Smith 39 9mm
- Thread starter tomkelley
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Most likely Nov/Dec time frame 1967. I don't believe yours is from the first series as it is model marked, which began in 1958. But I'm sure a more knowledgeable will be along to clarify that information. Ill State Police was the first Police agency to issue the Model 39 and that was in 1967, I do believe........
F75gunslinger
Member
That gun does have the long extractor, which I believe are in rather short supply.
The Pre-model 39 was numbered from 1001 to approximately 2600. The "model marked" Model 39 from approximately 2600 to approximately 111,000 (not sure of the exact SN Cut off SN's of the 39) after which the 39-2 was released having an " A " prefix on the serial number but continuing in the same SN range, e.g. A114000
The 9mm pistols are in the same "automatic" serial number range as the Model 41 & 46 then with the A prefix ... ALL the automatics to follow until sometime in the 1960s when the serial number range changed to the alpha-numeric , e.g. ABC1234
The original pre-39 9mm pistols are of the most desirable for collector with the Model 39s right behind them but the catch is ... the lower the serial number the more they are sought.
You've got a Model 39 that high up into the Model 39 but still a 39 and it's not in pristine condition but it likely sure works as good as it ever did.
Hope that helps.
Tom, it's pretty beat up and not in the collectible condition nor the more collectible lower serial number range but it is still a Model 39. In that condition somewhere around $300.00. If you get anything above $300 you did well.
If it were ANIB with papers and dox you might get somewhere around $700.00 for that serial number range.
A collector would pay top dollar for a pre-39 in the 10xx -11xx serial number range, a bit less for a Pre-39 up to the 26xx range
and still a decent price right up to about SN 5000.
Only working off off of two pics, I would not say it is "pretty beat up" by any stretch of the imagination. It sure is not new. But in nice shape. Value? I dont know, I dont have it in hand. Just hang on to it. Best. Mike
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My buddy, Mike, (GMBORKOVIC). My slang misnomer of "pretty beat up" seems to be a big issue here. Please define "Nice" in NRA Modern classification and the more widely used and accepted, percentage evaluation system.
My "pretty beat up" would be closer to a NRA "Fair" than good, and in percentage rating, appx 70% or perhaps a bit less. Beat up is the same as saying a firearm that has been well used, e.g. older LEO surplus guns.
See: NRA Museums: (as written by S&W Author, S&WCA club member, S&W collector and NRA Firearms museum curator, Jim Supica).
What is your opinion of a fair market value you'd pay Tom for his M39 as seen in the photgraphs.
Those photos aren't great. I can't tell if I'm seeing rust on the slide or just bad lighting.
But at the end of the day, I don't think there's a lot of room up or down from the average price of a Model 39 in the condition I'm seeing except for maybe a lot of extra vintage magazines. 
The collector value appears pretty much shot so it really just becomes a utility-grade gun (in my view) competing with a lot of other used utility-grade guns out there.I think your number is good and maybe a little optimistic. But with the right buyer, $300 may be possible.
loeman
Member
I am a big fan of the 39s. I have an early Pre 39 (#1539) and a 39-2. I would be interested in a gun like yours in similar condition to be my truck gun. But as a truck gun, I'd be hesitant to pay $300. S&W made tons of 39s and they are pretty commonly available. About a month ago a LGS had a truly unfired 39-2 with matching box, papers and tools for $650. I probably should have bought it, put it in the safe and made my current 39-2 my truck gun. However, on that same day they had a superb Md 64 w/2 inch barrel that I wanted more.
Until we see ANOTHER different picture of the left side of that pistol, it's really quite fairly in the $300 range depending on the buyer. Frankly, the two pictures are far off one another, the left side picture actually makes the pistol appear as if it has rust on it. I hope that it does not. A second picture of the left side would help.
If the left side actually looks in person the way it appears in the picture, I would be thrilled to get $300 if I were selling it. And if I were taking it in to a gun store or a dealer at a gun show, I would NOT be getting $300 for it, if it's showing rust as the left picture appears.
I can only guess that it is an anomaly with the left side picture. The right side picture makes it appear in better condition. Even still, it has more value as a shooter and a "neat older pistol" and not a lot of collectible value. Anyone who wanted to own an older handgun for collecting or value is going to demand better condition than this one shows.
Beyond all the "value" talk, we are still discussing an icon in American history and you should be happy to own and shoot this pistol!
The extractor was changed and improved and can sometimes be difficult to replace, but you can hedge your bet by treating YOUR extractor properly and never drop the slide on a chambered round or cartridge case. The extractor is absolutely designed from the start to strip a round from the magazine, under the claw end, and NOT at all designed to violently "snap" over the case rim. If you only ever strip rounds from the magazine as designed, you may see another 50 years of service from that fine pistol.
We lovingly call pistols like yours "shooter grade." That means if you want a classic and iconic piece of history and you want to shoot it and enjoy it, THIS one is what you seek because you don't have to throw big money at it to buy it and you needn't worry about putting wear on it and "reducing the value." These guns are very much loved by shooters.
"Shooter grade" guns are not loved by collectors and those who attach high prices and "values" (real or perceived) to handguns. Collectors do have a use for some "shooter grade" handguns, but FAR MORE when they are much, much more rare and much older. A "shooter grade" Registered Magnum from the mid-1930's has tangible collector value and price. But a Model 39 from the 1960's has little. We have to remember that S&W made somewhere near 400,000 of the 39/39-2 series of pistols. Like a S&W Model 10 (or pre-Model 10/K-38), it needs to be a rare variation -AND- in high condition to have a high dollar value. But also like a Model 10.. they made so many because they are fantastic and that is where the real value exists. As a shooter!
If the left side actually looks in person the way it appears in the picture, I would be thrilled to get $300 if I were selling it. And if I were taking it in to a gun store or a dealer at a gun show, I would NOT be getting $300 for it, if it's showing rust as the left picture appears.
I can only guess that it is an anomaly with the left side picture. The right side picture makes it appear in better condition. Even still, it has more value as a shooter and a "neat older pistol" and not a lot of collectible value. Anyone who wanted to own an older handgun for collecting or value is going to demand better condition than this one shows.
Beyond all the "value" talk, we are still discussing an icon in American history and you should be happy to own and shoot this pistol!
The extractor was changed and improved and can sometimes be difficult to replace, but you can hedge your bet by treating YOUR extractor properly and never drop the slide on a chambered round or cartridge case. The extractor is absolutely designed from the start to strip a round from the magazine, under the claw end, and NOT at all designed to violently "snap" over the case rim. If you only ever strip rounds from the magazine as designed, you may see another 50 years of service from that fine pistol.We lovingly call pistols like yours "shooter grade." That means if you want a classic and iconic piece of history and you want to shoot it and enjoy it, THIS one is what you seek because you don't have to throw big money at it to buy it and you needn't worry about putting wear on it and "reducing the value." These guns are very much loved by shooters.
"Shooter grade" guns are not loved by collectors and those who attach high prices and "values" (real or perceived) to handguns. Collectors do have a use for some "shooter grade" handguns, but FAR MORE when they are much, much more rare and much older. A "shooter grade" Registered Magnum from the mid-1930's has tangible collector value and price. But a Model 39 from the 1960's has little. We have to remember that S&W made somewhere near 400,000 of the 39/39-2 series of pistols. Like a S&W Model 10 (or pre-Model 10/K-38), it needs to be a rare variation -AND- in high condition to have a high dollar value. But also like a Model 10.. they made so many because they are fantastic and that is where the real value exists. As a shooter!
From the mouth of an old sage " I never saw a Mod-39 I didnt like".
Shooter grade we all understand, because that is what most of us have,
collector grade,is a bit foggy. I take it as a gun that is at least 50 years old and in the original box, like new? Or some limited new gun? I buy shooters, like many of us. Just my opinion, the most beautiful gun S&W made was the Mod-52. That is another issue.Best.
Shooter grade we all understand, because that is what most of us have,
collector grade,is a bit foggy. I take it as a gun that is at least 50 years old and in the original box, like new? Or some limited new gun? I buy shooters, like many of us. Just my opinion, the most beautiful gun S&W made was the Mod-52. That is another issue.Best.
I have a Model 39 with a slightly higher serial # than yours, # 860xx, that is marked on the left side "ILL. S. P. 1462". The factory letter that I got for it states it was shipped from the factory March 3, 1969.
Hopefully that helps narrow it down a little as far as date of manufacture. Incidentally, I would hardly say your gun it "beat up"...it just has a little character and probably a little history-something that NIB samples are sadly lacking. I say enjoy your Smith!
Hopefully that helps narrow it down a little as far as date of manufacture. Incidentally, I would hardly say your gun it "beat up"...it just has a little character and probably a little history-something that NIB samples are sadly lacking. I say enjoy your Smith!
