I picked up this very nice, model 39 no dash a couple of years ago. Sadly, I have no box or papers. I understand that pre-model 39s had a shorter tang and no model number stamp. However, mine has an obviously short tang AND a model number stamp. Can anyone comment? Also... what is the meaning of the small letter stamped on the finger guard where it meets the frame? Mine is stamped "P". My serial is 8545 and it looks to be unfired. I plan to keep it so.
Model 39 - short tang
- Thread starter Texabama
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SW CQB 45
Member
thats a nice looking piece.
steel frame?????? the blueing on the frame makes it look like steel.
steel frame?????? the blueing on the frame makes it look like steel.
SW CQB 45
Member
thanks for the info.
It looks like its been dry stroked (trigger finish wear)
I once had a 39-2. very nice piece.
It looks like its been dry stroked (trigger finish wear)
I once had a 39-2. very nice piece.
Nice gun.
I don't know about the short tang, but my 39-2 has the same "P" on the trigger guard, so I hope we find that it's a rare and desirable variation!
I don't know about the short tang, but my 39-2 has the same "P" on the trigger guard, so I hope we find that it's a rare and desirable variation!
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Very nice find!
My 31xxx serial 39 no-dash looks pretty much the same, except for the tang length. All the stampings are the same and in the same place, although the model designation on mine is stamped "Model-39" with a long low dash symbol, not "Model 39" . Mine also has the "P" stamp on the trigger guard.
I have a late model 39-2 A694xxx that has a different mark on the trigger guard, kind of a fat bottomed 'T' symbol, and '1' on the bottom of the mag well.
My 31xxx serial 39 no-dash looks pretty much the same, except for the tang length. All the stampings are the same and in the same place, although the model designation on mine is stamped "Model-39" with a long low dash symbol, not "Model 39" . Mine also has the "P" stamp on the trigger guard.
I have a late model 39-2 A694xxx that has a different mark on the trigger guard, kind of a fat bottomed 'T' symbol, and '1' on the bottom of the mag well.
FirebirdV8
Member
That is a very nice Mod 39 No Dash. They really did a great job back in those days with the polishing and bluing. Your 39 is great shape.
Now on to your questions. Something you have to remember about S&W is that they never always did something and they didn't throw away parts back then. As they transitioned from the Pre-39 to the Model 39, the parts and frames were slowly exhausted from the old Pre-39 parts. So you have a Model 39 with a Pre-39 feature. I believe the mark on the trigger guard was an inspectors stamp of some sort. Also, your 39 no dash probably shipped sometime around 1957 - 1958.
Now on to your questions. Something you have to remember about S&W is that they never always did something and they didn't throw away parts back then. As they transitioned from the Pre-39 to the Model 39, the parts and frames were slowly exhausted from the old Pre-39 parts. So you have a Model 39 with a Pre-39 feature. I believe the mark on the trigger guard was an inspectors stamp of some sort. Also, your 39 no dash probably shipped sometime around 1957 - 1958.
smithman 10
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P= proofed
FirebirdV8
Member
S&W had a tendency to make a large lot of a model then pull them from the vault as they were sold back then. That is what makes collecting these older S&W 39's interesting to me there are a lot of variations on models during transitions and when there were shipped out is often anyones guess, unless you get it lettered. Another example is when S&W changed the location of the slide serrations on the Mod 39 no dash forward of the safety body to match the location on the Mod 52. I have narrowed down a SN range (a perk to SWCA membership is a lot of help on research you can't get on the from the public side of the forum, you should check it out), but in that range, it is anybodys guess as to which one will have the slide serration where. Isn't collecting S&W semi-autos fun?
AUTOMATIC S&W
Member
I'll bet you have a transistional Pre/Model marked 39. S&W was using up parts. I own one as new with box, and papers. Mine had a long beaver tail frame, but all the other accents were Pre 39, Short safety, no cut stocks ,and a Pre 39 magazine. I had it lettered by Jinks. They are more rare than the Pre 39. If it's alloy, you have a pre 39 frame. Looks like the rest is pretty much a Model 39.
The steel frame pre 39's were actually built prior to the alloy version in about 1954. The factory did not ship them until the mid 60's and they fall into 3 serial ranges. 39,000, 60,000 and 81,000. The early alloy guns have the shorter safety, the shorter tang and a longer extractor.
On the pre 39, the left stock panel is flat across the top whereas on the 39-2 there is a curved cut out at the rear top. On the pre 39's the saftey is in a field of 15 up and down grooves. On the 39-2 the field of 15 grooves is partly forward of the safety and almost touches the 4 line address. On the pre 39 the curved cut at the front of the slide falls short of the cut section on the frame. On the 39-2 the curved slide cut is in line with the frame cut.
NOTE: The observations above are based on a side by side comparison of my pre 39 and 39-2 and may be different on yours. My pre 39 is in the 17XX range and the 39-2 is in the A1462XX range.
PS: The safety shown in the original OP photo is the longer version, whereas all other features are that of the early pre 39. The "P" is a proof mark and unfortunately does not make the gun rare.
On the pre 39, the left stock panel is flat across the top whereas on the 39-2 there is a curved cut out at the rear top. On the pre 39's the saftey is in a field of 15 up and down grooves. On the 39-2 the field of 15 grooves is partly forward of the safety and almost touches the 4 line address. On the pre 39 the curved cut at the front of the slide falls short of the cut section on the frame. On the 39-2 the curved slide cut is in line with the frame cut.
NOTE: The observations above are based on a side by side comparison of my pre 39 and 39-2 and may be different on yours. My pre 39 is in the 17XX range and the 39-2 is in the A1462XX range.
PS: The safety shown in the original OP photo is the longer version, whereas all other features are that of the early pre 39. The "P" is a proof mark and unfortunately does not make the gun rare.
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Much thanks to Firebird, Smithman, JSR, and Automatic. Sorry if I left anyone out. That was ALL great info. It has cleared up allot about this 39.
I suspected that it was a pretty unique find, but now I'm really excited. The collector bug has bit me. I will get this 39 lettered very soon. As best I can determine, I have a pre-39 slide and frame with a 39 safety lever, left grip panel and model number mark. I wonder how many other 39s are out there with this mix of Pre-39 and model 39 features? As Automatic pointed out these mix and match models may be rarer than actual full Pre-39s and regular 39s. Or am I just too excited?
I suspected that it was a pretty unique find, but now I'm really excited. The collector bug has bit me. I will get this 39 lettered very soon. As best I can determine, I have a pre-39 slide and frame with a 39 safety lever, left grip panel and model number mark. I wonder how many other 39s are out there with this mix of Pre-39 and model 39 features? As Automatic pointed out these mix and match models may be rarer than actual full Pre-39s and regular 39s. Or am I just too excited?
Thanks for this thread; it made me take another look at my steel frame 39, from the second production group. It has the short tang, and the slide serrations are around the safety cutout.
AUTOMATIC S&W
Member
Pre 39 magazines do not have a skeleton follower. They have a flat steel, with a bevel front edge. I'll post a picture in the near future when time allows.
AUTOMATIC S&W
Member
p0838
Member
Pre model 39's also had a small safety and a unique left stock
p0838
Member
Here's a late 39-2 but the stocks are from a 1950's Model 52.
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