S&W Model 39-2 Sight Mount

kantuck · Jun 5, 2017

I own this pistol and desire to mount a Burris Fastfire iii Red Dot Optic to the rear dovetail slot. Burris only offers the modern M&P mount. A company they send people to: AmerigunUSA - Custom Gunsmithing & Trijicon Sight/RMR Mount Specialists makes custom mounts which cost more than the sight by the time you send them your slide assy..
I have no intention to alter the pistol, so lets talk about what I'm seeking, not what shouldn't happen to a 99% pistol from another era.
Old eyes that remain 20/20 still need all the help they can get,ha!
It seems that a milling machine owning gunsmith in my area is my solution of economy here.

Sevens · Jun 5, 2017

Slightly confused,you specifically state that you have no intention of altering the pistol but you add that a gunsmith with a milling machine is what you need. Does this mean you'd like someone to cut an adapter that fits in to a 39-2 lollipop rear sight cutout and allows you to mount an optical sight?

Ummm, I think you answered your question.

For a pistol that ceased production in -1982- and no pistol was ever made later that has the same rear sight setup as the original lollipop sight, you will likely require a custom made, "only one that exists in the history of man" mount adapter.

Having someone construct that will not be economical. The only economy route I can imagine is if YOU own the shop, tools, skill and time.

I wish you genuine luck.

However, for the OTHER way around to mount an optic on a 39-2, know that the 39-2 and the Model 52 use exactly the same stocks/"grips." Thus, a right grip panel optic rail for the 52 does indeed exist, I believe perhaps Leupold makes it?

It's hideous, as any 52 (or in this case, Model 39) would be with an optic, but I will probably work.

I feel awful for your that your eyesight demands this and I wish you luck in sorting it out.

Barrie · Jun 5, 2017

Yes Leupold does make one for sure but it is Not attractive at all as I have seen one. Adds to much weight in my opinion as well.

lhump1961 · Jun 5, 2017

If this is a project you are intent on completing then another option is to leave your 99% gun alone and acquire another one as your project gun. Get a shooter and hack away...

kantuck · Jun 6, 2017

First off, I know how the loilipop sight is made. 2nd, the thoughts I was having were toward buying a sight body and adapting (hacking away,yes)it to allow placement of a Burris/Bomar mount on it, thus allowing a red dot on top. The milling machine will never touch the slide on my S&W, only the sight. The appearance would be changed in a temporary way, nothing having been done to the pistol itself.
The fastfire iii sights are very small and use a tiny plate for mounting. I already have this setup on my Kimber 1911 .22 target pistol which makes use of the OE slot for the adapter mount. Only the M&P has a Burris sight adapter that's factory made in that brand.
Red dot optics are commonly know as a big favor for senior shooters sight picture wise. Like I said, I'm one of the lucky ones @ age 73 to still have 20/20, and no vision issues like cataracts,etc.. That doesn't make the sight picture the same as the one I used to see.
I know about grip optics and don't want that. I come from a skilled trades background (including the educator aspect)and a lifetime of firearms, thus I don't need a tutorial on what you think looks good or to suggest that I'm intent on hacking up a pistol when it was made clear to be otherwise in my 1st post.
I'm in the wish I'd not bothered to post mentality for now. Most of us dislike being talked down to in simpleton terms, which is what has happened here so far? I'm good with most any gun conversation but not interested in a lecture.

IraIII · Jun 6, 2017

Why not buy a replacement slide for your model 39 and mill it for the mounting plate to fit your desired optic. There are usually slides available for reasonable prices and you would be able to switch from optic to lollipop sight easily if desired. In my experience most slides will interchange within models on different frames, but be sure to check safety/decocker operation closely.

lhump1961 · Jun 6, 2017

kantuck said:
First off, I know how the loilipop sight is made. 2nd, the thoughts I was having were toward buying a sight body and adapting (hacking away,yes)it to allow placement of a Burris/Bomar mount on it, thus allowing a red dot on top. The milling machine will never touch the slide on my S&W, only the sight. The appearance would be changed in a temporary way, nothing having been done to the pistol itself.
The fastfire iii sights are very small and use a tiny plate for mounting. I already have this setup on my Kimber 1911 .22 target pistol which makes use of the OE slot for the adapter mount. Only the M&P has a Burris sight adapter that's factory made in that brand.
Red dot optics are commonly know as a big favor for senior shooters sight picture wise. Like I said, I'm one of the lucky ones @ age 73 to still have 20/20, and no vision issues like cataracts,etc.. That doesn't make the sight picture the same as the one I used to see.
I know about grip optics and don't want that. I come from a skilled trades background (including the educator aspect)and a lifetime of firearms, thus I don't need a tutorial on what you think looks good or to suggest that I'm intent on hacking up a pistol when it was made clear to be otherwise in my 1st post.
I'm in the wish I'd not bothered to post mentality for now. Most of us dislike being talked down to in simpleton terms, which is what has happened here so far? I'm good with most any gun conversation but not interested in a lecture.

My "hack away" comment was just saying you could modify without reservation or regret. As for other "lecturing" I guess you can accept the comments you like and just ignore those you don't...this is the internet after all!

Tom S. · Jun 6, 2017

At one point, some people used to make a replacement grip that you could mount a scope or Aimpoint to. Cal was one the name of one manufacturer, and I think Aimtech made one too. Might check with them, or look for used units. I have one on a Browning HP, and it works OK and required no modifications to the gun other than removing one of the grip panels.

kantuck · Jun 7, 2017

Given my short stubby fingers I like thin grips. Also I don't want a projected dot, I want a holographic sight. My Kimber has the Fastfire iii, 3 MOA dot and really easy to see on a target. I did research used slides and they are out there but pricey enough to not go that direction. I'm a casual shooter these days and never was a pistol competitor either.
Using the Bomar mount that comes from Burris as the basis in my minds eye I was thinking a relatively cheap lolipop (they are out there and not too pricey) that is modified via milling to carry the tiny plate which holds the tiny red dot, then perhaps silver soldered on top. I discussed this with a gunsmith @ Brownell's in fact. I did read here in a "39-2 sight search" that a guy who was an armorer had broken lolipop sights in working on a few Model 39's back in the day when they were service weapons. I have never done a breakdown on this pistol but do know how. The long front tab must break at times?
I looked at the many e.g.'s provided on the AmerigunUSA - Custom Gunsmithing & Trijicon Sight/RMR Mount Specialists website I gave initially for examples of their work-the place who Burris said to contact. Some of the jobs seen there (slides & revolvers) are not what I'd do to a pistol but that's the other guys choice and money.
Yeh, it's the internet...Thanks.

Tom S. · Jun 7, 2017

Aimpoint is not a projected dot. It is the original red dot prismatic device. I was only using it as an example. As for the grip design, they do come fairly thick but that is more a cost savings (less machining for the manufacturer), than a requirement, and being made of aluminum would be quite easy to whittle down. How much it actually affects the grip depends upon which side it mounts on and what your dominant hand is.

S&W Model 39-2 Sight Mount

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