Just aquired a like new 639 today, it has the round trigger guard with ambi safety and fixed sights. It has had a muzzle brake installed, but the original barrel bushing came with it. I would like to know the year it was made and a rough value of the pistol. The serial number is A830874. Thanks for any info.
Smith 639
- Thread starter Chris43
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You should be aware that your pistol falls within the serial number range of a recall -
RECALL: This warning is issued for Smith & Wesson 9mm Semiautomatic Pistols which were shipped from the factory between May 1, 1983 and February 26, 1986. Included are Models 439, 459, 469, 539, 559, 639, 659 and 669 but only with serial numbers in the following ranges:
A745000-A865000 and TAA0001-TAL9999
The pistols within the serial number ranges listed above must be inspected for function from the half-cock notch. The safety mechanism will function in a perfectly satisfactory manner in many of these pistols, as well as in all pistols with serial numbers outside these ranges and in all pistols shipped from the factory after February 26, 1986.
Every one of these models bearing a serial number within the ranges listed above should be carefully inspected by the owner for this special condition. To determine if your pistol has this condition, do the following:
1. Point the muzzle in a safe direction.
2. Completely unload the pistol. Check both the magazine and chamber to assure they are empty of live rounds.
3. With your finger off the trigger, operate the manual safety with the unloaded pistol fully cocked and fully uncocked so that you can recognize how the manual safety looks and feels when it is fully in the safe position. The hammer will fall from the fully cocked position into the "at rest" position when the manual safety is moved down toward a safe position. When you are thoroughly familiar with placing the manual safety fully in the safe position, place it up in the fire position.
4. With the manual safety in the fire position, place the hammer in the half-cock notch:
For the Model 439, 459, 539, 559, 639 and 659, put the hammer of your pistol in the half-cock notch by pulling the hammer to the rear slowly until you hear the first click and then releasing the hammer so that it catches between the full cock and the "at rest" position.
For the Model 469 and 669, put the hammer of your pistol in the half-cock notch by inserting an empty magazine and slowly pulling the trigger until you hear the first click and then releasing the trigger so that the hammer catches between the full cock and the "at rest" position.
5. With the hammer in the half-cock notch, push the manual safety down toward the safe position. If you can push the manual safety fully into the safe position and the hammer falls into the "at rest" position, your pistol does not require modification. If you cannot push the manual safety fully into the safe position or the hammer does not fall into the "at rest" position, your pistol is being recalled for modification free of charge.
Recalled pistols should be sent promptly to a Smith & Wesson Warranty Service Center for modification.
RECALL: This warning is issued for Smith & Wesson 9mm Semiautomatic Pistols which were shipped from the factory between May 1, 1983 and February 26, 1986. Included are Models 439, 459, 469, 539, 559, 639, 659 and 669 but only with serial numbers in the following ranges:
A745000-A865000 and TAA0001-TAL9999
The pistols within the serial number ranges listed above must be inspected for function from the half-cock notch. The safety mechanism will function in a perfectly satisfactory manner in many of these pistols, as well as in all pistols with serial numbers outside these ranges and in all pistols shipped from the factory after February 26, 1986.
Every one of these models bearing a serial number within the ranges listed above should be carefully inspected by the owner for this special condition. To determine if your pistol has this condition, do the following:
1. Point the muzzle in a safe direction.
2. Completely unload the pistol. Check both the magazine and chamber to assure they are empty of live rounds.
3. With your finger off the trigger, operate the manual safety with the unloaded pistol fully cocked and fully uncocked so that you can recognize how the manual safety looks and feels when it is fully in the safe position. The hammer will fall from the fully cocked position into the "at rest" position when the manual safety is moved down toward a safe position. When you are thoroughly familiar with placing the manual safety fully in the safe position, place it up in the fire position.
4. With the manual safety in the fire position, place the hammer in the half-cock notch:
For the Model 439, 459, 539, 559, 639 and 659, put the hammer of your pistol in the half-cock notch by pulling the hammer to the rear slowly until you hear the first click and then releasing the hammer so that it catches between the full cock and the "at rest" position.
For the Model 469 and 669, put the hammer of your pistol in the half-cock notch by inserting an empty magazine and slowly pulling the trigger until you hear the first click and then releasing the trigger so that the hammer catches between the full cock and the "at rest" position.
5. With the hammer in the half-cock notch, push the manual safety down toward the safe position. If you can push the manual safety fully into the safe position and the hammer falls into the "at rest" position, your pistol does not require modification. If you cannot push the manual safety fully into the safe position or the hammer does not fall into the "at rest" position, your pistol is being recalled for modification free of charge.
Recalled pistols should be sent promptly to a Smith & Wesson Warranty Service Center for modification.
twistedracer
Member
Good looking pistol, congrats!!!
Welcome, Now Moving Along . . .
Greetings Chris43,
I see you're a new SWF member so allow me to be among the first to welcome you.
Okey dokey: Your 639 (I saw its images elsewhere in the SWF) looks nice, indeed. Let me also be among the first to congratulate you on buying a solid pistol that should provide many years to come of solid performance if kept well, starting with the recent recall.
The following information is provided by the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 3rd Edition, and whose authors, Richard Nahas and Jim Supica, regularly hang in these parts. Seriously valuable information, stuff you might think will never, ever apply to you, is available within. It is worth every penny of the money spent. Furthermore, because a No. 4 is in the works, you might well be able to get an absurd discount for Nos. 1, 2 and 3; each having important, relevant information on each handgun S&W has produced. Get 'em and you won't regret such.
Your S&W Model 639, Serial No. 830874, was produced in 1983. Narrowing it down still further isn't possible beyond a guess, which would place your gun as possibly made in the months of May through July. Should you wish to determine an exact date, it's available through S&W's resident historian, Mr. Roy Jinks for a price. Seeing as it's been some time since I've last sought deeper manufacturing information, I am unaware of current pricing, though it's been $50 in the recent past. It's worth every penny. Mr. Jinks works hard to establish Smith & Wesson pedigrees. It's doubtful you will find the money as having been ill spent.
The following pricing information is provided by The Blue Book of Gun Values, by S.P. Fjestad, Online Edition which, for $44.95 yearly, is the best buy, hands down, if nothing else but for the regular updating of market pricing. So valuable is this product to this collector, its sign-in page is among the windows opened when my browser is clicked upon for the first time each day.
Your Model No. 639, Serial No. 830874, and based on the pictures I've seen of it, is worth about $79.00. Your gun looks to be in pretty darn good shape, so it'll likely command top dollar. Otherwise, it may be worth as little as $ 15.75.
Um, oops? Sorry, wrong gun. (Just having a little fun, man.)
Let's see . . . Rated at 100-percent, we're talking $475 + $27 for a set of sights you don't have on your M639.
What is 100-percent? Everything sold with the gun still rums with it. The gun hasn't been fired since its purcahse and, when taken for an appraisal, must actually look like it's been respected and well treated.
The custom-added aspects of your pistol (nice ones at that) kinda upsets the apple cart insofar as long-distance valuation is concerned.
Inasmuch as I'm a collector and don't much delve into custom jobs (such generally being anathema to collectibles), the price of your 639 is questionable.
Sorry, Chris43, wish I could do better for you.
Nevertheless, welcome to the Forum. It's a great group of males and females.
Later.
Greetings Chris43,
I see you're a new SWF member so allow me to be among the first to welcome you.
Okey dokey: Your 639 (I saw its images elsewhere in the SWF) looks nice, indeed. Let me also be among the first to congratulate you on buying a solid pistol that should provide many years to come of solid performance if kept well, starting with the recent recall.
The following information is provided by the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 3rd Edition, and whose authors, Richard Nahas and Jim Supica, regularly hang in these parts. Seriously valuable information, stuff you might think will never, ever apply to you, is available within. It is worth every penny of the money spent. Furthermore, because a No. 4 is in the works, you might well be able to get an absurd discount for Nos. 1, 2 and 3; each having important, relevant information on each handgun S&W has produced. Get 'em and you won't regret such.
Your S&W Model 639, Serial No. 830874, was produced in 1983. Narrowing it down still further isn't possible beyond a guess, which would place your gun as possibly made in the months of May through July. Should you wish to determine an exact date, it's available through S&W's resident historian, Mr. Roy Jinks for a price. Seeing as it's been some time since I've last sought deeper manufacturing information, I am unaware of current pricing, though it's been $50 in the recent past. It's worth every penny. Mr. Jinks works hard to establish Smith & Wesson pedigrees. It's doubtful you will find the money as having been ill spent.
The following pricing information is provided by The Blue Book of Gun Values, by S.P. Fjestad, Online Edition which, for $44.95 yearly, is the best buy, hands down, if nothing else but for the regular updating of market pricing. So valuable is this product to this collector, its sign-in page is among the windows opened when my browser is clicked upon for the first time each day.
Your Model No. 639, Serial No. 830874, and based on the pictures I've seen of it, is worth about $79.00. Your gun looks to be in pretty darn good shape, so it'll likely command top dollar. Otherwise, it may be worth as little as $ 15.75.
Um, oops? Sorry, wrong gun. (Just having a little fun, man.)
Let's see . . . Rated at 100-percent, we're talking $475 + $27 for a set of sights you don't have on your M639.
What is 100-percent? Everything sold with the gun still rums with it. The gun hasn't been fired since its purcahse and, when taken for an appraisal, must actually look like it's been respected and well treated.
The custom-added aspects of your pistol (nice ones at that) kinda upsets the apple cart insofar as long-distance valuation is concerned.
Inasmuch as I'm a collector and don't much delve into custom jobs (such generally being anathema to collectibles), the price of your 639 is questionable.
Sorry, Chris43, wish I could do better for you.
Nevertheless, welcome to the Forum. It's a great group of males and females.
Later.
44wheelman
Member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2006
- Messages
- 1,697
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- 979
I would estimate at $500; completed auctions on Gunbroker show them going for $500 to $600.
StickShift
Member
Color me jealous - one of them is on my short list along with a 3906. You're a lucky man for snagging one.
safearm
US Veteran
Best of the 39 series made by S&W. Wish I had never let mine go.
I also picked up a nice 639 last year within the recall range and I really like it.
Now for the bad:
I sent the pistol into S&W in March for the recall repair and got it back in mid May. I took it to the range and fired it last Friday and on about 35% of the shots it would battery a new round AND also allow the hammer to come forward with the slide. Therefore it wants to behave as DAO! Also the safety still does not work on the lower position of the hammer. The firearm performed fine until I sent it in.
Called S&W and they said they would call back. Didn't happen.
I'm not sure they can fix it now as it probably needs a part or two that is not available.
Now for the bad:
I sent the pistol into S&W in March for the recall repair and got it back in mid May. I took it to the range and fired it last Friday and on about 35% of the shots it would battery a new round AND also allow the hammer to come forward with the slide. Therefore it wants to behave as DAO! Also the safety still does not work on the lower position of the hammer. The firearm performed fine until I sent it in.
Called S&W and they said they would call back. Didn't happen.
I'm not sure they can fix it now as it probably needs a part or two that is not available.
Plenty of parts available for these pistols because nearly all the parts cross the models. That is not to say that S&W can/will fix, but let me put it this way...
I have very (very) basic repair "skills" and there's nothing in a 1-2-3 Gen that I couldn't eventually track down the part for and fix. And there are many dozens of folks around here that are more skilled than I am at this kind of thing.
Numrich and Brownell's are constantly getting parts guns in, so even parts you can't find right NOW will often show up weeks or months down the road.
The bottom line is that they made so many of these guns and they share so many parts that if you have a good frame... you can make a fine pistol eventually.
I have very (very) basic repair "skills" and there's nothing in a 1-2-3 Gen that I couldn't eventually track down the part for and fix. And there are many dozens of folks around here that are more skilled than I am at this kind of thing.
Numrich and Brownell's are constantly getting parts guns in, so even parts you can't find right NOW will often show up weeks or months down the road.
The bottom line is that they made so many of these guns and they share so many parts that if you have a good frame... you can make a fine pistol eventually.
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