Model 59, other frame?

[Casa]

Hi, I'm new here, and in no way any expert or anything, and I have some questions.

I just picked up some parts for a model 59.
Not sure from what year or what variation, if any? It is.
But it looks like a first generation. It's black in color.
I have all parts except the frame. And it seems almost impossible to find a new or used frame.
So, can I use another models frame, and fit it with the 59 slide? Like the 39?
Hoping it will be easier to find if it's possible to fit them?


Thanks for any advice and help!

 

[Sevens]

I believe that you may indeed be able to fit a 59 slide and parts to a 39 frame but I have never actually tried. Both the 39 & 59 were discontinued in 1982 so no, you will not see any new frame available.

 

[digiroc]

Or you could sell the slide and look for a complete gun. I'd be interested in the slide as spare parts for my 59.

Digiroc

 

[67tempest]

I have been looking for a 39 frame for 20+ years and have never found one for sale.

 

[Sevens]

Or you could sell the slide and look for a complete gun. I'd be interested in the slide as spare parts for my 59.

But he is located in Sweden. You would probably have better luck carving a working 59 slide from a block of wood as getting that slide from Europe here to North America legally.

 

[1775usmarine]

Too bad you didn't live in the US there was a "3904" frame for sale on gun broker. I use the quotes as the 3904 was blued and the frame listed in the ad was the stainless color.

 

[JohnHL]

Most of the 59 and 39 parts are interchangeable.

Parts that are NOT interchangeable (in no particular order):

Drawbar
Sideplate
Sear pivot pin
Trigger pin
Grip pin
Magazine release
Grips
Backstrap
Magazine
Sear spring pin

John

 

[Casa]

Thanks everyone!

Truly appricrate all your input and thoughts!

 

[Engine49guy]

First and second gen slides do not swap out becasue their safetys are differnt,
Also Model 39 and early 39-2 as well as early 59 slides will have a safety lever that is narrower in width,
the earliest 59 frames are relieved beneath the safety to clear the lever in the safe position but by mid 70's S&W just widened the lever to clear a non relieved 59 frame. Result is an early 39-2 or 59 safety lever will not work with a late 59 frame unless you change to the wider safety lever.

Lastly the early 59 and 39-2's up to the early mid 70's have a different barrel bushing and slide cut, the early ones have fully enclosed barrel bushings that capture the recoil spring with the bushing where later 59 and 39-2 slides capture the recoil spring with a cut in the slide,
you can tell the later ones because they have a horse shoe shaped barrel bushing.