I joined the ranks of model 39 owners today and I'm tickled!



It's a bit cosmetically challenged, but it's mechanically sound and I'm real happy with it. It came to me looking a little neglected, with a Pachmayr grip on it, but the original stocks were included. A little clean-up work and putting the wood on it made a world of difference! Also the trigger is quite nice! I've always thought the 39 was a great looking gun, and I believe this feels better in my hand than any pistol I've ever tried!

Now for the questions...

1. I'd like to know approximately when it was made; s.n. is A41xxxx

2. How was it originally finished...was the slide all blue? On this one the top of the slide is kind of matte finished. I guess it's possible that the blue has just rubbed off, but it's very uniform, as if the sides of the slide were blued and the top a matte finish.

The original finish on your M39-2 was sandblasted on the upper and lower surfaces of the slide, polished on the sides, and blued.

The frame is anodized aluminum alloy dyed with black pigment.

Trim parts (safety, sights, slide stop, trigger, hammer, magazine release, recoil spring guide rod, magazine, were also black oxide (blued) finished.

Here is a web site you may need - only Co. I've found that stocks small 39-2 parts, I bought an extractor from them:

Firearm Parts and Accessories | Numrich Gun Parts Corp. | e-GunParts.com

Judging by the serial number your 39-2 is a later production model. Late '70s or so. There is date of manufacture data available on line someplace but I can't recall where.

I don't shoot 9mm much but the 39-2 is a very nice shooting pistol with a very good trigger.

I found a little more good news last night. I was perusing the forum and found a post about upgraded parts and checking for a punch mark on the front of the extractor, and mine has the little divot so I assume I'm good to go.

According to the SCSW 3rd your 39-2 was shipped from 1977-1978.

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J.D. Roy

that's right on...I called S&W today and they told me 1977.

As Tina Turner sings "Simply The Best" S&W's biggest mistake was to discontinue the whole 39 series. 39, 39-2, 3913.14. and 53 I guess they had a reason. Probably some beam counter.

Every time I fondle this gun () I can't get over how good it feels in my hand. I was considering refinishing it, but I think it's got just enough "character" that I'm going to leave it alone. That way I can carry it and if it gets a ding or two I won't cry. I can't wait to get it to the range. Now I've just got to come up with a couple of extra mags for it. I know I can get new ones, but I'd prefer to find a couple of older ones that will fit flush.