9mm 2nd Gen variations

[cougar015]

Bringing this open discussion here from another thread and looking for verification or contradictions (pictures would be nice) to the information shown below:

My experience and collecting 2nd generation 9mm guns have determined that:

Model 439's come in blue or nickel finish and have either the fully adjustable rear wing or smaller dovetailed sight. I have only seen round trigger guards on them. Does anyone have one with a square trigger guard? They also have one of 2 different extractors. Either the long thin one like the Model 39-2 or a short stubby one

Model 539's come in blue or nickel finish and I have only seen the fully adjustable rear wing sight and round trigger guard on them. Does anyone have one with either the smaller dovetailed rear sight or square trigger guard? They also have one of 2 different extractors as mentioned above for the Model 439.

Model 639's are all S.S. and can have various configurations of the rear winged sight, dovetail sight, round trigger guard, square trigger guard, and either of the extractors mentioned above. They can also have either just the left safety lever or be ambidextrous. (I have six 639's and they are all different)

 

[snw19_357]

Model 539's come in blue or nickel finish and I have only seen the fully adjustable rear wing sight and round trigger guard on them. Does anyone have one with either the smaller dovetailed rear sight or square trigger guard? They also have one of 2 different extractors as mentioned above for the Model 439.

Being a blued, alloy frame, 59 series guy, I haven't looked at or saved many x39 pages but due to its sibling, I do have this 539 that has the smaller dovetailed rear sight, and the blade is much thinner than the fixed rear sights I think you're talking about.

 

[snw19_357]

Here's a couple square guard LATE 439's (3rd gens in TBY).

 

[cougar015]

snw19-357, Thanks for the pics. That's the first 539 I have seen not only with that rear sight but also the ambidextrous safety and the first 439 that has the square trigger guard. I'll have to update my file and start searching for one of them. The s/n on the 439 is also unique.
Rich

 

[Tntcwg3]

M459, round trigger guard, adjustable sights (my preference), and non-ambidextrous safety. Shipped 1984.

 

[stansdds]

I think the Model 539 was dropped from production when the hooked trigger guard was introduced. The hooked guard and the extractor that could be replaced without driving out a retaining pin were things the U.S. Army was requiring in their quest for a 9x19mm pistol to replace their M-1911-A1's.

 

[cougar015]

Here's a couple square guard LATE 439's (3rd gens in TBY).

They appear to be transition guns with a 2nd generation Model Number with a 3rd Gen S/N.

 

[Engine49guy]

Interestingly when you search SW 439 the ones with the square trigger guard all appear to have a TB Prefix.

 

[cougar015]

Interestingly when you search SW 439 the ones with the square trigger guard all appear to have a TB Prefix.

There is now a 439 on GB with the square trigger guard and the s/n begins with TB so you may be on to something.

 

[erikpolcrack]

I have two 2nd Gen S&W autos. My 439, SN A8069XX, is blued, has a round trigger guard, ambi-safety, and drift-adjustable rear sight. My 469, SN TAW78XX, is blued, has a square trigger guard, ambi-safety, bobbed hammer, and drift-adjustable rear sight. FWIW, both guns have served me well, and I would never part with either of them. They are lean, mean fighting machines and beautiful to boot.

 

[rjm6120]

I have three 2nd gen 9mm's: a blued 439 with the short extractor, winged fully adjustable rear sight and non-ambidextrous safety; a blued 459 with the same features as the 439; and another blued 459 that I just adopted yesterday with the smaller non-winged drift-adjustable rear sight & ambidextrous safety. I think the trigger guards on all 3 are round.

I have really become somewhat of a fanatic of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd gen pistols the last couple of years.

 

[cougar015]

I have two 2nd Gen S&W autos. My 439, SN A8069XX, is blued, has a round trigger guard, ambi-safety, and drift-adjustable rear sight. My 469, SN TAW78XX, is blued, has a square trigger guard, ambi-safety, bobbed hammer, and drift-adjustable rear sight. FWIW, both guns have served me well, and I would never part with either of them. They are lean, mean fighting machines and beautiful to boot.

So now I have verification of a 439 with the ambi safety. Another update for my records. Thanks

 

[snw19_357]

Interesting how much variation there is between close models.

TAS5953 is a square guard M659 but TAZ7085 is a M459 with a round guard.

 

[azjohn]

I have a TB numbered ambi-safety with a square trigger guard with dove tailed sights. Sorry but I am not an expert, so i can't give you an answer on the extractor. Eats anything, I feed it. Sorry forgot to state that it is a model 439

 

[Goony]

...I do have this 539 that has the smaller dovetailed rear sight, and the blade is much thinner than the fixed rear sights I think you're talking about.

Supposedly there was a short run of 539's made in the fixed (albeit driftable) rear sight configuration. This would appear to be one of those. Note the "SPECIAL" annotation on the box. Of course, all the factory would need to do to create these is install 439 fixed sight slides on them (which is obviously something anybody could do to convert a normal 539).

 

[T44spl]

Being a blued, alloy frame, 59 series guy, I haven't looked at or saved many x39 pages but due to its sibling, I do have this 539 that has the smaller dovetailed rear sight, and the blade is much thinner than the fixed rear sights I think you're talking about.

To snw19 357, I believe your 539 in this configuration was a limited production gun. It qualifies as a "rare bird", you have to ask yourself since acquiring this gun have you ever seen another one like it in the wild?

 

[snw19_357]

I believe your 539 in this configuration was a limited production gun. It qualifies as a "rare bird", you have to ask yourself since acquiring this gun have you ever seen another one like it in the wild?

The 559 in this configuration is a 'rare bird' but I have seen a few of them.

Although I don't search for 39's, only 59's, I have not seen another one of these 539s before or after and would love to hear from someone who has.

 

[cougar015]

The 559 in this configuration is a 'rare bird' but I have seen a few of them.

Although I don't search for 39's, only 59's, I have not seen another one of these 539s before or after and would love to hear from someone who has.

I search the Model39's all the time and currently have 6 of the 539's and I have looked at hundreds of them. I have never seen another one with the dovetail rear sight or the ambi safety. Mostly I see them with the larger winged rear sight and the round trigger guard. I think It's safe to assume there aren't many of them.

 

[Racer X]

my 439 has the ambi safety, Adj rear sights too.

 

[Green Frog]

My 639 came to me with the small, fixed sights and non-ambi safety. Of course future collectors will curse my name because it became my "Franken-Smith" and parts have been changed out willy nilly. Thank goodness original examples aren't rare!
Froggie