S&W Model 39-2

[jasi]

Don't pass up the opprotunity

By all means, go for it!

I carried one when I was a civilian police officer (1975-76).

When I went back into USAF, I sold it (Looking back on that- really a dumb move.).

Several years later I managed to purchase another 39-2 (1980) and I still have it.

Used to qualify for my CHL in both KS and TX, after moving to Tx.

Great pistol and very accurate and reliable!!!!

Bruce

 

[lhump1961]

Long time 3rd gen owner here but newer 1st gen owner with two 39-2's...both early 70's. I have to say I not only love the look and feel of the 39's but I also find them easier to shoot well...my best groups come from my 39's and 1911's. That's no surprise though as the 39 was designed to feel like a 1911 in the hand and has a very nice SA trigger.

 

[3S16]

As a brand new Deputy in 1975, I was issued a 39-2. I carried it 24/7 on and off duty for 4 years. Totally reliable. Great shooter. I loved that gun. One day, some departmental bean counter decided we should go to 66 revolvers.
I missed that gun. After I retired (32 years later) I decided I wanted one and found a pristine example which I now use as my carry gun just because it's still a great gun.
But wait there's more. I came across a nickel 59 (double stack 39) and had to have that too. Nostalgia is a beautiful thing!

 

[DCW]

Humping It

DCW: Does your early 39-2 have a Model 39 barrel in it (stamped 9mm CTG instead of 9MM; and with a hump in the middle of the feed ramp)? Mine does, at SN A125XXX. I think they were using up Model 39 parts, and I wonder if this lasted until A 126XXX

Absolutely! The hump, along with a (pre-39/39-ish) hole through the hammer and the slide's "squiggly" cut where, when engaged, the slide stop, well, stops the slide are all among the reasons I jumped on it at the LGS.

Another of my somewhat early 39-2's (SN A184433) hasn't any of the things previously mentioned but, and here's the killer (logically, to most who don't know the S&W numbering system), SN No. A185514 has two of the three (feed-ramp hump's gone missing).

To me, it's the unique qualities of guns that make them special to me.

Earlier today, (Sun., 30 Nov. - apologies for the somewhat tardy response) I was thinking about a Star (Spanish) SM .380 I bought in 1971. It's a still-beautiful, shinny nickel that, despite its age, must have only three handling marks and, maybe, fewer than 100 rounds through it. It was a great back-up carry gun back in "the day" (when it was "my" day, that is).

And I still love it, almost reverentially.

Oh, I got a lot of hassle over it back then (when Smith & Wesson absolutely, positively ruled the LEO world) but it was comfortable just above the left ankle and it held a couple-more rounds than did my cohorts' snubnose revolvers.

Alas, my old age has again gone off on tangential pabulum.

DC

 

[OLDFED]

Since the 1960's

As a young-pup police officer, I recognized the S&W 39 (not 39-2) was far superior to the Colt OP I was issued, so bought one new ($75.00) and carried it as an off-duty weapon. I tried unsuccessfully to get the department to switch, but the bosses thought I wanted to go to war. I sold that one...flat extractor...for the new extractor and have owned them ever since. I now have two 39-2s and four of the 3913s in slightly different configurations. If I was not retired and still in uniform, I'd carry a 1911 as my duty weapon and any of the 35-59s as a backup/OD. They're super guns!

 

[BigBoy99]

Trading the Glock for a S&W is the smartest thing one can do. I use the Model 39s big brother, the S&W Model 659 as my CCW. I like having the extra rounds if needed.