Model 39-2 reassembly

[Dave Haynes]

I have a model 39-2 in very good condition. I love this pistol. Assembly requires that the spring plunger rest in a slight machined depression on the barrel lug. The plunger has a nice sharp edge to hold it into the machined notch but the notch was somewhat worn and the spring and plunger would take flight a lot when trying to reassemble. I took a dremel tool and very, very slighty refreshed that tiny notch to better hold the plunger. Now it doesn't fly off as much but it doesn't drop down into its machined position on the aluminum frame like it should. Have I done a verboten bit of work? It eventually went together nicely but for a while it look like it would never drop down correctly. Repeat, the work I did was absolutely done carefully and only to freshen up the flat surface of the notch. I can't help but think that this one problem is what kept the Army from accepting the 39 for troop use. In VN we used to assemble 1911s blindfolded, I can't see that with the 39.

 

[Sevens]

When you say:

but it doesn't drop down into its machined position on the aluminum frame like it should.

...what exactly are you saying here? Are you saying that now it won't re-assemble as often/easily as it should or are you saying that it reassembles and now will not work properly?

I certainly am familiar with and understand the nature of the wear and associated complaint. I'm not sure that I would do anything about it myself -- it occurs to me that once it is placed in it's spot, a solid hand wrapped around the slide with a thumb directly on the offending area is all that is required to then carefully guide the slide back on to the frame.

I'll note that these small motor operations are much easier to SHOW than to describe with words and sometimes when attempting to discuss this, the issues and answers to them don't necessarily line up if/when neither of us can quite fully understand the other.

 

[gmborkovic]

Sevens, totally agree. Practice and patience at this step of
re-assembly is paramount. I have found that you should not blink, breath or sneeze. I have found if you push the spring guide rod slightly, it stays where it should. Just a lame thought.

 

[Dave Haynes]

Hi Guys,
The issue with the 39 is that the slide lock must be put back into the frame when the slot on the left side lines up with the slide stop pin hole. Looking into the hole, if anything is out of place the pin will not pass through to the other side. So you pull the slide back off being careful to not let the hammer smack that aluminum frame. Remount the spring and spring guide into the little notch and try it again. Usually when the slot aligns with the hole, looking in, everything is clear and the pin slides right in. It may take a time or two but eventually everything drops into place. After I sharpened up the little notch it took many tries.



The question is: what is the secret to reassembling the slide and can messing with the tiny notch spoil it? It is not a wear issue, this is a very low mile pistol.

 

[gmborkovic]

Dave, patience and practice. OH! and no alcohol or smoking or
coffee. Yea, pretty boring. Or dont take it apart.

 

[lkabug]

That 39-2 can be a little devil at times. As previously noted patience and practice.
And no, curse words won't help.

 

[WR Moore]

Generally one works on the cheaper part. That would have been the recoil spring guide. The S&W part # is 100220000. The same assembly is also used in the 439 and 459. The part numbers are different for alloy and steel frame guns and also for the 4 digit series. Unknown if there's any practical difference.

 

[Dave Haynes]

The spring guide is fine, not worn. It is the little notch in the barrel lug that was a bit worn down. Having the guide and spring take off with a $1000 big screen tv downrange is not good. I dressed up the notch and it holds fine now.



Beyond that, it is a great pistol, accurate, really safe and looks great. And it's not plastic. Bought it for $550 as a house gun and it was just filthy, cleaned up, it turns out to be an almost new pistol. Whoever owned it didn't even bother to clean the barrel before putting it in the gunshop for sale. Looking down the bore it was just black. I wish I could find a 52 for that price.

 

[Green Frog]

That 39-2 can be a little devil at times. As previously noted patience and practice.
And no, curse words won't help.

I tend to resort to curse words right before the big hammer. Neither really seems to have a positive effect, but they release stress a little just as I begin to screw up expensive parts.

Froggie

 

[stansdds]

Disassembly of the S&W metal receiver pistols is easy, but I have found that reassembly takes attention and patience, much more of both than when dealing with a 1911. You may need to hold the slide back a bit and jiggle, wiggle, rotate the end of the recoil spring guide rod to get it to engage its proper position within the receiver.

 

[Green Frog]

Seriously speaking now, with my 639 FranKenSmith, which has that same recoil spring arrangement, I find that if I notice the guide not dropping into place after the slide is back in place on the frame I can retract the slide slightly and wiggle the exposed end of the guide rod slightly to get it to snap down into place.

I’ve thought of “cleaning up” or deepening the assembly notch on the barrel lug, but have so far resisted the temptation. One of the barrels however has become very difficult to reassemble, so it may get a minimal amount of attitude adjustment.

Froggie

 

[Dave Haynes]

This is exactly what I was looking for Froggie.
Thanks
D