I have a Smith&Wesson unfinished frame forging that I purchased about twenty years ago by mail order and it was listed as a 9mm frame, and appears almost exactly like a 39, except the trigger guard looks very 1911 like, ala single action. Does anyone have an idea what it could be? I can email pics, but still am unable to post them here. Also it is steel or possibly stainless, not alloy.
Help identify a S&W frame forging
- Thread starter grif684
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SW CQB 45
Member
email me the pic and I will post for ya
swcqb45 at sbcglobal dot net
swcqb45 at sbcglobal dot net
SW CQB 45
Member
is it a single stack???
SW CQB 45
Member
whats the bigger hole on the non ejection side? (at the top...closer to where the slide rails would be)
decocker provision?
decocker provision?
SW CQB 45
Member
Hmmmm, wonder how that got past the watchful eyes of S&W security??? 
I mentioned to the tour guide on my recent factory tour how cool it would be if the company sold rejected frame stampings as paperweights..........no reaction.
I mentioned to the tour guide on my recent factory tour how cool it would be if the company sold rejected frame stampings as paperweights..........no reaction.
Ironically enough, this sat on my bench and served as a weight, or in any way needed for several years, only getting packed away when I moved. Just recently came across it, and after posting this thread I started thinking that I had bought two of them, and wouldn't you know I found the second one after a quick dig through a parts box....I believe I bought them from gun parts corp. or one of the other parts sellers that advertised in the shotgun news years ago, I think I paid around ten bucks each for 'em....wish I knew what they were gonna be....
Rock185
US Veteran
That is a stainless aftermarket frame for a model 39 sold under the name "B.I.I." I don't think BII was related to S&W. I owned a gun built on that frame. My gunsmith at the time, used the BII frame, and all the rest of the parts from a regular blue Model 39 to create a functioning firearm. Mine had a two digit serial number, and I have only seen one or two guns built on those frames since. Back in the day, rumor was S&W had done some legal stuff to prevent continued production, but I don't really know if that's what caused them to disappear so quickly. Someone posted photos on this, or some other forum, of one that was highly engraved. These frames were produced long before there was such a thing as an all steel 539 or 639, approx. 30-35 years sgo. Back then, steel framed S&W 9MMs were not commonly available. I'd heard of factory steel framed 39s back then, but never actually seen one. The only thing really noticeably different on the BII frames, other than the stainless color and weight, was the 1911 style trigger guard. The finished frame appeared to be of high quality, precisely machined, etc. Mine worked very well and I wish I'd hung on to it. Anyway, neat paperweight, not everyone on your block is gonna have one of those...
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Thanks rock, apparently made in 1977 by Bole Industries Inc. in Northridge, Ca., I was able to find some info with your help on this, including a Devel conversion built on this frame (full house). According to what I can find, about 200 were made, and unfinished frames were sold off to AMT after BII was forced to shut down production by the BATF. This forum is great, what a wealth of knowledge found here!!
Very helpfull, fwspace,Germany
gunslinger069
US Veteran
Smith & Wesson - BOLE - Industries BII model 39-SS stainless steel 9mm
I have been searching for information on this pistol without any luck. Is there any more information on the origin/builder or any information at all on this gun? Also do you have any idea the value of it? It is in MINT condition.
Thankx for your help
I have been searching for information on this pistol without any luck. Is there any more information on the origin/builder or any information at all on this gun? Also do you have any idea the value of it? It is in MINT condition.
Thankx for your help
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I was able to track down quite a bit of info on these after starting this thread. The company that made these stainless frames (which are cast stainless) made around 200 finished frames, they did not build complete pistols. They were designed to accept all other parts from a model 39 or 39-2, giving you a stainless framed pistol. As far as I have been able to determine, the frames were sold bare and finished by gunsmiths all over the country, none in particular. They were indeed stopped by the BATF shortly after production started (not sure why) and the unfinished and unsold frames were sold off to other companies, such as AMT and Numrich arms. Unless the frame was marked by the finishing builder, there is no way to tell who completed the pistol. It appears they were made around 1977 before they were stopped. The value of the completed pistols is basically the same as the donor pistol, they don't really have any collector value as far I have been able to determine, you will occasionally see one pop up for sale. When searching for info try Boles Industries Inc., the company that made them in California (hence the B.I.I.).
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Your fathers 39-2 is not stainless, it's nickel plated with an alloy frame and steel slide, value around $500, give or take and depending on where you are located....
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