Smith Wesson 539

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Snagged this off Gun Broker November 30th. The Dude finally sent me shipping info today. Had an excuse for everything. I have Covid, my FFL Died, You didn't include your FFL info on GB. (It's right on my contact payment page) Well I am curious to see what I got. He says its a Stainless 539. I say if its stainless it's a 639. Any ideas. I asked him if he thought it was refinished, He says it is original. I thought 539's were blued or nickeled with steel frames. Any ideas? Paid less than 6 Benjamin's for it.

 

[jimbo728]

If it is a 539 with that appearance it may be nickle plated. Most of the 539 pistols were blue steel. Not many of around 8,000 made were nickle plated, IIRC. . If it is stainless, it would be a 639.
From what you have said, I would be suspicious of the seller.
Good luck. Let us know what you get when you get it.
Jim

 

[Green Frog]

The receiver sure looked to me like my 639 as far as finish... but the slide is more shiny than I would expect. I’ll be curious to hear what you actually get!

Froggie

 

[824tsv]

The right side of the thumb safety doesn't look right. It looks inset farther into the slide. The slide looks polished, grips look varnished.....I hope you like it.

 

[Hugo Stiglitz]

If it is a 539 with that appearance it may be nickle plated. Most of the 539 pistols were blue steel. Not many of around 8,000 made were nickle plated, IIRC. . If it is stainless, it would be a 639.
From what you have said, I would be suspicious of the seller.
Good luck. Let us know what you get when you get it.
Jim

IKR! Hey if it's a steel frame 539 I'll be happy. Other things, if it is nickeled the thumb safety, slide release and frame cover should be blued. I have a Nickeled 39-2 that has blues highlights. Might post the sellers info if it isn't what he says it is........He is well know and is an author, lives about four hours north of me. My 39-2 not the original slide. I have several as parts and the orginal.

 

[Sevens]

It’s definitely a 539, it is stamped as such, so it’s carbon steel and the finish on it now may be hard chrome, which was a popular aftermarket finish back in the day. It’s odd that the slide and frame don’t seem to match well in color, so it makes me wonder if the slide is nickel.

The hammer should be black I’d think, another clue that the finish isn’t original. The slide does have the oddball short extractor which is correct for most if not all 539’s.

It’s a solid gun and a workhorse. Collector value on this one is buried somewhere under the finish, but it’s still a cool relic from a day gone by.

 

[Hugo Stiglitz]

It is a Smith & Wesson 539.

Ok what we all have been waiting for. It is a Smith & Wesson 539. Frame has a small amount of nickel wear under the rear of the tang. Looks like the rest of the gun had a nice polish job, don't think the slide was redone. Trade marks are sharp. Took it apart, cleaned and oiled it. Sights work. Replaced the polished hammer with a blued one, was going to replace the trigger with a blued one but don't feel like taking the trigger bar out. Might be beyond my skill level. Stuck a set of extra used cleaned up grips on it. My 5906 slide will fit and function on the 539 frame and 539 slide will do the same on the 5906 frame. Got lots of 39 parts! Now I can put my aluminum frame 39-2 away and shoot the 539. Love the way the 39's fit my hand.

 

[jimbo728]

Let us know how it shoots.
Bought mine new in `83 and it is still going strong.
The pic includes a 559 also.
Jim

 

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Will take it out tomorrow! Can't beat how these feel in the hand! My Nickeled 39-2 was accuired back in 83 I think!

 

[Erich]

I'm sorry you had such a hassle getting it to you, but those steel frames together with the Second Generation feel? Incomparable! Enjoy!

 

[Green Frog]

Looks like we have a winner! A steel frame, single stack second generation 9mm auto Smith. What could be better? It's your gun to do with as you wish, but if it were mine, it would be getting a good blued slide with adjustable sights, one of the ambi safety assemblies I see in your picture, and perhaps have the receiver hard chromed in Metalloy or some such, and then just enjoy it completely. Congratulations on the end of the acquisition and the beginning of the fun!

Green Frog