Model 39-2, Nickle or Stainless?

[Cricker]

I was shown a 39-2 today and was told it is satinless steel. The frame is highly polished and the slide is matt. I think it is a nickle finish gun. Was the 39-2 ever made in stainless?
TIA
Rick

 

[Armyphotog]

Nickel is all I know of.

 

[adwjc]

Cricker,

if it is a 39-2, then it is either blued steel slide/anodized alloy frame or nickel finish; there were some original model 39s (not -2) that were steel framed, very rare.

The first stainless steel 39 series was the 639 they came out in 1984, they had the protective wings on the rear sights.

The third generation when model went to 4 digits (3900 series) came around 1988, of these the 3906 (#6 denoting ss) was made of stainless steel.

Hope this helps

 

[Cricker]

Thanks for confirming my suspicions. I'll be doing my best to let my friend down easily.

 

[FirebirdV8]

adwjc is correct, the 39-2 was either blued steel slide & aluminum frame or nickel plated. Make sure your friend doesn't use any amonia base cleaner/solvents (hoppes 9) on any nickel gun. This will cause the finish to begin to break up.

 

[kwest1168]

Just so you all know...in the early 70s. After the model 39 was first produced, the us army had preordered a million units. But at the last minute they backed out and went with Remington instead. So S&W was left holding a ton of product. So...there were 100 39-2's made in stainless and distrusted to police sergeants or captains in select markets to encourage the sale of the guns to law enforcement. I know this because I was alivr, and my father received one. And I inherited it upon his death and it is currently in my gun safe in the other room. There were only 100 units. They are not shiny, the shiny ones are nickel plate. This is a very rare gun so don't feel bad for not knowing about it.

 

[kwest1168]

And, yes, I have the paperwork on the gun.

 

[Homie]

Which Remington was that?

 

[SG-688]

There was an aftermarket stainless frame, but it won't be marked S&W.

 

[viceunit]

Just so you all know...in the early 70s. After the model 39 was first produced, the us army had preordered a million units. But at the last minute they backed out and went with Remington instead. So S&W was left holding a ton of product. So...there were 100 39-2's made in stainless and distrusted to police sergeants or captains in select markets to encourage the sale of the guns to law enforcement. I know this because I was alivr, and my father received one. And I inherited it upon his death and it is currently in my gun safe in the other room. There were only 100 units. They are not shiny, the shiny ones are nickel plate. This is a very rare gun so don't feel bad for not knowing about it.

We will be eagerly awaiting a photo!

 

[Lonestar57]

We will be eagerly awaiting a photo!

Yes, very interested in seeing it and the paperwork.

 

[Lonestar57]

Looks like we've been here before but at least there are some pics back in 2013. Still doubtful of legitimacy though.

Model 39-2 Stainless

 

[lhump1961]

Anything the Army would have ordered would have been a 39 and not a 39-2. The 39-2 did not come around until about 1970 so I am going to have to go with it is a nickel gun with a finish that perhaps someone knocked a bit of the shine off of in the past. 39-2's came in blue or nickel with the later nickel guns having blue controls.

No one in the S&W community has ever said ANYTHING about a non-blued stainless 39 of any type. I have learned never to say never when it comes to what S&W may or may not have made but none of the S&W publications by the historians have ever mentioned a non-blued stainless 39.

If your 39-2 doesn't look like one of these then I'm going to need some convincing. JMHO.

Blue, nickel and nickel with blue controls.