Model 39 collection

mbliss57

mbliss57

US Veteran
Silver Supporter
Joined
Jan 1, 2012
Messages
5,360
Reaction score
8,570
Location
Desert South West
I am trying to put together a model 39 collection:
I am not concerned with nuances yet (sq vs rd trigger guard etc) just want to try to collect 1 of all major variations of the 39 from 1st through 3rd generation WITH BLUED FINISH. Not looking for SS models although I have some. Also no PC guns. Also not planning on a model 52 as part as It has a different model prefix as well as the elusive model 44.

Here is my list: If I am missing something please let me know.
* indicates I have it.
1. Pre 39 (Sale pending)
2. 39 no dash *
3. 39-2 *
3a. 39 steel frame *
4. 539 *
6. 439
7. 3904*
8. 3914*
9. 3914LS
10.3914NL
15. 3954
17 909

What did I miss? I am sure there is something.
When I complete this I can start working a within model variations.

Thanks Mike
 
Register to hide this ad
mbliss57 said:
I am trying to put together a model 39 collection:
I am not concerned with nuances yet (sq vs rd trigger guard etc) just want to try to collect 1 of all major variations of the 39 from 1st through 3rd generation WITH BLUED FINISH. Not looking for SS models although I have some. Also no PC guns. Also not planning on a model 52 as part as It has a different model prefix as well as the elusive model 44.

Here is my list: If I am missing something please let me know.
* indicates I have it.
1. Pre 39 (Sale pending)
2. 39 no dash *
3. 39-2 *
3a. 39 steel frame *
4. 539 *
6. 439
7. 3904*
8. 3914*
9. 3914LS
10.3914NL
15. 3954
17 909

What did I miss? I am sure there is something.
When I complete this I can start working a within model variations.

Thanks Mike
Click to expand...

Mike,
Looks good. Now you have to get all the custom Model 39's such as DEVEL. ASP, Trapper Scorpion, and Behlert to show how the original Model 39's were modified for concealed carry. These guns are out there, but they will be expensive, and somewhat hard to find. Good Luck.
 
Yes those are also on my future list once I complete this. I actually have the expensive ones out of the way. The rest are just finding decent examples.
3914LS & NL are pretty scarce.
 
Yes, the 639 (stainess version of the 439 and 539). Most of the models listed exist in nickle and blued varieties. The nickle variation of the 539 is particularly scarce; if memory serves only about 1800 of them were made. I have one (gloat, gloat).
 
Mike,

Somehow I have an overwhelming urge to respond to this thread....... with a funny post........but I got nothing!!!!

1. Oh ya!!!!!

2. I just posted a pre-39 on Gunbroker......reserved at $$$$$$

3. I just sold a pre-39 to a gunshop in Ohio yesterday..... the first buyer didn't show up..... but I didn't want to waste the trip.

4.A older gentleman called me yesterday; he has been trying to find his father's early/pre Model 39 for 20 years; couldn't believe what he offered!!!!! What are the odds?

Oh well............................. LOL

Someday..........
 
Rock185 said:
639 and 3906.
Click to expand...

ALL blued guns. No SS. see original post. Nothing against them.. I own the 3913 as an EDC. But I wanted to stay with the spirit og the original 39 which was blue. I actually thought abut stopping at 2nd gens but since I have several blued 3rd gen 39xx I figured I would do the full monty.
AS for the CS9..which I had and sold..I don't think they were really considered a 3rd gen model 39. But if I find out differently I will buy another. I sold it as I prefer the 3913 better.
AS far as 3914DAO..I will add that.

Thanks for feed back.
 
Mike have to agree.......3913/14s are the best of the breed.......the "Tactical", Chiefs Special and adding a rail..... whittling on a gun that didn't need fixed..........

Now on the other hand whittling on a 39.......... gives you a 3914!!!!!!!!
 
39-all steel frame

Mike, I recently saw a Model 39 all steel frame model, brand new in the box, sold for $1600. In fact it was a factory nickel. It seems that out of 927 built, only one was nickeled. The man that bought it has been offered $4500, but it is now a safe queen. Good luck finding one of these for you collection. By the way, S&W verified that it is the only nickel plated one to their knowledge and my friend has a letter of verification from Smith.
Wayne
 
waynesgthpd said:
Mike, I recently saw a Model 39 all steel frame model, brand new in the box, sold for $1600. In fact it was a factory nickel. It seems that out of 927 built, only one was nickeled. The man that bought it has been offered $4500, but it is now a safe queen. Good luck finding one of these for you collection. By the way, S&W verified that it is the only nickel plated one to their knowledge and my friend has a letter of verification from Smith.
Wayne
Click to expand...

Wayne I picked up a LNIB steel frame a couple of months ago. 1 is enough for my collection needs at the moment. It wasn't cheap (none are unless the seller doesn't know what he has). A nickel steel for $1600 is a steal! Most go for more than that blued. If it is truly a S&W lettered steel model 39 in original nickel and the only one ever made... I would expect it would bring more than $4500 at an auction. I would think in the $6K and up range. JMO Thanks for info.
Mike
 
I'm not sure if its still up in the air but I believe Smith released a small amount of 3905's? I know I have seen a factory two toned blued slide on alloy frame 390x that someone on the forums has. Don't forget there are some blued transitional models out there too, that you should always keep your eyes peeled for.

Jealous of your collection.
 
What about the 908 and the 3914TSW?

...or the 3944 phantom gun and the 3958 which might be blued if it even exists.
 
mbliss57 said:
I am trying to put together a model 39 collection:
I am not concerned with nuances yet (sq vs rd trigger guard etc) just want to try to collect 1 of all major variations of the 39 from 1st through 3rd generation WITH BLUED FINISH. Not looking for SS models although I have some. Also no PC guns. Also not planning on a model 52 as part as It has a different model prefix as well as the elusive model 44.

Here is my list: If I am missing something please let me know.
* indicates I have it.
1. Pre 39 (Sale pending)
2. 39 no dash *
3. 39-2 *
3a. 39 steel frame *
4. 539 *
6. 439
7. 3904*
8. 3914*
9. 3914LS
10.3914NL
15. 3954
17 909

What did I miss? I am sure there is something.
When I complete this I can start working a within model variations.

Thanks Mike
Click to expand...
"mbliss57":

I really don't get to the Forum that much anymore but somebody asked me to look at something else here today and I saw your post. I am certainly not the world's foremost authority on such things (or probably any "thing" for that matter) but I think I know a little bit about some Smith pistols and here are a few things I might consider in your efforts to collect the blue single column guns with an eye toward their developing lineage.

I have no idea as to how you view original boxes and accessories but even if you don't have the packaging for your early guns, the original multicolor booklet that served as an instruction manual for them is really pretty cool. I think people might be reproducing them (both upfront and surreptitiously) but the originals are not only important parts of this Model's history but they're just plain neat as well.

Additionally, they can be quite collectable themselves for you'll not only find "unmarked" copies around but back when I was into such things (and they weren't quite as hard-to-find and expensive-to-acquire as they are now), the cover printing allowed for the bigger and more important end sellers at the time to "stamp" them cleanly (and not "over" existing type) with their company names and information. Such retail and distributor personalization can make for some interesting collecting itself.

I'm sure that this Forum must have all kinds of threads illustrating these mini-texts (and maybe such private markings on them) in detail.

Also found somewhere on this great site, must be numerous pictures and written explanations about the factory Dustcovers for the "39" that came into being in somewhat later years. It too, is something that would make your collection more complete.

Open-sided "Military" magazines can often be found floating around unnoticed at gun shows and garage sales and having one to position alongside a standard mag of the same vintage could make for a nice, simple sidebar to a display as a well as a technical addition to your collection as a whole.

Grips for the 1st and 2nd Gen guns are something else that are either being "reproduced" these days or sadly, occasionally being made up out of thin air. I believe that Smooth and Checkered Walnut came out of the factory as did Rosewood. I've also seen smooth Birdseye Maple but don't know enough to tell if they were "legit" (remember I told you that I was no expert). Having really clean samples of all that was offered from this legendary Springfield manufacturer could make a display not only more complete but more interesting to view.

In terms of the pre-completely-adjustable rear sight, the factory itself offered a replacement adjustable rear sight and/or conversion for the original ones found on the Gen One guns. Some version of this concept was actually available for sale in store-friendly, blister-packed hanging cards in the 1980's (and maybe before that too) and such a thing would be interesting to include in both its unopened packaging as well as fitted to a second sample of an original-sighted gun so you can show the two otherwise similar firearms side-by-side calling attention to this often little known option.

You say that you will get into variations once your initial list is complete and all of the models found within it have been obtained. I don't know if it you would consider this a variation or not but (and again, I am sure that this too must be covered in detail either on this public side or the other private side of this Site) but in addition to the non-model-marked Model 39's you mentioned (what I am assuming you are calling a "Pre 39") and the commonly encountered originally-marked Model 39's you also mention (what I am assuming you are calling a "39 no dash"), there were a good number of factory-possessed, non-model-marked ("Pre 39") guns that were taken out of the regular inventory (I think it is admitted that these guns weren't huge sellers in their early days), stamped at that later date as a "Model 39", refinished and returned to stock to be sold normally.

Most of the ones I have seen look refinished and I'm sure that seeing one of these early guns in such a condition (they're not bad but the signs of such work are there on a lot of them) makes people nervous or wary but these are indeed factory-reworked guns that were modified in terms of that model marking (only) before they ever left the plant.

Maybe it's just a variation but some might look at it as being a little bit more.

I can understand your not wanting to include the run-of-the-mill, longer-barreled, different-sighted, steel-framed, and (in some earlier versions) different "actioned" Model 52 BUT if you look at the Model 52-A (the .38AMU gun), to me anyway, it resembles an early Model 39 more than anything else in the line at that time.

There are only a few of them in existence and even fewer of them for sale but they do come up from time-to-time as opposed to the Model 44 you mention (I helped a friend sell a 52-A that was basically mint-in-the-box about a year or so ago) and if you really want your "Blue Gun Group" to be complete, I would suggest that you at least consider adding it to the list.

Finally, while the CS9 was after my time there, I don't understand why you don't consider it to be a 3rd Gen gun.

You are including the 909 and "skojs" (above) is recommending the 908. Both of these are later outgrows or developments of the 3rd Gen Program as it was launched publically in 1988. So why do you see the still-later CS9 as something else? Sometimes and in the overall scheme of things (not just Blue, Smith Single Column 9mm's), what might be deemed an "evolutionary model" actually represents a clean break from the past but sometimes, one can see and feel the links to the earlier guns. I think (for what that's worth) that such is the case with the CS9.

I should, however, tell you that I am a bit biased in terms of the CS9 (a gun that came out when I was living on the other side of the planet) for while I cannot stand it's blockish slide (which totally destroys the illusion of a small gun), it does exhibit the shorter 3" barrel that some of us lobbied for when in the late 1980's, we were shown both the older, experimental-but-still-Model-marked 449 (something else you might want to consider adding to your list for supposedly there are some of them out there floating around) and a prototype that ultimately become the 3914.

The 3½" tube that they were entertaining and actually became part of what was a good gun (the '14 and its various offshoots) good have resulted in a groundbreaking gun had they cut it back to the 3" version seen in the much later CS9. I can't fault the factory for this in the late 80's, as employing some version (if not pretty much the same version) of the top end that they had already engineered and tooled-up for in regard to the 69-type guns was certainly a simpler and less expensive way to proceed. But to me and a few others, it was still disappointing.

For the record, that group also advised against the flat backstrap that became a part of the '14 and more toward the curved version seen in the 449. This was because while in larger, full size guns, backstrap profiles can obviously affect pointability and trigger operation (two separate things), they often serve more (merely?) as a means of tailoring the gun to the shape of the hand and a given individual's hand/wrist/forearm relationship.

But when one gets to smaller guns (especially, if not particularly, smaller double action guns), a curved or flaring outer bottom surface on the backstrap can do much to make the gun more controllable (stable) in the hand and keep the front sight where it is wanted by counteracting the rotational movement of the gun when a pivoting trigger (like these guns had) is pressed through its longer and relatively heavy (opposing) DA stroke.

Again not the end of the world but a more traditional DA pocket pistol configuration (like the Walther PP and PPK, a Mauser HSc or a Sauer P230 and perhaps as seen in the CS9), again might have made a good gun better.
But as I don't want to hijack this thread, all of that is a story for another day. Right now, I am using it to merely illustrate my feelings that you might want to include the CS9 in your list and you might want to at least keep your eyes open for a "449" as at least some are thought to exist outside of the factory.

Hope you find this useful and if I can help further (or at least babble on a bit more) when it comes to formally addressing the "variations" you mention in passing here, please let me know.

Good luck in your efforts and I salute you for them.
 
If you want the collection complete, it should include a 52-A, i.e. 39-1. It is a 38AMU built on the M39 frame with a total production of 87 units. The Army Marksmanship Unit didn't like the gun and the M52 was born as the next iteration. At least, that's my understanding.
 
Dave Nash said:
"mbliss57":

I really don't get to the Forum that much anymore but somebody asked me to look at something else here today and I saw your post. I am certainly not the world's foremost authority on such things (or probably any "thing" for that matter) but I think I know a little bit about some Smith pistols and here are a few things I might consider in your efforts to collect the blue single column guns with an eye toward their developing lineage...

...Good luck in your efforts and I salute you for them.
Click to expand...

That what quite a nice monologue! You have obviously seen and experienced what I can only imagine and I really appreciate your input. Your input is most welcome and fun to read.

I must say that my biased reason for not wanting to include the CS9 are 2 fold.
1. I didn't like the gun and with the 3913/14 series as a nicer CCW I just thought it was a bad idea that eventually lost out. (I know many think of them as diamonds) As they say, " a horse for every saddle."
2. More pragmatic, I sold an unfired example about 6 months ago and don't really want to chase down another!

As for the 39-1 which was designated the Model 52-x I feel I may pursue 1 example but I have seen entire collections of these Military target pistols. (Dave N. has a very special collection) These seem to be deemed by many not as Model 39 variants but as their own entity. (Yes I know they are Model 39 variants) So in order to be true to the Model 39..somewhere you have to draw a line. Of course the S. Steel models deserve to be included as does the model 59...The initial prototype was designed as model 39 with a larger magazine and fatter grip. (I have read about these in a book by Dwayne Charron, MY Life Journey with Smith and Wesson He was Former Director of research and development. And I suppose his all polymer model 39 in the 1960s would be a great collectors item as well! He was in on other designs of the 39 including the Hushpuppy. So in all collections, the collector must make personal choices based on personality. It is after all, "My collection" When it is "done" it is very unlikely I will really be done and not pursue other variations/ paraphernalia that will expand and make it more interesting.

Finally: tomorrow I am driving to meet someone to pick up a S&W pre model / un model marked 9mm semi auto that will a year later be designated the Model 39. That's exciting and what makes thsi so much fun:)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
smith wesson model 39-2
Replies
4
Views
846
Dave Haynes
D
C
  • Locked
SOLD Like New Factory mags for 39, 439, 539, 639, 909, 952, 3904, 3906, 3944 and 3946
Replies
1
Views
465
silverstateS&W
S
DoubleNickel
Model 39 no dash question UPDATE 1/24/25
2
Replies
33
Views
3K
DoubleNickel
DoubleNickel
P
Model 39-2 Sear release ?
Replies
1
Views
516
jsbethel
J
Goony
A 39-2 Sale From 2022
2
Replies
21
Views
2K
BC38
BC38

Latest posts

Back
Top