Ive been interested in a double action nostalgia S&W and was looking at the 39 and 59. It will be strictly a shooter, not a ccw. Is there anything to know about them before finding and purchasing one? I dont know anything about them.

No contest for me, I like the look and feel of the single stack grip of the 39 compared to the fatter 59.

Ditto................with your intended purpose no need for a hi-cap w/ a fat butt!!!

What they said!!!

I prefer the look and feel of the 39. If you don't need 14 rds on tap, it's clear-cut-IMO.

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Because of the metric system?

Get the one that fits your hand better. There will be a noticeable difference in balance also. Of course if a good deal of either kind finds you do what is in your best interests!

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

Hello Stop, how big is your mitt? Try them both. No harm. Best

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

I go with the 39.
Fat grips don't fit my hands at all.

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

I'm in agreement with everybody here. The Model 39 rivals the Browning Hi-Power and Luger P-08 for ergonomic comfort while the original 59s felt like common bricks. Sure sorry I never bought one back in the day.

39...39...did I say 39? Yeah, 39.

edit: you won't find a better SA trigger and re-set than one of these guns. The DA isn't anything to write about but that SA is amazing.

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39 it will be!!!!!!!! Thats the way I was leaning anyways.

I see a lot of 39-2, any reason?

My guess would be that revolvers were still the handgun of choice in the 50's and 60's when the 39 was produced. When the 39-2 came in around 1970 the auto loader was starting to catch on. They were both produced for about the same amount of time but many more of the 39-2's. JMHO.

I was going to say both but I'm having a hard time finding a 59 myself.

They were/are both great guns.
Owned the 59 and should have kept it.
You wont be wrong with either one.

Had both myself and agree with the above comments regarding the 39. Better overall feel compared to the 59. Foolishly let mine go and purchased a CS-9 which is a keeper. Not sure how it compares overall in quality with the 39 but plan on keeping this one. Like the concealability.

Not sure what finish I will end up with but I'm curious of one thing.

Ive seen some nickel models that have the small parts on it and the safety blued and some are nickel. Any info there?

Of the several of each I have fired and owned over the years, I always vastly preferred the feel of the 39. I have long, thin hands and never objected to the 59, but the grip of the 39 has "character" while the 59 is almost Glock-ish in shape, though not in angle. (Well, I guess it's not THAT bad! ) Since you are not concerned about capacity I think the 39 is almost automatic for you.

Shouldn't you get one of each? I thought that was the law!!

Randy

I HAVE SHOT BOTH, AND I MUCH PREFER THE 39, IN MY MEDIUM HANDS WITH THIN FINGERS. I HAVE NEVER OWNED EITHER, AS I AM NOT A FAN OF THE 9MM CARTRIDGE. THE FULL SIZE COLT 1911s, IN .45 ACP, HAVE MET MY SEMI-AUTO NEEDS SINCE 1968, EVEN FOR CONCEALED CARRY.......

THAT BEING SAID, I HAVE NEVER SEEN A MORE EYE PLEASING SEMI-AUTO THAN A MODEL 39, IN NICKEL, WITH FACTORY WOODEN STOCKS.

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Landslide victory for the 39 here. You'll be best served by a 39-2. The only difference is the upgraded and more modern extractor. All 39 no-dash models with the old style extractor are commonly looked at as collectible somewhat more than regular shooters. Some say the old-style extractor is "fragile" but I don't believe that is actually the case, but repairing or replacing one is certainly more difficult.

39 vs 59? Not a fair race! The 39 is an iconic gem in the landscape and the 59 is an "also ran" at best.

I often like to say that the 39-2 shares a quality with the S&W Models 10,17 and 28-2: they are -SO- darn good and so many people knew it that everyone wanted one, so S&W made tons and tons of them. The bottom line is that their "collector value" will always be kept in check because they made so many. And this makes them a MUST OWN, because you get an iconic gun, history's finest, and you get for extremely reasonable money.

It's just my opinion that if you don't own a Model 10, 17, 28-2 and 39-2... there is a good chance that you have totally missed the completely obvious. And given the value compared to cost... ignorance is the only excuse.

Ignorance is nothing whatsoever to be ashamed of simply because it's so easily corrected.

Oh, to address the question above on nickel 39's...

Small parts SHOULD be black if original on a factory nickel 39-2. If they aren't, it is a likely indicator that nickel wasn't the original finish. Slide stop, thumb decocker, hammer, sideplate, rear sight... all should be black.

However with said, if the pistol doesn't necessarily fit that description BUT it is priced under $500 and you like it? Totally worth it even if not original.

FWIW, Mr. Jinks claims that S&W made nearly 400,000 of these fantastic pistols. YOURS is waiting for you to find it, I have three myself.

39 all the way. Although I have owned both I love the 39-2 for shooting and looks. I just bought a nickel 39-2 this summer to add to my Model 39 collection..yes stuff that hangs off or sticks out should be black as was stated. As a rule I don't buy nickel anymore but in this case I have alot of 39 variants and wanted a nickel example. Good luck. BTW the model 59 is no slouch when it comes to firepower. It's just not a good fit for my hands and lacks the history of the 39...IMO.

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

I have a blue Model 39-2 and about 10 original magazines,2 NIB Model 59 and 1 very nice shooter plus a NIB Model 559.

The 559 is a relatively scarce pistol to find especially NIB but it's 40oz empty.

I have a lot of original 14rd mags for the 59s plus several 15rd MecGar mags that I prefer over the S&W originals.A 59 with 15rds is my usually nightstand gun.The 59 shoots low with 115gr ammo at 10 yards indoors and the best accuracy is with 147gr ammo.

The 39-2 I have is in very good original condition,a smooth shooter and a real pleasure at the range.It shoots spot on at 10 yards indoors with 115gr Perfecta ammo.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

The fatness of the 59 is not what turns me off about them, but rather the straight backstrap. I prefer the arched backstrap, similar to a 1911A1, on the 39 (and my 52, for that matter).

I have the fat butt without the hi-cap! Can't beat the way the 39 feels in your hand, though.

The 39 is one of those guns I can't stop buying. I'll get one, shoot it a bit, then sell it. A short while later, another one will show up and I start all over again.





I've come close to buying a 59 once or twice, but never have.

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John 3:16 .

The OP says he is driven at least partly by nostalgia.

In the larger world of handgunning, the M59 is very historically significant. The first USA mfg hi cap pistol, the first hi cap sucuessful in US LE service, the the gun that started the trend to hi cap autos, and the Wonder Nine craze.


As a shooter, I'd personally prefer a M39-2 . But the M59 is a bigger piece of history. ( In the larger sense vs S&W collecting per se.)

Lot of US armed forces, 9mm in the US, LEO and S&W history tied to the Model 39 also................. IMHO rate "history" a toss up!

From what I have heard over the years concerning the nickel controls on some 39-2's is that the early one's had nickel controls but Smith soon went to blued controls...probably a cost cutting move but some like the contrast. The nickel controls are factory. I have one of each and the nickel controled version is from the early 70's while the blued version is from the late 70's.

The all nickel's are usually serial #A2xxxxx while the blued controls are A5xxxxx. Of course nothing is 100% with S&W and what they may or may not have done over the years but this seems consistent. At any rate I'm sure the early one's are factory nickel controls.

As to nickel gun vs. blue gun...speaking for myself I only have the nickel guns because they are so flashy and I just had to have 'em! I have two blue guns and I actually only shoot one of those...I have not shot either of the nickel guns as they are both unfired after the factory. I just show them off now and then.

Of all the 9mm's I own the blue 39-2 that I shoot is the one I like to shoot the most. I love my 3rd gens and shoot them well but the 39-2 is just plain satisfying.

I attached a video done by a young couple and while most of the video is historical I wasn't surprised that they both like the gun even though is isn't the modern style they are probably used to shooting.

If anyone has a nice nickel 39, Im on the lookout

Loved my 39, still do. It is hard to beat a single stack 9mm for carry.

I know that you are asking about a 39-2, but I am answering as an owner of a 439. Personally, I prefer the Model 39 family of pistols over the 59 series. It fits my hand better, and is my preferred steel plate pistol. With the holsters that I have, it carries reasonably well. I figure if I can't do it with 8, I sure as heck won't be able to do it with 14!

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Judge control not gun control!

I only have a 439 as well but my understanding is there's virtually no difference besides a drop safety and the sights are a little different on the 439. I love it. The double action trigger ain't nothing to write home about but that single action is so sweet.

While we're on the 39 series I have to mention the 539. If you like a 9mm that weighs in like a full size 1911 the 539 is it! All steel slide and frame. Heavy but shoots so sweet. Like the other 39 series the DA trigger isn't much to get excited about but has that nice SA and quick, quick re-set.

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Get the 39,,,,It's a classic! You won't regret it!

Well, I don't have a nickel 39 but I do have a NIB nickel 59, but it isn't for sale. I feel very fortunate to have found it.

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I'm gonna grow fins.

Jaw dropping!

Ditto....... my head says ....... "stag grips" & BBQ!!!!!!!

I say Ivory

Whats the deal wirh bbq? I've seen that several times here.

Fancy guns ( in fancy leather) you'd open carry to a Texas BBQ ......to "keep up with the".... Rangers!!

I see, thanks for the clarification

If I just wanted a shooter I'd take a 39. Never have I owned another gun that felt so good in my hand. I also had a 59 that was the smoothest auto-loader I've ever owned.

As far as I'm concerned there's no wrong answer here.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

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"I'm your huckleberry."

Neither.
Get a 52.
Short of a 52, get a 39.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

Just to be safe, I'd buy both!

Should I get a 39 or 59?

I say definitely thats a YES

I have both the 39 and 59. (The 59 is actually a 659.) But I still like then both!

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Bill

Certainly, get a 52. A S&W Model 52 could change your life and the way you look at life itself But your answer here is, well...

"Hey guys, should I order a hamburger or a hot dog?"

"Oh, neither. Buy a leather sofa."

I would get a steel framed one, they just feel better and and are more comfortable to shoot.

Get both, I have a 439 and a 459 love em all

Bought a police trade in Model 5906 - replaced mostly all the insides of the gun , was jamming. Once its RIGHT I love it , its stainless and in 98
% good looker . Its 15 rounds and I Love it , once its right its 15 rounds and an excellent Carry or Shooter