39 and 39-2 Date of Manufacture & Value

[WisconsinKen]

Hey guys.

The 39 gods have been pretty good to me the last few weeks. Was hopoing you guys could give me a dates of birth and an idea of the values.

The first two are family guns.
The first is a 39 with the serial number 3987X and is in ~90-95% condition. Was my mom's gun. No box or papers, but has an extra clip. Once I cleaned all the sock fuzz of it, I realize how nice of condition it was in. Talked to my dad, and probably has less than 100 rounds through it over all the years.
Second was by dad's "shooter 39" and is a 39-2 in about 85% condition. Serial number is A56900X with no box or papers.

The two pictures show this week's find. 39-2 with original matching box, S&W wax papers, extra mag still in the wax paper, warranty card, instruction pamphlet and tools (still sealed in plastic baggy). Serial number is A12910X. I am very particular on my firearms and I would rate this at 98% It looks unfired. Only thing I can knock it on is some of the white in the logo and writing is missing. Even the screws in the grips look like they have never seen a screw driver.

Any help you can give owuld be greatly appreciated.

Have a great week!

 

[TOM BECKWITH]

S&W 39 386XX Sep-63
S&W 39 394XX Mar-64

39-2 A5282XX Jun-79
39-2 A5809XX Apr-80

39-2 A1256XX Oct-70
39-2 A1272XX Jan-71
39-2 A1473XX Jun-71
As usual, S&W Jinks is the real source of SHIP dates

 

[WisconsinKen]

S&W 39 386XX Sep-63
S&W 39 394XX Mar-64

39-2 A5282XX Jun-79
39-2 A5809XX Apr-80

39-2 A1256XX Oct-70
39-2 A1272XX Jan-71
39-2 A1473XX Jun-71
As usual, S&W Jinks is the real source of SHIP dates

Thanks Tom!!!

 

[Engine49guy]

Nice early 70's 39-2 with many features from the 39 no dash that slowly disappear later in the 39-2 evolution such as the hole in the hammer, fully enclosed barrel bushing, non slotted mag release button and large ampersand slide rollstamp.

BTW the "White stuff " in the rollstamps is not factory and probably just white crayon applied to make it "POP" at the gunshow trick.

 

[WisconsinKen]

Thanks Engine49guy. When I clean it up, I'll get the **** out of the roll stamping.

Anyone have some ideas on rough values?

 

[03Fatboy]

Nice early 70's 39-2 with many features from the 39 no dash that slowly disappear later in the 39-2 evolution such as the hole in the hammer, fully enclosed barrel bushing, non slotted mag release button and large ampersand slide rollstamp.

BTW the "White stuff " in the rollstamps is not factory and probably just white crayon applied to make it "POP" at the gunshow trick.

Hey Engine49,
How do you know the fully enclosed barrel bushing from the photos? I picked up on the others but can you key me in on the que for that?

Does this mean the barrel bushing you see is retaining the recoil spring vs the slide retaining it?

Thanks!

 

[Engine49guy]

Hey Engine49,
How do you know the fully enclosed barrel bushing from the photos? I picked up on the others but can you key me in on the que for that?

Does this mean the barrel bushing you see is retaining the recoil spring vs the slide retaining it?

Thanks!

I can make out the bushing but the serial is so low it has to be that way, the older slides capture the spring (like yours ) where later versions are captured by a horse shoe shaped bushing,
Most S&W revisions save a step in the manufacturing process therefore speeding up production and reducing costs.

 

[Engine49guy]

BTW forgot to mention one more early feature in the slide stop notch cut, if you look closely it has a "Bump" where later versions are a straight cut.
Also guessing you magazine follower is steel shaped in a figure 8, later versions are plastic.

 

[WisconsinKen]

Just looked at both mags. How right you are Engine49guy about the steel followers.

 

[WisconsinKen]

Any guidance on value guys?

 

[loeman]

I bought a very nice Md 39-2 about a month ago for $350 which I considered a very good deal. No box, docs, extra mag or tools. Probably would rate about 95%.

 

[shjoe9]

i have a model 39 with serial number #66463. any idea of manufacturing date? how big a problem was/are broken long type extractors? do i really need to try and find a spare? thanks for your help.

 

[Engine49guy]

i have a model 39 with serial number #66463. any idea of manufacturing date? how big a problem was/are broken long type extractors? do i really need to try and find a spare? thanks for your help.

The extractor supposedly can break if you drop a round in the chamber and release the slide. Spare extractors are very hard to find.
In my area clean early 39-2 are near $500 39 no dash maybe another $150

 

[loeman]

i have a model 39 with serial number #66463. any idea of manufacturing date? how big a problem was/are broken long type extractors? do i really need to try and find a spare? thanks for your help.

It's difficult to tell the age of the early Md 39s. According to the SCSW they began with 0001 in 1954 and went to about 115000 in 1970. After 1970 the numbers had an A prefix. Therefore yours is likely from the mid 1960s. However a letter from S&W would tell you the shipping date.

 

[gm272gs]

GB has 39-2 pistols going for between $400 and $650, all the time. Some NIB examples can go for $800 to $1,000, depending on the nut-factor of the bidder.

For whatever reason, nickel-plated examples go for more money. I guess they are "rare" - but if I buy a silver gun - it's going to be stainless, by golly.

Blued versions (the most common) can be had for $300 to $350, but that's not a common occurrence, and certainly not on an auction site. The frame on the 39-2 is aluminum, and prone to finish wear.

 

[WisconsinKen]

The extractor supposedly can break if you drop a round in the chamber and release the slide. Spare extractors are very hard to find.
In my area clean early 39-2 are near $500 39 no dash maybe another $150

Thanks Engine49guy for the $ range. I am more of a shooter rather than a collector and this early 39-2 with the condition and accessories is way too nice to turn into a shooter (which I know I will do). So, I was thinking of throwing this up for trade offers and am trying to get a feel for the "$" value.

 

[shjoe9]

thanks, Loeman. i will send out a shipping date/history request from Mr. Jinks. mid 60s sounds about right based on condition of the piece. extractor could be an issue only if it breaks. will have to carry a wooden ram rod for my single shot model 39. the pistol shoots well and is accurate. the BEST hand grip design. very comfortable and it points well. best john

 

[TOM BECKWITH]

Re 66463
S&W 39 663XX Feb-66
As usual - Jinks/S&W for your SHIP date

 

[grif684]

I can make out the bushing but the serial is so low it has to be that way, the older slides capture the spring (like yours ) where later versions are captured by a horse shoe shaped bushing,
Most S&W revisions save a step in the manufacturing process therefore speeding up production and reducing costs.

Engine you have it backwards, the early versions had the recoil spring retained by the full bushing, the later versions were retained by the slide itself, which allowed for the shorter, or horseshoe shaped, bushing, which did not have to retain the recoil spring. Shown on the left is a 39 no dash slide, which used the bushing to capture the spring, and on the right is a 39-2 slide, which did capture the spring and used the horseshoe bushing. The difference is apparent.

 

[Jbrooks93]

Nice early 70's 39-2 with many features from the 39 no dash that slowly disappear later in the 39-2 evolution such as the hole in the hammer, fully enclosed barrel bushing, non slotted mag release button and large ampersand slide rollstamp.

BTW the "White stuff " in the rollstamps is not factory and probably just white crayon applied to make it "POP" at the gunshow trick.

I just got one of these 39-2 number A12602x. Picked it up in a trade. was comparing it to another -2 and all these things you mentioned are different as well, as in they match the old 39.