Inherited a Smith and Wesson 39-2...

[Chdezjr]

Hello all,

I've inherited a Smith and Wesson 39-2 (based on serial number I was told it was mfg around 1978-79) and was wondering what its value would be.
After taking it to a gunsmith who does all the work on my other semi-autos he was really impressed with it, and said there was some really good custom trigger work done to it. I asked what recommendations he'd make on it (cerakote, etc.) but he said he'd leave it just the way it is. The blueing is really nice so all he did was remove a hint of rust in a few places, disassemble it, clean/lube it, and test fire for accuracy. I don't have the original box but I do have 2 original mags and the leather soft case I was given with it. Condition is Very Good (not new, clearly used but really nice) - it is dead on accurate and works flawlessly.

How much would this be worth if I sold it privately? I've attached a picture (sorry if it's slightly blurry)

 

[mauser9]

Private sale? Have to say in the $475 range in the condition you describe. I would leave the original finish too and not change it. Nice guns and all metal.

 

[Sevens]

If your gunsmith is not VERY familiar with Model 39-2's, I would suggest there is a very good chance that the pistol has in fact NOT had any custom trigger work done to it. Fact is that your pistol comes from a different era of manufacturing where handguns were MORE than simply assembled by quickly replaceable laborers. Real craftsmen put these guns together and they used parts that were not "drop in" and needed to be fitted to work. Then end result are handguns with triggers that show evidence of a skilled person's work.

You can't find many folks (and very few on this site!) who don't love the 39-2. And when a company makes a darn good handgun for reasonable money, they sell well. The net result is that S&W made over 300,000 of these handguns.

In "collectible value", that means the market treats them much like a Model 10 or 15: value is in a fantastic handgun that most want to own and shoot, HOWEVER, when there is a huge supply of them and made for many years... high dollar value is reserved for extremely high condition examples with original box & included goodies. That very specifically... and/or factory original with RARE options.

If you have no original box and the finish is not dead mint, expect a pistol like that to trade in the $375-$550 kind of area, very much depending on your local market.

A pistol like that is worth -FAR- more when taken along often on regular range trips... than it is to be re-sold. Pick any random day on the world's largest online gun auction site and do a search... you can typically find 5 to 15 of them ready to purchase. And there have recently been batches of them in foreign service/storage that have gotten re-imported. These go for less, but they definitely soften the market.

I have two of them... they are phenomenal handguns.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Very nice. I'd give (or could get you) $400 for it right now . . .

 

[Road Rat]

Currently on gunbroker they are running 500 - 650ish

 

[N4KVE]

Currently on gunbroker they are running 500 - 650ish

That's what people with high expectations are asking, but what are they actually selling for? There's a reason that site is called "Gun Joker.Com". I'd value the gun at $400 retail. More with the original box. GARY

 

[Chdezjr]

Thanks for the replies! I did some looking around and found some online like you said, but some of the ones being sold have some god-awful aftermarket grips or the mags aren't original. I can personally attest that both of the original mags that are with the gun feed reliably. My biggest concern is that if I keep it, I'll want to shoot it. Problem with that is, if a part happens to break, replacements are not easy to come by. For now, I keep it in a blue Smith and Wesson case i ordered for it. The only other S&W trigger I could compare it to is a custom Shield 9 I owned, and it feels WAYYY better than the Shield. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it is one of the most accurate and best fits in my hand out of all the guns I've owned. (XDS .45, XD Subcompact 9, Glock 17, Taurus Millenium G2 9mm, Shield 9mm)

When I get home later on I'll see if I can take a few more pictures of it.

 

[Buford57]

If your gunsmith is not VERY familiar with Model 39-2's, I would suggest there is a very good chance that the pistol has in fact NOT had any custom trigger work done to it. Fact is that your pistol comes from a different era of manufacturing where handguns were MORE than simply assembled by quickly replaceable laborers. Real craftsmen put these guns together and they used parts that were not "drop in" and needed to be fitted to work. Then end result are handguns with triggers that show evidence of a skilled person's work.

... they are phenomenal handguns.

+1

I had a highly worked over/accurized 39-2 that was my daily carry 30 years ago. When the 469 made its appearance I had to have one and sold the 39. The 469 didn't work out for me and and I replaced it with a box-stock 39-2 that shot as well or better than the first.


Keep it, shoot it, enjoy it. I doubt your departed relative bought it to be a museum piece or an investment.

 

[loeman]

I pretty much agree with everything in the excellent post by Sevens ^^^.

I was very lucky to find a very high condition 39-2 in a pawn shop for $350, but I would have paid another $100 if necessary. I shoot mine but not a lot. My advice is to keep yours and shoot it. They are very accurate and a lot of fun, not to mention the most beautiful semi-auto S&W ever made. Take care of it and many years from now, it will look just the same as it does today. And maybe you will have an heir that will be very proud to have it when you pass it on to a special person.

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

Wow, if I am looking at that picture correctly that is a high serial number. Has to be near the end for the 39-2. Listen to what folks here are saying, for "old technology" the 39 is a sweet 9mm, with a smooth action, great ergonomics and fantastic accuracy. You won't find that on many new guns on the market today. The alloy frame makes it light enough for concealed carry, it has a slender profile, and with an 8rd mag and 1 in the tube you have plenty of firepower.

Clean it, shoot it, treasure it, enjoy it.

 

[Rubone]

I bought a new Model 39 in about '77. It was a nice gun but had an ejection issue and was denting cases. I sent it back to Smith for warranty work and when it came back it was fabulous. Better trigger, more accurate, etc. Regretfully about ten years later I sold it and have always regretted it. I'd like to have another one day.

 

[Sevens]

I think you are drawing conclusions in error from your experience. Comparing a nice, classic, mid-70's Model 39-2 to the feel & function of modern mass-produced polymer guns is like comparing apples to Buicks.

And as for breaking a part of a 39-2 and not finding a replacement...
Again, they made hundreds of thousands of these guns and they also don't have a reputation for being fragile.

 

[Jaymo]

The guns you have to compare with your 39-2 are all striker fired. As reliable as they are, they can never compete with its trigger pull.
You have a well made gun from a different time,that I'd be happy to buy from you.
Bonus, I live in Metro Atlanta.

 

[Jaymo]

They are very accurate and a lot of fun, not to mention the most beautiful semi-auto ANYONE ever made.

There. Fixed it for ya.

 

[Chdezjr]

You are right that I have very limited experience as to what this gun compares to. Here are a few more photos of it I just took.

 

[Smathersfish]

Beautiful gun. Keep it. Get rid of some of that plastic. And if you like the way it fits in your hand, try a CZ75!

 

[Jaymo]

She's a beauty.
Bear in mind, I was not denigrating your experience, or your guns.
There are a lot of hammer-fired guns that can't compare to the 39s trigger, either.
As much as I like striker-fired guns, Their triggers just don't have that smooth, crisp feel of a hammer-fired gun,
Apple and oranges.
Nature of the beast.

Then again, you wouldn't want to carry that 39 in rough conditions and beat the hell out of it.
That's where the Tactical Tupperware shines. Or, doesn't shine, which is better.
I don't care if my Tactical Tupperware gets a bit scratched. The plastic frame doesn't show scratches nearly as badly as a blued steel or black anodized aluminum frame does.

Don't get me wrong, that 39 will get you through hell and back.
But, it'll also look like it afterward.

When I bought my SR9, it was because I wanted a reliable, durable, accurate, high-cap 9mm that I could carry without having to worry about the finish getting uglied up.
To that end, it serves well.
But, it can't touch a 39 in the looks department.

 

[Jaymo]

So far, the only thing I see wrong with it, is the lanyard loop looks to have been bashed in.

 

[dawggunner]

CONGRATS

I added a 39-2 to the collection yesterday. Found it at the Eastman Gun Show in Gainesville, GA. ENJOY! It dates to 1974/1975.

 

[gmborkovic]

My latest 39-2 is A702752 shipped Aug. 1981. Just as a comparison. I have no data sheets going on 39/59s. Nice gun, just shoot it. I have never seen one break.