39 Series Now Complete (Sort of)

[Redcoat3340]

The last piece of my "collection" of 39 series pistols, a 39 no dash, arrived this morning. (via an ad on Gunboards and a nice fella in N. Car.)

It's in decent shape (and was C&R so no FFL fees or taxes). Modest holster wear, grips look great, nice clean, sharp bore, and it dry fires just fine. To the range tomorrow.

I now have a 39 no dash; 39-2. 439, and 3904; as well as a 908. I'd like to add a CS9 to that list, but I fear that might take a bit of time to both find and finance.

None of my pistols could be considered collectors items, all show honest wear, some dings and a few scratches. But all shoot just fine, work perfectly, and make me a happy guy.

I also like my 59 stuff: 59, 459 and new 5906. Not sure what's next on that wish list.

Gotta thank all the members here who have educated me on these great guns. Makes owning them that much more interesting.

Here's a couple of pics.

 

[jimbo728]

Dont forget the 539 & 559.
Nice 39. I bet it shoots great.
Jim

 

[mbliss57]

You also need a pre model 39, steel frame 39, 539, and the entire 3rd gen gun of the week 39 3914, 3913 and their Lady smith and NL cousins, 3954, 909...why you have just begun... just kidding. Nice collection.

Enjoy!

 

[t-bird]

Thanks for the info and pics. You have a collection anybody would be proud of. Best of luck.

 

[2K7]

Nice collection! I would, however, refrain from firing your most recent acquisition. That long, one piece extractor is very prone to breakage and I'm not sure you would ever find a replacement.

A major State Police adopted that very gun in the 60's and suffered extensive failures of that extractor. So much, that they returned the first 500 and the were retro-fitted with a wide two piece version that performed flawlessly.

 

[Redcoat3340]

Thanks for the advice about the extractor. I'd read about that before, but in the excitement of opening my "present," I'd forgotten.

To be sure, I won't be shooting any +P. (I only shoot self-defense loads in my Sig P6 and my M60, and even shoot the "lite" Critical Defense in that.)

Infact, I'm reloading a bunch of 9mm tomorrow and I'll set aside a box or two of very very mild loads just for this gun.

Again, much appreciate the reminder.

 

[mbliss57]

Thanks for the advice about the extractor. I'd read about that before, but in the excitement of opening my "present," I'd forgotten.

To be sure, I won't be shooting any +P. (I only shoot self-defense loads in my Sig P6 and my M60, and even shoot the "lite" Critical Defense in that.)

Infact, I'm reloading a bunch of 9mm tomorrow and I'll set aside a box or two of very very mild loads just for this gun.

Again, much appreciate the reminder.

Those Sig P6s are great older 9mms too. I have one from W Germany dated 1984. It's a tack driver and always works. It as the W German Police Holster too. One of my favorite range pistols.

 

[Redcoat3340]

I didn't get the holster with mine, I should look for one. I don't shoot it as often as I should, as it's my bedside gun. Sig had a special last year and did a cleaning and installed SigNiteSights for a very reasonable price. Of course I blew the deal (and the savings) when I had them do a trigger job as long as they had it in the shop.

 

[DCW]

39 Extractor

From my research of articles written around the time concerning the long-extractor breakage it seems most analysis - for an extractor could not be made to break on cue, whether by S&W or some of the involved users - ultimately centered on charging the weapon with a round in the chamber as opposed to allowing a cartridge to be gathered from a magazine and chambered.

I've had no breakage of the long extractor even though one of my carry weapons is an M39 (alternated with a 3913NL) and I shoot each twice monthly at the range.

Thus, feed the critter with a magazine load and, if needed, drop the magazine and add another to the stack.

Thanks for the advice about the extractor. I'd read about that before, but in the excitement of opening my "present," I'd forgotten.

To be sure, I won't be shooting any +P. (I only shoot self-defense loads in my Sig P6 and my M60, and even shoot the "lite" Critical Defense in that.)

Infact, I'm reloading a bunch of 9mm tomorrow and I'll set aside a box or two of very very mild loads just for this gun.

Again, much appreciate the reminder.

 

[Engine49guy]

Don t forget the nickel 39's and SS Model 639 !

 

[Cyrano]

Don t forget the nickel 39's and SS Model 639 !

The pre-39s, made from 1954 until the start of the numbering system in 1957. Not too hard to come by. The steel frame Model 39s are a little scarcer, 927 of them were made. And then there's the 39-1, sold as the 52-A, in 38 AMU caliber; somewhere around 80 of those were made (I forget the exact figure, I saw one recently for sale :$4900). The Model 44s,single action only, are a little harder to come by; there were only 10 of them, and I think they'e all accounted for. There are a bunch of rare ones; look in Richard McMillan's book on 39s.