An Interesting Model 39

[kwill1911]

Captain Peter Mason was a member of the British SAS and after the war he had a license to kill--Nazi war criminals (according to him). It is interesting that the placard implies that the dust shield was special to the CIA. I don't know who manufactured the silencer nor do I know the SN of the pistol. (Would like to know both!)

 

[gmborkovic]

Hello Kevin, neat gun. Where did you see it displayed?

 

[kwill1911]

It is on display, along with a lot of other Peter Mason's guns and spy equipment, in a museum in England.

 

[glenwolde]

Also interesting....the cast bullets in the display. I wonder if they loaded their own subsonic rounds?

 

[gmborkovic]

I would say its an early 39-2 as evidenced by the ejection port cover.
What say ye?

 

[44wheelman]

39-2, hmmm, no. Not with that extractor.

 

[kwill1911]

Yes, look at the extractor. Also, it couldn't be a 39-2 in 1956.

 

[gmborkovic]

AH! so its a pre or four digit 39. I cant see the extractor, hole in the hammer and length of the duck bill from the one pic.
We should start a fund to send you to England on a fact finding trip. I will start it off with a $1.00! I know, Im a big spender and just showing off.

 

[kwill1911]

Click on the picture--you'll see the details.

 

[gmborkovic]

Kevin, my old eyes aint sharp anymore. I clicked. Is there a zoom feature?

 

[kwill1911]

Did you click on the picture in my post? If that wasn't big enough hold the CTRL key on your keyboard and then press the + key as many times as you like.

 

[fordson]

Educate me - what would be the purpose of the ejection dust cover? I know it’s to “keep the dust out” but what other reason?

 

[Llance]

Is it me or is there a chip out of the slide at the right front corner?

 

[kwill1911]

Educate me - what would be the purpose of the ejection dust cover? I know it’s to “keep the dust out” but what other reason?

I don't think we know. S&W was desperate for a military contract and thought this feature might appeal to the Ordnance Dept.

Is it me or is there a chip out of the slide at the right front corner?

I think that's just a reflection from the overhead lighting.

 

[Jeppo]

Educate me - what would be the purpose of the ejection dust cover? I know it’s to “keep the dust out” but what other reason?

Could it be to contain the spent brass? Sure would make follow-up shots slow.

 

[kwill1911]

Could it be to contain the spent brass? Sure would make follow-up shots slow.

No, the gun extracts and ejects normally. Keeping the brass contained would just jam the gun.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

As I have Posted, when I tried Cast Bullet Reloads in my 39 it was a disaster!
Broke the ejector. Long one, just like in the Pic.
I got the ammo from a Buddy with a Browning HP.
They shot fine in the HP.
Don’t think he was going for Sub Sonic!

 

[gmborkovic]

Hello Kevin, I stand corrected. I was wrong. Mr. McMillan states that the cover shows up at Sn. 8900 to about A300000. No patent was ever issued.
I wonder why this gun had no slide lock like the Hush Puppy.

 

[kwill1911]

The vast majority of pistols with silencers/suppressors do not have a slide lock. I don't think the concept existed until the late 1960s when the Navy specified it on the "Hush Puppy" pistols that were built on the S&W Model 39-2 platform. In the same time frame S&W delivered a few Model 41 pistols to the USAF with sound "depressors" and a slide lock.

 

[stansdds]

Educate me - what would be the purpose of the ejection dust cover? I know it’s to “keep the dust out” but what other reason?

It is simply a piece of sheet metal that was to keep debris away from the ejection port when the slide was closed. I doubt that it was of any real benefit.