Smith Wesson Model 39-2

[merbeau]

Hi

I was looking at a SW 39-2 today and the shop owner said the frame was satin nickel and the slide was blued steel. I searched the Internet and the literature suggests the frames were aluminum alloy or some sources just say alloy.

I am not a metalurgist but I believe stainless is nickel and steel mixed together and would be considered an alloy?
The firearm is in great shape and I will probably purchase it.

Does anyone have any idea if the frame would indeed be nickel and not aluminum. The serial number began with an A followed by 165318.

 

[KEN L]

The model 39 is an aluminum alloy frame gun with a steel slide. Only the very earliest guns had a steel frame, but they would not be marked 39-2. The standard production guns were available in nickel or blued finishes. To my knowledge, factory nickel guns were not satin nickel. Anodizing generally doesn't tend to wear as well as bluing, depending on how its maintained. In all likelihood, the frame was re-finished by a previous owner in a satin nickel. That would be my guess. Others may chime in with some different possibilities............

 

[hunterfisher808]

If it were SS it would be a 639. 39 were alloy framed, well all the ones I've seen. I think its nickel plating on the alloy. Had a blue one and also a 639. Mine were not too accurate, but felt super good in hand. I like how they felt so much that I got a Bar-Sto bbl. for the 639 and it shot worse than the stock one....go figure.

 

[FirebirdV8]

The frame will be an aluminum alloy and the slide is carbon steel. Either a previous owner had the frame nickel plated or bought one of those parts kits available from the online auctions where they destroy the frame and sell the parts. It would be fairly easy to stick a blued slide from ones of these parts kits on a nickel coated frame. Either way it should be a nice gun.

 

[merbeau]

Thanks to everyone who replied - I really appreciate the information. Perhaps this particular model was indeed modified. The barrel bushing is nickel, the slide is really tight (no play at all), there is a MMC rear site and the front site is green optical. These are additions that I assume were not available when produced?