39-2 Takedown Issues

[jdlii]

I acquired a very nice Mod. 39-2 last month, 98% with the box and documents. Took it apart for inspection and cleaning with no issues.

Today, for the first time, I got a chance to shoot it and see how it performed. Got home and prepared to take it down for cleaning.

Took a look at the youtube video again for a refresher course. Pulled the slide back, lined up the slot in the slide with the take down pin. Couldn't push it out without the use of the plastic handle of a gun cleaning tooth brush.

Got the pin out but, can't get the slide to separate from the frame by sliding it forward. It moves about an inch and locks up. Put the take down pin/lever back in and it functions fine.

WHAT THE HECK AM I DOING WRONG?

Thank you in advance for your answers and assistance!

Frustrated in TN!

 

[Heymatt]

Silly question, did you remove the magazine?

 

[jdlii]

Yes, I removed the magazine.

 

[S&WIowegan]

Is the gun cocked?

 

[jdlii]

Yes, the hammer is cocked. As I am sure you know, when you move the slide to the rear, to line up the cut out in the slide to the take down pin/lever, the hammer is cocked.

 

[Sevens]

Often the recoil guide rod will get ever so slightly out of place and it makes it difficult to remove. When this happens, I draw the slide back as far as I am able and then I get a hold of the muzzle end of the guide rod as it protrudes from the slide. Pull it — try to seat it properly, let it go carefully and then again attempt to move the slide forward and off the frame, taking care to help the hammer fall gently and not smack the frame.

It’s a little difficult to put this in to words but it isn’t difficult to attempt this.

 

[Pine_Worker]

[QUOTE .......taking care to help the hammer fall gently and not smack the frame.

[/QUOTE]

Yes, the hammer must be forward for the slide to be removed. If it does not automatically fall forward, the trigger must be pulled.

 

[Sevens]

It will absolutely “fall forward” unless your decock linkage is broken, the slide rides over the finger that makes the hammer drop as you move the slide forward off your frame.

 

[jdlii]

Nope, it is still a "no go." I can remove the pin but, the slide will move forward about 1/4" and no more.

I have pulled the slide to the rear, as far as possible, and tried to wiggle and/or move the rod guide. It will not budge and I am sure not going to force it.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[gmborkovic]

Up for discussion:
1. remove mag.
2. remove hammer and spring
3. remove grips, for a better view.

 

[Sevens]

I have only two suggestions. I see that you did attempt what I suggested, I will suggest it again, in a slightly different way. (Not that you didn't try, merely saying that if we were in the same room, it is the first thing I would try! )

Slide stop still in place, magazine out, pistol functional--

Draw slide all the way back and with a thin rubber grabbing assistance (think rubber kitchen jar opener, a short bit of bicycle tire innertube, ANYTHING that enhances your grip but certainly not a pair of pliers) try again to get a hold of the guide rod from the muzzle end and slowly rotate it a few degrees or slowly and carefully, a full 360 degrees, plus or minus.

Basically, anything so that the guide rod ends up somewhere other than it's orientation for the last 20 years.

Then again attempt to remove the slide stop and move the slide forward slowly off the frame. Must know: the hammer absolutely has to be cocked fully (not half cock) if you want to draw the slide off the frame on a 39-2. This is because the sear release lever will not allow the slide to go forward unless it is able to fall. At hammer half-cock, that sear release lever will not go down in to the frame and allow the slide to pass over it.

If the sear release lever cannot lower in to the frame, the slide isn't coming off the frame.

Edit to add!
I just did this repeatedly on my 39-2 and I am going to say it is quite possible that all you are missing here is that you need to start with the hammer fully cocked. Once the slide moves forward enough, it will drop the hammer for you -- be ready to catch it.

 

[jdlii]

It is now in the hands of my trusted gunsmith. Moving and/or rotating the recoil rod did not have the desired effect. I was able to completely rotate the recoil rod and even pull it slightly forward, in hope of getting it back in its proper position. That simply didn't work.

I am hopeful that my GS will be able to get the pistol apart and back together properly. If not, it may have to be returned to the mothership.

 

[peterdeb]

Owning a couple of these, I am sure interested in what the GS says was the problem. Please keep us updated.

 

[jdlii]

My GS got it apart and diagnosed the problem as a burr on the ejector. Apparently the burr was not allowing the slide to move completely forward.
He is going to "polish" the burr down and hopefully this this resolve the issue.

The root cause, according to our conversation, is most likely the Winchester steel cased "Range" ammunition that I shot the first and only time I fired the Mod. 39. The pistol definitely doesn't like this ammo and out of the 25 rounds that I fired, it failed to extract and eject over 30% of the time. No more steel ammo of any kind for this pistol and believe it or not, I bought this ammo to shoot in a CZ Mod. 75 that I sold. Otherwise my practice is never to shoot steel cased ammo in any firearm that I own.

Live and learn.

 

[Green Frog]

My GS got it apart and diagnosed the problem as a burr on the ejector. Apparently the burr was not allowing the slide to move completely forward.
He is going to "polish" the burr down and hopefully this this resolve the issue.

The root cause, according to our conversation, is most likely the Winchester steel cased "Range" ammunition that I shot the first and only time I fired the Mod. 39. The pistol definitely doesn't like this ammo and out of the 25 rounds that I fired, it failed to extract and eject over 30% of the time. No more steel ammo of any kind for this pistol and believe it or not, I bought this ammo to shoot in a CZ Mod. 75 that I sold. Otherwise my practice is never to shoot steel cased ammo in any firearm that I own.

Live and learn.

Your Model 39-2 is a thoroughbred. You don’t get Kentucky Derby performance feeding your thoroughbred crabgrass. Just sayin’.

Froggie

 

[gmborkovic]

Mr. j, glad you got it resolved with no damage. Maybe just a little tap on the back of the slide. And free. Lesson about steel cases.

 

[Sistema1927]

Funny how the human mind works. When I saw the title, I only saw "39" and Takedown".

I opened this thread thinking that it was going to be about a certain Marlin .22 levergun.

 

[stansdds]

My GS got it apart and diagnosed the problem as a burr on the ejector. Apparently the burr was not allowing the slide to move completely forward.
He is going to "polish" the burr down and hopefully this this resolve the issue.

The root cause, according to our conversation, is most likely the Winchester steel cased "Range" ammunition that I shot the first and only time I fired the Mod. 39. The pistol definitely doesn't like this ammo and out of the 25 rounds that I fired, it failed to extract and eject over 30% of the time. No more steel ammo of any kind for this pistol and believe it or not, I bought this ammo to shoot in a CZ Mod. 75 that I sold. Otherwise my practice is never to shoot steel cased ammo in any firearm that I own.

Live and learn.

Reason number 398 for me not using steel cased ammo in my U.S. made firearms.