MODEL 39-2, Nkl, New, Beautiful ...

[Donald Paul]

Nickel S&W model 39-2, SERNO: A5863XX {six digit with an 'A' prefix}.
New in the box just as it was when I purchased it from my LGS in May of 1980. {$250.00 + tax}.
I'm the first and only private owner.
It is un-fired by anyone except the factory, and likely to stay that way as long as I'm the owner/caretaker.
Being a S&W REVOLVER man and being unfamiliar with the 'íns-and-outs' of semi-automatic pistols, I'll
welcome learning anything more about this beauty that y-all can teach me, such as date of manufacture,
approx value, possible features that this one has that other 39-2's don't have and vica-verca. {If any}.
Thank you.
Regards- Donald.

 

[Sevens]

1979 seems a likely date. S&W came up with this pistol around 1955 and we have MANY fantastic threads and discussions of it's early days, such that I would embarrass myself if I tried to tell the tale of the Model 39.

Fast forward to about 1970, S&W redesigned the extractor and the pistol became the Model 39-2. As it was such a phenomenal design, the buying public loved them and S&W answered by building some 347,000 of the Model 39!

These were in production to as late as 1982 or 1983. The 39's, 59's and 52's are all lovingly referred to as "1st Gens" and this model was superceded by the 2nd Gen Model 439.

 

[gmborkovic]

Hello Donald. wild guess really late 1979. With that shape and two mags with correct box, near $900 with goodies.
Take the left grip panel off and see if there is an "N" stamped on the frame flat. post pic, pls. Mike

 

[4T5GUY]

Yes for sure you have a beautiful nickel 39-2. So nice. Great pictures too.

Also yes, please do carefully take off the left grip panel and see if it does have a N stamped on the frame. Let us know.

I'm curious because mine is not stamped, and Roy said, (when you could still talk to him on the phone,) no nickeled 39-2 ever left the factory without the N stamp. (Mine did.) He also said the nickeled controls on mine were not factory. (They are.)

Thanks to one of our members here, who was on the pistol line back then confirmed all this AND said the bobbed hammer was something that they were doing too. He did support Roy's opinion but said Roy was on the revolver line then and probably didn't know what was going on with the pistol side.


Jim

 

[Donald Paul]

... looking for the elucive 'N' ...

Hello Donald-
Take the left grip panel off and see if there is an "N" stamped on the frame flat. post pic, pls. Mike[/QUOTE]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
...Okay Mike and Jim, here's both sides:
{No 'N' in sight}.
-Donald

 

[4T5GUY]

Wow, no N stamped

Thank you for going the extra in doing that. I appreciate it much.

By the way, my nickel 59 from the same time as my 39-2 does NOT have a N stamp either. Hmmm

Jim

 

[donk52]

Yes for sure you have a beautiful nickel 39-2. So nice. Great pictures too.

Thanks to one of our members here, who was on the pistol line back then confirmed all this AND said the bobbed hammer was something that they were doing too. He did support Roy's opinion but said Roy was on the revolver line then and probably didn't know what was going on with the pistol side.


Jim

4T5GUY, what was the members name who was on the pistol line? I was fitting the Model 52's from 1979 to 1986 and spent the next few years on the 9mm 45's and Model 41 line.
Thanks, Don K

 

[gmborkovic]

OK, no N stamped on frame flat. Is this a possible scenario?
Need one or two nickel guns for a big order going out. Grab a few blue 39s
and make them nickel 39s, Bingo, order filled and invoice sent. The guy doing the stamping was in the mens room.

 

[merl67]

I personally don't see anything odd with N marked vs no N, as Mike said anything is possible. I think we sometimes forget companies that are in the business of making products, and getting them out the door in the shortest time possible aren't going to sweat over a stamp such as this, because once it left the factory was really had no other purpose. Since the OP bought his gun new there is little doubt about it being original. It is a beautiful gun, and Donald must have more will power than me I would have had to shoot it

 

[gmborkovic]

Hey Don, forgot to ask, do you have the original factory labeled silver box?
Might be time for a letter.

 

[g-dad]

No N on my 39-2 shipped (per Roy) March 77. S/N A320xxx.

Here's a couple sorry pics.

I have a ANIB nickel 59 I can also check if it is of any value to anyone.

 

[Dave686]

I'd shoot that and enjoy it; it won't be worth a dime less as long as you take care of it.

 

[lkabug]

In have two nickel 39-2's neither has a N stamp.

 

[gmborkovic]

Would like to see a pic of a nickel 39-2 with the N stamp.

 

[stansdds]

Perhaps S&W did not use the N stamp on their nickel plated semi-auto pistols.

 

[moralem]

They didn't on the one I have an early A200000 serial number.

 

[donk52]

I remember seeing "N" on revolver frames but don't recall seeing an N on a 39 or 59.

 

[gmborkovic]

donk, where have you been? You worked the 39 line, didnt you? Mike

 

[ralph7]

I also have a nickle 39-2 with no N stamp.

 

[donk52]

Mike, I started building the 41's and 39-59's around 1985-86 when they began to phase out the Model 52. Not a lot of nickle guns as I remember, mostly blue.