Nickel Class 'A' factory engraved 39-2

[cougar015]

After a hard fought auction I finally got this beauty home, cleaned and polished. I changed out the original checkered walnut grips with a set of smooth rosewood grips that I purchased from Jim King and have been waiting for the right gun to come along to put them on. This gun was shipped March 10, 1973. I've collected 1st generation 39 & 39-2's for 30 years and this is one of the few factory engraved nickel guns I've seen in all my years of collecting. I've actually seen more Factory engraved pre 39's during this time and there are only 18 of them. This gun will pair up nicely with the blue factory engraved Model 39-2 I already have that was engraved by Tommy Freyburger. I did get some decent photos thanks to some coaching and suggestions from RKmesa. Thanks for looking and I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I do.
Update: Added larger pictures to text and one of my blue engraved Model 39-2 with Eagle engraved ivory grips.

 

[gmborkovic]

Rich, those grips were just waiting for that gun. A perfect match.
It was a fruitful fall for both of us. Enjoy your PB&J sandwiches with soup just like Im doing.

 

[RKmesa]

Beautiful Rich!!!! I love the gun and the smooth grips are the perfect add to that outstanding package.

 

[lkabug]

Beautiful 39-2, perfect for those grips.

 

[KSK]

Great looking gun! I would lean towards Tommy Freyburger as the engraver on this one. It makes a great pair to your blued engraved 39-2.

 

[cougar015]

engraver

Great looking gun! I would lean towards Tommy Freyburger as the engraver on this one. It makes a great pair to your blued engraved 39-2.

Thanks Karl. I'm going to have to get the blue engraved out of the safe and compare it to this one. It seems as if the engraver would be Tommy or Russ Smith.

 

[imarangemaster]

WOW! That's gorgeous!

 

[colt_saa]

Beautiful addition to the Family

Congratulations

 

[cougar015]

Beautiful addition to the Family

Congratulations

Mark, Thanks. Might be the prettiest one yet.

 

[Maddog 521]

That woke up my WOW button. Beautiful

 

[Farmer17]

My very first centerfire handgun was a model 39 bought at the Tulsa gun show in about 1979. Great looking, and great handling gun and Bill Jordan, colonel Charles Askins, and major George C Nonte all said it would be a better service pistol for the military than the Colt 1911 .45acp. Don’t know about that but I would sure like to have another one.