Tell me about Model 39 please

[chaparrito]

Possibly looking at one later today. 39-2. Looks to be in very good condition. The pics make me wonder if it's been re-blued. How to tell?
Issues with this model? Mag availability? Is it too old to be a reliable range gun? Seller wants 500. Thanks!

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Hi there, the dash two took care of most problems, primarily broken extractors. It has an aluminum frame that cannot be blued but rather "anodized" and they rarely were re-anodized but rather refinished with another process of one sort or another. The slide should have an even blue with sharp roll marks and edges. The 39 does not like to be run dry, keep it lubed and with a good mag and ammo will run all day long with no problems. Keep in mind this one was designed before the hollow point bullet became popular and may be fussy with some hollow point bullets. $500.00 may seem a bit high but nice 39's are becoming rather hard to find these days.

 

[ken158]

Priced too high IMO.... frame is aluminum so no re-blue there... S&W's entry into the auto market. Triggers not very good, not much gunsmithing can be done, just identify and replace parts... the factory armorer's didn't even like the 39/59 guns as told to me when I spent 2 weeks at the factory school - 1 day spend on the autos... OK for a range gun I guess but would never own another. Been there and done that. There are a lot of better guns out there for the price.

 

[DFrame]

Price is a bit high but the 39 served very well as a service piece. I carried one for a long time. People kept telling me it would jam but it never did. As noted above keep it well lubed.

 

[mauser9]

Probably the gun I should have kept. I can tell ya the price was $125 for a new one back in 74. At least thats what I paid for a new one. Mine functioned well with all ammo I tried. And to think I took a ribbing from some by buying an aluminum pistol.

 

[samnev]

Bought my 39-2 back in 1967 iirc. No complaints with the trigger. Still one of my favorite single stack 9mm.

 

[Oldawg]

Good looking gun!

I bought a used 439 (supposedly a 39 with minor revisions) at a gunshow many years ago just because I thought it looked so good!

It feels good, shoots well and looks like an auto should look, in my opinion.

Never had a problem with it.

 

[striking]

I had mine at the range this morning and it ran flawlessly: accurate, lightweight, perfectly balanced, and reliable. Also, mine has a great S/A trigger.

I agree with the earlier post that this is what a semi-automatic pistol ought to look like.

I'll never part with mine.

 

[fordson]

Had my 39-2 at the range last week doing double-tap drills. No issues even using 124gr JHP Silver Tips. An excellent firearm IMO.
As said above, it's how a semi-auto should look. Keep it lubed and it will last a long time.
$500 is a bit high. Suggest you make a counter offer.

 

[gmborkovic]

down here in SoFo, $500 is really high for a shooter 39. $300 about average, gun and one mag. Nickel, with box and stuff, $500 OK. I have a bunch of them, so I shop. Great gun. Post a pic if you can. If you get it to pretty, you will not shoot it. Just my opinion.

 

[whitestang]

My 39-2 is from 1979 and still shoots great today. I have taken care of it and carried it as a Deputy Sheriff many years ago. The only it did not like was the Blazer stuff. I still take it out once in awhile and put holes in paper. As others have posted $500 is high as there were about 400,000 made.

 

[loeman]

I agree, $500 sounds high. I found a very nice one last year for $350. These show up around here with some degree of frequency, however, they are usually pretty rough. Finding a really nice one is getting more and more difficult, so maybe one in excellent to ANIB condition might warrant the higher price. The 3902 is an especially attractive gun, at least as far as aesthetics is concerned.

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

The 39's have been increasing in popularity and price in recent years. They are great pistols, fit your hand well, make an excellent 9mm carry piece and can provide you with hours of enjoyment at the range. Mags are available, both original and aftermarket, as are grips should you decide you don't like the factory wood. Yes, it is old technology, the first 39's hit the market in the 50's, but with the -2 revision you get the best of all worlds with the improvements that make it a fine handling single stack semi.

Condition is everything. Even rough ones are now approaching $300 (including some whupped recent imports) and NIB could go as high as $900 to the right buyer. At $500 it needs to be as new and include a couple of factory mags...but if you can negotiate the price down and get the pistol you will never regret your purchase.

Good luck. Post pictures when it is yours...

 

[flagman1776]

M39-2 great gun

I bought my M39-2 new in 1983. There is a reason I still own it. I carried it as a duty weapon at times. It has never bobbled with any ammo. The M39 series are the benchmark to measure feel in the hand.
My recommendation is to buy a good example.

 

[kantuck]

Hi there, the dash two took care of most problems, primarily broken extractors. It has an aluminum frame that cannot be blued but rather "anodized" and they rarely were re-anodized but rather refinished with another process of one sort or another. The slide should have an even blue with sharp roll marks and edges. The 39 does not like to be run dry, keep it lubed and with a good mag and ammo will run all day long with no problems. Keep in mind this one was designed before the hollow point bullet became popular and may be fussy with some hollow point bullets. $500.00 may seem a bit high but nice 39's are becoming rather hard to find these days.

Per the HP bullet statements above (seen that before)and as I bought a box of boogerman bullets for home defense, standby duty, I'd like to know they feed OK w/o burning through the pricey cartridges? I reload but have no HP bullets to do on the cheap. Thoughts from users of 39-2??? Thanks

 

[G-Mac]

I have never shot a 39. But I have some experience with a 639...the stainless steel version. Nothing but good things to say, except that the muzzle felt a little light while firing. This could have simply been my perception at the time, compared to heavier revolvers that I owned. I wouldn't mind owning a nice 39-2!

 

[redlevel]

I owned and carried a couple of these as deputy sheriff in the early '70s. They were big news then, as the Illinois State Police had started carrying them. I probably put 1500 rounds of various ammo through the first one I owned. I had one stovepipe jam. Otherwise, it shot flawlessly. Some of the ammo was hp, as I recall. I believe some of it was SuperVel.

I wish I still had one. The 39-2 fit my hand and pointed better than any other handgun I ever owned. I am a big 1911 fan, and I realize the previous statement is sacrilege, but it is the truth. I carried one as a civilian, usually just stuck in my waistband, behind my right hip. It concealed wonderfully, and was comfortable.

$500 is probably a little high, but I've paid "too much" for a bunch of guns myself.

 

[kff41]

S&W 39-2

I'll second all the info posted Price has to do with condition The nicer the gun and the more stuff that comes with it the higher the price Best to purchase it with the box/papers/cleaning kit and put the extras away for the outside chance you want to sell/trade in the future When in doubt check the prices on Fleabay for the extras and use for counter offers. Also remember they made some in steel frame very early and short extractors but they are straight 39s' not -2 and are very collectable Best Keith P.S. My first pistol purchased in 1970ish and I still have.

 

[Sam Casey]

Bought new one in the 60's while in grad school. There was an indoor range near us and mil surplus 9mm ammo could be had for $2 for box of 64. It was referred to as submachine gun ammo and seemed pretty hot. Shot 1000's of rounds with occasional light cleaning (emphasis on barrel as ammo was rumored to be corrosive) and light lube. Gun was problem free and pretty accurate. Top of slide rails on aluminum frame showed considerable wear after a couple years, but gun continued to function well till I sold it. Bought another from a member here a couple years ago and it brings back fond memories.

 

[BigBoy99]

I had a 39 and really enjoyed it. When the 659 came out, I felt that the larger magazine capacity and the stainless made the 659 a bit more "practical" to own. I sold the 39 and got the 659 and have not been sorry that I did it. The 659 had been one of my concealed carry guns.