M39-2 conversion kit conundrum

[Whysk]

Gentleman,
My M39-2 finally arrived! She's in real nice condition, showing only slight holster wear, my guess would be a coupla' thousand rounds down, according to Smith she was built in 1976... as far as I can ascertain, she was purchased by a German hunter as a sidearm and never carried or fired much.


Also included was a NIB Peters Stahl PSW IV .22 LR conversion kit. The only info I could find on these was a review in the German gun magazine "Visier", dating back to August 1996. The models tested were for a 1911 and a CZ 75. Both received a good review RE quality and accuracy.


All in all a good deal... until we come to the "however"
The conversion kit didn't come with an instruction manual, so after a "pleasent" half hour or so I'd puzzled out the assembly & disassembly.The problem I'm faced with :
When I engage the Peters Stahl slide and attempt to push it to the rear (thus cocking the hammer), it travels a few mm, I hear a click and then no further rearward movement is possible. The hammer appears blocked in it's position.


(Will continue in second post)

 

[Whysk]

M39-2 conundrum continued...

If I manually cock the hammer, the slide is free tp travel all the way to it's fully rearward position with no problem or resistance.

With the conversion kit and pistol assembled, manual cocking and double action cocking function perfectly.

So, in theory, I could cock the hammer, rack the slide, chamber a .22, fire... and then the weapon will once again lock up upon attempting to cycle. I've not tested this theory as I foresee one hell of a jam if I do
Here's a pic of the underside of the slides... top the Peters Stahl, bottom the S&W.

My guess is that something must be catching somewhere ! I borrowed another M39-2 from our Police Armory, this gun is NIB (just wish I could buy it ) and encountered exactly the same problem, so at least it's not my M39...
Before I send everything back (which will involve paperwork and customs stamps), do's anybody have any ideas where the problem could be ?
Thanks in advance for any and all info and all the best for 2011 !

Cheers,

Rob

 

[Badkarma 1]

I seem to remember the Guns & Ammo did a write up on these some time ago. Tell you what Whysk let me dig through my "library" of old gun magazines later today and I'll see if I have said article, maybe they said something about your situation. Dale

 

[Whysk]

That would be great Dale, I didn't know G&A had ever reviewed these kits...
Cheers,
Rob

 

[Badkarma 1]

Still looking Rob. I got a mountain of the old stuff to sort thru!@~@ Dale

 

[sea]

M39-2 Conv.

Did you install the slide first and then, the barrel ?

 

[Engine49guy]

You need to immediatly send this conversion kit to me here in the USA as it does not work in Europe...Ha Ha.
Seriously...
I have never seen this conversion kit but did see one listed on the net with two allen wrenches.
Did yours come with these two wrenches and what do they tighten down ?

 

[sea]

M39-2 Conv.

I found that holding the trigger back while depressing ejector worked.

 

[Whysk]

Conversion kit continued...

Evening gents !

It's been awhile since I logged on, but here's what I've been able to find out so far :

The PSW extractor is fixed to the bottom of the slide, a torx head countersunk screw going thru' the extractor and into the slide. Factory assembled, the screw was tightened to below flush with the extractor. When i attempt to push the slide to the rear, the hammer reaches it's first cocking notch, the hammer release lever moves upwards...

... and then jams on the edge of the hole in the extractor.

I can fully cycle the slide if I remove the extractor completely or if I loosen the torx screw to the point that it is flush with the extractor (this however means the extractor is way to loose to function).

I'm currently looking to replace the torx screw with a countersunk allen head screw of the same dimensions. The increase in metal on the screw head may just allow the hammer release lever to slide along without catching.

Altho' I may never find out if this was a quality issue, incorrect assembly or just plain bad luck, it's getting personal

Cheers all,

Rob

 

[Badkarma 1]

Just a thought here Rob, but you might want to investigate possibly having that edge TIG welded and then ground flat. Dale

 

[Oldnoob]

Tag for the update. Very interesting.

 

[Cyrano]

Those Peters Stahl kits aren't exactly common on this side of the Atlantic. Model 39 collectors salivate over them. If you can't make it work, you shouldn't have much trouble finding someone who will pay a surprising amount to take it off your hands; functional or not. I wouldn't mind having it myself.

 

[deerhtr]

if it were me i would try filing down the extractor in the area of the screw head only till its flush