639-Opinions please.

[Groovilator]

Just picked up a 639 in very good condition, single sided safety. Please give your opinions, pro and con.
Thanks in advance for your time and consideration. What would be a fair price for this piece in 90%+ condition?

Regards
Donnie

 

[JoeS]

Had one recently that was in great condition.
Mine displayed very poor accuracy, probably due in large part to a poor fitting bushing and generally sloppy barrel fit.
I wanted to have a match bushing and possibly match barrel fit to it only to find out such a thing would be a custom proposition, at least from Bar-Sto and Novaks.
I would have done it, love the feel of the 39 grip frame and I know the triggers can clean up well.
In the end I decided not to fight it and sold it off. I have too many lifetime projects waiting their turn.
If yours shoots well though, they're a keeper.

 

[Racer X]

I love my 439. It could only be better with a stainless slide. Back in the mid 90s, you could still get a barrel bushing/compensator for them. I am still angry at myself for not grabbing it when I could have. It was through Tapco I believe.

 

[Big45]

Have one, love it would not part with it ,,,,Really like all the 39s

 

[flagman1776]

I still have my 39-2 purchased new. I would jump at the same in stainless.
Russ

 

[1066]

My 639 is accurate and reliable, as are all my 39 series guns. The only 39 series gun I own that I am lukewarm about is my 3906. It is "clunky" for a single stack gun, but still a great shooter and a reliable gun.

 

[357larry]

Have had my 639 for a number of years now. It would cost someone a lot of cash for me to part with it. Most ergonomic handgun ever made, reliable, and accurate. Some people don't like the all steel guns because of the weight. I actually prefer it.

 

[Reloader Fred]

I own both a Model 39-2, and a Model 639. I won't part with either one of them. They just shoot well.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[sw44spl]

I have a 639 and it is very accurate and very sweet to handle.I would never part with it.

 

[conn ak]

Without question the M639 is the best overall pistol I've ever owned. The most accurate and most trouble free by a considerable margin. On the downside...low-cap and heavy as a cinder block. Agree with 357larry, it would take a considerable amount of money for me to part with it. Consider the fact that since 1990 or 1991 ,when I bought it used, I've put literally thousands of rounds through it without replacing any parts (mag and recoil springs were replaced last year even though the originals worked fine) and the 639 has suffered 1 (one) stovepipe on a reload. Great gun of a quality we'll never see from a gun company again in the plastic age of gun production.

 

[Pook]

I Like the 639

I have a 539 and a 639. None of the single-stacks have ever fit my hands well (S&W, Colt, Walther, and so on), but the steel frame 539 and 639 balance and handle very well for me. I also like the classy 39, but it is too light for me.

Both pistols have been easy to shoot, reliable, and accurate (of course almost any gun is more accurate than I am capable of shooting it.)

The 639 definitely shows better fit and workmanship than the 539, yet both were produced the same year. From what I understand, 639s are not easy to come by, so you might want to hang on to yours.

 

[Matt Dillon]

I can only echo what has been said about the 639;
I love mine, especially the way it handles. In my opinion,
there's nothing that looks better than an all-stainless
autoloader with walnut grips.

Some of you 639 owners may know of this already, but
there was a recall of this pistol having to do with a defect of
the decocking lever mechanism, that prevented decocking
from a half-cocked hammer position. The gun could be
decocked (from half-cocked) however, by applying backward
pressure on the hammer while moving the DC lever
downward.

 

[conn ak]

I can only echo what has been said about the 639;
I love mine, especially the way it handles. In my opinion,
there's nothing that looks better than an all-stainless
autoloader with walnut grips.

Some of you 639 owners may know of this already, but
there was a recall of this pistol having to do with a defect of
the decocking lever mechanism, that prevented decocking
from a half-cocked hammer position. The gun could be
decocked (from half-cocked) however, by applying backward
pressure on the hammer while moving the DC lever
downward.

The recall info can still be found on the web. There is a range of serial numbers at issue.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Had mine since the 1980s, accurate when I do my part. The steel frame
dampens the recoil, makes for better shooting. Also mine came NIB with a very smooth and light trigger.

 

[safearm]

Carried a 639 as a duty gun as a Deputy Sheriff in Illinois in 1983-1985. Stupidly sold it when I went on active duty in the Air Force. Had the windage only rear sights (no big sight ears), was combat accurate, easy to maintain, and at the time, there were plenty of inexpensive holsters and magazines available as Illinois State Police was carrying 439s. All stainless steel weight made even +P+ easy to shoot.

 

[Gary1911A1]

The only thing I don't like about mine is sometimes my trigger finger is starting to stop on the frame before I fire the pistol.