin on this one.

 

[kwill1911]

A couple more thoughts:

1. I can see the difference in finish on the slide. It isn't uncommon and is pretty easy to achieve. The whole thing was bead blasted and then the flats (side) are polished back to a smooth finish. Notice how the slide serrations are flattened rather than sharp? That's what happens when you sand the flats to give the polished appearance.

2. I like it a lot, especially the way the gunsmith filed the leading edges of the slide which helps with holstering the gun.

 

[BruceB]

I can't think that there was any slide made in stainless that had the long 39 no-dash extractor. By the time the 539 and 639 came along, the short extractor designs were in use.