Factory Engrave Pre 39
- Thread starter cougar015
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Rich, that is a treasure. And signed by Smith.
Green Frog
Member
oh, my! What a treasure! In some circles that would probably be on its way to a very fancy bar-b-que. 
Froggie
Froggie
OP
oh, my! What a treasure! In some circles that would probably be on its way to a very fancy bar-b-que.
Froggie
I just need an appropriate rig to carry it there.
OP
Pictures added to enhance your viewing pleasure.
Model19man
Member
No opinion but it seems weird the bottom of the pistol was not done like the slide. I would get a S&W letter to figure it out. It's very nice either way and it appears the same fellow did the engraving on both.
OP
Model19man,
You are correct that the same Factory engraver, Russel J Smith, engraved both the frame and the slide. The frame engraving is unusual but not unheard of. Normally the slide and the frame would look the same but since the slide is steel and not aluminum, it would be prone to rusting over time. Factory letter is attached.
You are correct that the same Factory engraver, Russel J Smith, engraved both the frame and the slide. The frame engraving is unusual but not unheard of. Normally the slide and the frame would look the same but since the slide is steel and not aluminum, it would be prone to rusting over time. Factory letter is attached.
Attachments
Model19man
Member
Wow that is a super rare pistol in an unusual caliber. Very nice indeed.
OP
I was hoping 2152hq would chime in on this gun. Jim's opinion on engraved guns is always well respected and appreciated.
Handejector offered this educated opinion:
"That anodized aluminum is a very unforgiving surface. Any chips in the anodizing at the edges of the cuts, any taps made too hard, and any scratches would be very hard to hide. Bear in mind how much softer that frame is than carbon steel and how much less "stringy" it is than stainless"
I couldn't agree more. There are a few forum engraving "experts" who will be inspecting this gun in person at the 2025 Symposium in June and I'm looking forward to that.
Handejector offered this educated opinion:
"That anodized aluminum is a very unforgiving surface. Any chips in the anodizing at the edges of the cuts, any taps made too hard, and any scratches would be very hard to hide. Bear in mind how much softer that frame is than carbon steel and how much less "stringy" it is than stainless"
I couldn't agree more. There are a few forum engraving "experts" who will be inspecting this gun in person at the 2025 Symposium in June and I'm looking forward to that.
What is the unusual caliber? Sorry, but I must have missed that in the posts.
Edit: Oops, found it in the letter. Didn't see it first time through because the print was too small for my old eyes.
Last edited:
DoubleNickel
Member
The letter says 9mm
Incredibly beautiful gun!
Incredibly beautiful gun!
OP
The caliber is the standard 9mm for a pre-model 39. Nothing unusual.
Did you notice in the letter it said that eight engraved guns were in the order and six of them were 9mm.
Odd that he did not mention what the other two were? Are we to assume they are in that odd .30 Luger mentioned at the top of the letter?
Odd that he did not mention what the other two were? Are we to assume they are in that odd .30 Luger mentioned at the top of the letter?
OP
Sevens,
Great question. The top of the letter carries over from Pg. 1 and is the standard language for a M39 letter and has nothing to do with the actual gun being lettered. I have the invoice for the eight guns and the other two guns mentioned are a 44 mag and a 357 Combat Master. Another forum member has both of those guns.
Similar threads
