Newbie question

[J.R.M.]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum to ask my question, this is my 1st post.
I was given a early Xmas gift by a friend that I have done a bunch of data sheets and other work for him in the past year. I need to get it insured like I have all my other guns.
It is a new in the box, unfired Model 39. Not a 39-2 or any of the other models, just 39. Serial # is 328XX. Does anyone know what I should place on the value?
If there is a better thread to post this let me know and I'll move this OP there.
Thanks.
J.R.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr30/jrmcrmo9/Parts/sw392.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr30/jrmcrmo9/Parts/sw391.jpg

 

[Pisgah]

There are collectors on the forum that can give you good info from the collector standpoint. I also recommend searching the various gun auction sites for similar guns, if you can find them. The auctions can often give a good idea of where the current market is on a particular gun.

 

[J.R.M.]

There are collectors on the forum that can give you good info from the collector standpoint. I also recommend searching the various gun auction sites for similar guns, if you can find them. The auctions can often give a good idea of where the current market is on a particular gun.

Thanks for the quick responce. Is this the forum site that the collectors visit? I don't see another in the forums lists that sound like a starting point other than this one.
I went to another forum and I have gotten prices from $600 - $1600. Holy Crap! What a range!!

 

[J.R.M.]

Have added pics to my OP above.

 

[Martya]

Apparently it doesn't have a firing pin lock, so don't drop it or whack the hammer when loaded.

 

[J.R.M.]

Apparently it doesn't have a firing pin lock, so don't drop it or whack the hammer when loaded.

There is a section of the safety that blocks the hammer when in the down position, is this what you are talking about? If not what is it. I've been out of the gun smith deal for many years and at my age have forgotten a good many things about the S&W's.
Thanks

 

[Martya]

No criticism intended, I am new to semi-auto carrying (4 days) and was doing a lot of research on different types and styles and models before I bought one. I saw your post and remembered reading something about the 39 and not dropping it - the article I read was about how to carry 1911, someone had mentioned seeing the hammer in the open position.

The hammer can be locked on a 1911, and on many semi-autos the firing pin can't move until the trigger is pulled. On your gun if the chamber is loaded and the hammer is down, the hammer is in contact with the firing pin, and the firing pin is in contact with the round in the chamber.

I am NOT knowledgeable in DA/SA/Semi-Auto operations. Just something I read. There are better folks here who could explain it better.

 

[SMMAssociates]

Martya:

The M39 (I have a 39-2 from circa 1975)....

The M39 has a firing pin LOCK built into the thumb safety. Flip that thing down, and the gun won't fire.... Flip it up, and the pin can move freely, whether or not the hammer is dropped. This lever also serves as a decocker.

(I'm not sure if the original M39 had a magazine safety, but my 39-2 does.)

I would presume that the firing pin spring is sufficient to prevent a discharge should the gun be dropped with the safety off.... The original 1911 (up to Series 80) has the same lack of protection. I don't know if S&W added firing pin drop safeties to this model or not - the only one I have any familiarity with is a CS45, which is internally quite similar, but does have a drop safety.

The nature of the design is such that you don't want to carry it with the hammer back - it's a single-action at that point. Flipping the thumb safety drops the hammer after interposing a bunch of steel to keep the firing pin stationary. I expect that dropping the gun on a cocked hammer might cause a discharge - I'm not sure.... S&W's revolvers from about the mid-60's (if not before) had safety widgets that required the trigger be held all the way back or the gun wouldn't actually fire, even if the hammer came down. I'm not sure if the M39 is so equipped. (I never asked, and nobody ever asked me ....)

A lot of those (but usually not the "no dash" model) have turned up over the years as early adopters (all kinds of Police Departments all over the place) swapped them out, but the "no dash" is a premium.

I'm not remembering why, but you probably don't want to carry that thing - there were some problems with the original version that were ironed out by the time I bought mine.

IAC, it looks pretty good - ought to be worth something, or look good in the safe!

Regards,

 

[J.R.M.]

This 39 does have a mag disconnect. I think I read they all did. This one came with a nice cut out section of a magazine. I'll try to scan it and post it here.
Is there a collector out there who can give me an idea on this ones value?

 

[J.R.M.]

I really thought I'd get more input from the S&W members on the value of my model 39 covered in the OP. The info I got came from a member of another forum.

I didn't know if I had a S&W that was worth putting up and not shooting. The "as new in the box" price I got was $400. As far as I am concerned that is a shooter NOT a collector item.
But, thanks for the input I got.
J.R.

 

[thomashoward]

Sign up as a user at www.gunbroker.com then you can see "completed sales" for what they are actually selling for. Wide separation between asking and selling prices.There are also geographic differences. There are areas of abundance and areas where you cannot find particular guns at all

 

[Navyguns]

That's a nice looking weapon. Does your friend have anymore mint condition S&W's he wants to give away? Maybe a model 29 w/ 6.5" barrel.

 

[SMMAssociates]

J.R.:

It's very difficult to come up with a price (I'm not qualified anyway) without actually handling the gun, and when you toss in the somewhat unusual "no dash", it's anybody's guess....

I paid $125 for my 39-2 in 1974 or thereabouts, if that counts, and watched a buddy buy a 39-4 Police pullout (from Lord knows where) for about $250 a couple years ago. (It stickered for $350, but the shop owner was his friend.... Shoots almost as well as mine, too .)

Don't forget, too, that the folks here are "volunteers" - and the guy who really knows might be wintering in someplace where they don't have broadband.... (I actually did that once, but only for a couple weeks .) Getting a response to something this esoteric and specific could take a while....

If you haven't shot it, though, and are considering doing so, be nice to it - no +P and all that. But you should really enjoy it. (Make sure to clean and lubricate it first!)

Regards,

 

[J.R.M.]

Thanks for all the input, guys. I've been given prices from $450 - 600. If it had been a really rare model I'd stick it back in the safe. I plan now to take it out at my next range trip and see how she shoots. I'll lube it up good and shoot only FMJ. With all the guns I've owned in the last almost 50 years I've only owned one or two 9mm's. I'll have to check our store and see if we have any in stock.
Thanks again for all the help.

J.R.