S&W Model 439

Trinidad Bill · Feb 16, 2016

I was looking for a 39-2 when I came across this 439. I know it is the 2nd generation of the 39-2 so I figured it had to be just as good and maybe a few improvements.

The alloy frame is showing some wear and shine but to me they are character marks. Old police gun with Pachmayr grips with the original wood grips, as a bonus.

Help educate me on the 439 as I was not able to find a lot.

A few quick photos.

P.S. I'm not a box guy, but it did come with the original box!

grcoffman104 · Feb 16, 2016

Single stack version of the 459. FBI had issued some at time of the Miami fbi shootout.
Said piece with silver tips was used by an agent across the street from the two cars crashed together.

jsbethel · Feb 16, 2016

Compared to the 39-2, the 439 came with different sights and a hammer drop safety. Later versions had the squared trigger guard and eliminated the lanyard loop.

Sevens · Feb 16, 2016

The 439 also has a firing pin lock making it "upgraded" for safer carry in the event of a dropped pistol. There were certainly far fewer 439's made and sold than the 39-2. Probably need to compare pistol to pistol, but it's been my experience that the single action trigger break on the 1st Gen pistols is likely better than on their 2nd Gen counterparts, but neither are target pistols so most won't notice a big difference.

For carry, I would prefer a 439. For joy of shooting and pride of ownership, I'd rather have a 39-2. Otherwise, they are comparable pistols and you have a great gun.

NOW!
Maybe I simply haven't been paying attention over the years where I should have been!

I want to hear someone explain to me what in the world is going on with the extractor in the pictured handgun!

I have not ever, at least that I can recall, seen THAT extractor on a S&W 1-2-3rd Gen pistol. I am familiar with the old-style long extractor on the original Model 39 and the Models 52 and 52-1, but that one in the picture is different.

I have two 1st Gens and four 2nd Gens and more 3rd Gens but I don't have any S&W pistol with that extractor. Help?!

Trinidad Bill · Feb 16, 2016

Uh oh! What's up with the extractor?

Sevens · Feb 16, 2016

It's just different than any I have ever seen on a 1-2-3rd Gen pistol. I've seen plenty of pistols with an extractor of that style, but never one of these pistols. Appears to be a very short extractor with a spring behind it and pushing forward -- rather than a spring under it and pushing outward.

Don't yell at me for saying

but it reminds me of a Glock extractor and/or the one on my Star Model 30 Starfire.

lrrifleman · Feb 16, 2016

Bill,

I have a 439 that I bought used close to 20 years ago. The indoor range I belonged to had fun shoots every Wednesday night, and about once every 5 or 6 weeks had a plate match. The 439 became my plate gun, usually clearing 5 plates in under 5 seconds with 5 shots. I love this Smith. I especially like the winged rear sight.

I now have a non-resident CFP, and when I am traveling in carry friendly states, this is one of the first handguns I reach for.

Please keep in mind, that in the early 1990s, the S&W model 439 was the subject of a recall, which I believe was centered on the decocker ... you want to verify that your Smith was returned for the recall.

If you decide to carry it concealed, good holsters are hard to come across. I found that Front Line makes a great Kydex IWB holster for the model 69 that fits the 439 like a glove.

I did note that the nut on the magazine release had to be replaced not long after I purchased the pistol, because someone had stripped the threads.

azdave · Feb 17, 2016

I have a 459 and had a 559 with that same short/wide extractor.
I have seen 439's with it as well. I believe it was in use for just about one year of production, yet I have never seen a 639/659 with it.... and have certainly looked for a 659 with one at the time I had both of the others, just to have a matching set.
Never could find confirmation if the stainless were ever made with one, so settled for the typical style. Having both and shoot them extensively, I experience no difference in performance.

JohnHL · Feb 17, 2016

Sevens said:
NOW!
Maybe I simply haven't been paying attention over the years where I should have been! I want to hear someone explain to me what in the world is going on with the extractor in the pictured handgun!

I have not ever, at least that I can recall, seen THAT extractor on a S&W 1-2-3rd Gen pistol. I am familiar with the old-style long extractor on the original Model 39 and the Models 52 and 52-1, but that one in the picture is different.

I have two 1st Gens and four 2nd Gens and more 3rd Gens but I don't have any S&W pistol with that extractor. Help?!

IIRC used on the first thousand or so 439 models.
The story I heard was that S&W was trying to win a military contract wherein the purchasing agency did not want pin pivot extractors. Being only retained by an interference fit at the top, I suppose they felt the pins might be undependable in the heat of battle.
When contract fell through, S&W went back to the pin.

John

jimbo728 · Feb 17, 2016

My 539 has the stubby extractor. My 559 has the pinned one. Only a couple hundred 559s had the pinned extractor, the others had the stubby one.
Jim

Aussie Collector · Feb 17, 2016

Trinidad Bill
They are a great little gun. As you are learning yours with the short extractor is a little more collectable due to the numbers produced, Standard Catalog lists few thousand made like yours. The box is always a bonus for the collector.

Sevens
My 539 and 559 both have this extractor. The SWSC mentions the short extractor for the 439 and others...

Sevens · Feb 17, 2016

Excellent, gentlemen. I love to learn new bits!

BaldEagle1313 · Feb 17, 2016

I do like the sights on the 439 better than on the 39-2; they're easier for my older eyes to pick up.

O.P.'s pistol is the first I've seen other than my own 439 with this type of extractor. Stupid question? O.P.'s serial number is A723203 and mine is A777756. How does a difference in serial number of over 54,550 jive with Standard catalog listing a few thousand made? To me a few thousand is maybe 3,000 to 5,000.

Sevens · Feb 17, 2016

I can think of two quick answers for that--

First is the catch-all "S&W did so many crazy things that you simply cannot read in to serial number sequences"

Such as... they produced piles of frames in numbered order and then a stack of them got placed on a shelf while another stack was turned in to pistols and shipped -- the stack on the shelf sat three years before they were later turned in to pistols and shipped.

The other reason is that the serial number range you show with those two pistols doesn't include simply 439's but rather EVERY single model of S&W pistols being made at that time. Including the Models 41 and 52, vastly different handguns than a casual 9mm service-type pistol.

Aussie Collector · Feb 17, 2016

To assist and make some sense with post 13 & 14, my 539s serial number is A733273.

BaldEagle1313 · Feb 17, 2016

Sevens said:
I can think of two quick answers for that--

First is the catch-all "S&W did so many crazy things that you simply cannot read in to serial number sequences"

Such as... they produced piles of frames in numbered order and then a stack of them got placed on a shelf while another stack was turned in to pistols and shipped -- the stack on the shelf sat three years before they were later turned in to pistols and shipped.

The other reason is that the serial number range you show with those two pistols doesn't include simply 439's but rather EVERY single model of S&W pistols being made at that time. Including the Models 41 and 52, vastly different handguns than a casual 9mm service-type pistol.

That's kind of what I was thinking, but wasn't certain. Especially your last reason. Thanks for the knowledge.

Racer X · Feb 18, 2016

I love my 439. It's 2 tone, blued slide and clear anodized aluminum frame. Pachmayer grips, and the adjustable rear wing sights. It just fits "right"

I also have a 5906 and 6906.

Trinidad Bill · Feb 18, 2016

I did call the S&W Service Center about the recall. They told me my pistol's serial number was lower than required for the recall. Only serial numbers greater that A74xxxx were on the recall list.

lrrifleman · Feb 18, 2016

Trinidad Bill said:
I did call the S&W Service Center about the recall. They told me my pistol's serial number was lower than required for the recall. Only serial numbers greater that A74xxxx were on the recall list.

Bill,

Kudos on the follow up.
I have found my 439 to be as reliable as my 1911s.
It is comforting to have it at hand.

Ed

BaldEagle1313 · Feb 18, 2016

Trinidad Bill said:
I did call the S&W Service Center about the recall. They told me my pistol's serial number was lower than required for the recall. Only serial numbers greater that A74xxxx were on the recall list.

I've apparently been living in a cave because I was unaware of the recall for 439's. I did some checking online since mine is in the numeric sequence of the recall, and mine passes the test they have you perform so either it's been fixed already or didn't need it.

Thanks for the serial number info.

S&W Model 439

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