Model 39 Steel Frame - 1966

[n1ghtwish]

To all the Model 39 experts,

I've been hanging on to this thing for a while now after buying it off a friend who needed some extra cash. For pretty much the last year, I have been thinking that it's an alloy frame so I decided to email S&W directly with the serial number (661XX) and the reply I received stated that it was produced in 1966 and it IS in fact a steel frame and slide.

According to the friend I bought it from, the gun has been blued. The owner of the store has expressed that my friend should NOT have had it blued as the gun was in very good condition already and it may have decreased the value and "originality" of the pistol. Is this true? I have also read that many steel 39's were factory blued. Has this gun really been "ruined" by the third party bluing?

I have attached a few pics that I just took because I wanted to see what you all think about this thing in terms of rarity, quality and any other information I can get about it! I don't plan on selling it, especially if it's considered to be a bit of a collector's item. On the third picture where the serial number is shown, I did a little photoshop work to delete the last 2 digits - call me crazy, but not everybody needs to know the serial numbers of my weapons

Please share any and all information! Thank you!

-Max

 

[murphydog]

This is out of my usual collecting interests, but I do know steel frame model 39s are indeed rare.

Also, in general rebluing will take 33-50% of the value off a gun with original finish. From the photos it does not look as though it was done by the factory, and I would consider contacting the factory Performance Center to see if they will refinish it. Hope this is helpful.

 

[shawn mccarver]

It sure looks like an alloy frame based upon the color of the frame versus the slide.

Two things would confirm if it is a steel frame: Weight and whether a magnet attaches to the frame.

 

[n1ghtwish]

It sure looks like an alloy frame based upon the color of the frame versus the slide.

Two things would confirm if it is a steel frame: Weight and whether a magnet attaches to the frame.

You are right about that! Magnet test confirms that the slide is steel and the frame is alloy! I wonder how that happened... and I also wonder why S&W would tell me both pieces are steel.

Guess it's not as big of a treasure as I thought!

-Max

EDIT: I just did some more reading and I found out that they all have steel slides. That makes sense, but still, why would S&W say the frame is steel?

 

[rck281]

Steel frame 39s are in 3 serial number ranges, 35,000 range, between 62,000 and 64,000, and in the 80,000 range. Not sure why S&W would tell you the frame was steel.

 

[TSO]

Saw your post and thought I'd let everyone know that I own a 39 steel frame, the real deal, NIB and not cheap. I've owned it since the mid 80s, purchased from a S&W collector who had two and let this one go. The alloy framed 39s are neat but the steel framed ones put them to shame IMHO. If anyone is interested, I'll be lurking in the wings.......... Terry