Recently picked up my 3rd S&W (and third USAF issued pistol) for the collection.

A lettered M39 manufactured in 1969, with box, paperwork, factory letter, spare mags, and USAF asset tag dated 1971.

From what I can gather these were from a small order by the Air Force for General Officer issue during the Vietnam era.

Pistol is stone mint- doesn't appear to have ever been fired. Looks real nice lined up next to its brothers the M13 lightweight and M15 both also Air Force stamped and factory lettered.

All thats missing to make the rig complete would be the original issue holster. Been doing some research trying to hunt one down. Have the correct holsters for the revolvers already.

Three Beauties!

What year is the model 15?

Recently had an "expert" tell me one in 100% condition with all packaging that has never been seen before, 98% condition badge, and sealed in canvas bag holster rig ( yup, not opened) ( 1963 gun) is worth about 1500- ( Yes, HUNDRED)
wonder if the "expert" wanted to buy the one I showed him?

Clean the finish up really lightly with some Flitz, and then REN wax them and you'll be night and day difference!! If you think they look great now, wait!

Those are really really nice!!

I am certainly not an expert on Model 39s, but the safety on yours sure does look different. A 39 was my first 9mm in 74 or 75 & I found another on GB last year. The one from GB is a lower SN then my original, but did not come with the figure-8 shaped mag followers that my original did.

Thanks! The model 15 left the factory in July 1969 delivered to Robins AFB, GA according to the factory letter I received.

All three mags that came with my M39 are the metal X type ones. All stamped SW on the floor-plate.

Great collection! Really hard to find.

Any property markings ?

None on the M39. It's indistinguishable from a standard commercial model other than the serial number which places it in the range of the Air Force contract.

Mr. Jelly, what looks different about the safety?

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

I love seeing these time capsules. They make mne feel like I am right there back in 69

I can say i love it. APPLIED FOR ILLNOIS STATE POLICE, IN 1971 WHILE IN MARINES, For early out program. would have been carrying one of those 39's Model. Lets say took a different life path.

glad you posted that, made me feel young again...RON K.

What is the USAF contract serial number range? This one is S/N 106599, while this other one is S/N 81942. That's quite the difference in serial numbers.

Smith & Wesson S&W Model 39 USAF General Officer’s GO Pistol, 1957-1969 C&R Air Force Maj Gen Edward Dillon 9mm Semi-Automatic | Smith & Wesson S&W Model 39 USAF General Officer's GO Pistol, 1957-1969 C&R Air Force Maj Gen Edward Dillon 9mm Semi-AutomaticLock, Stock & Barrel

The Air Force bought quite a few in a couple of different SN blocks. These are both legit. The Navy bought quite a few as well and remember that all the automatic pistols shared the same SN series so there are blocks of Model 41 and Model 52 pistols at certain points in the whole range of SNs.

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Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

Thank you, Kevin! That explains it.

Just got another -2 yesterday. I couldn’t pass the deal up, cheap price is an understatement.

Gents - first of all, I envy s52's Air Force trifecta. In no way, shape or form am I an S&W expert. That said, with the understanding that I have cropped his low-res photo, it still looks like the safety on s52's USAF M39 is different than the safety on my A150XXX M39. Again, probably a resolution issue, but I don't see any serrations and it looks blockier where it enters the slide. I think it's just a photo resolution "thing". Either way he's got three S&W's that I will never have, although I have NIB-ish versions of all three in his photo. My Model 12 is a more recent version with not nearly as consistent finish as his. The SW Forum webserver application downsizes photos, I assume, so there may be little or no difference visible

Attached Images

SW M39s.jpg (82.7 KB, 31 views)

Now you need the Air Force M16.

H&R/PSA can help you with that!^ lol

Cool gun. I don't recall ever seeing one, either on display or for sale. Enjoy!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Interesting. The safety on my M39 does indeed have serrations. I am currently away from home but when I get back tomorrow I can take some better macro images of the safety and post them up here for you to compare.

Are we talking about the serrations on the lever or the ones on the slide?

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Very nice collection s52.
As a side note the serial number on my ISP issued Model 39 is less than 200 lower than S52's 39. It was first issued in the initial transition to autos 1968.

Attached Images

S&W 39 106403.JPG (49.3 KB, 6 views)

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183rd FBINA

I have a real nice model 39 would like to get a letter on it, what is the procedure and cost. thanks terry

Letters – Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation