Like you Dueast, I found myself looking for a nice 39-2 not long ago, and was fortunate enought to find a like new example locally. I've never been a fan of the 9mm or double action autoloaders in general (Crunchentickers as Col. Cooper termed them), but always liked the looks, feel, and especially the history of this gun. Far from a rare variation, this one is pretty run-of-the-mill, only it's condition separating it from its many bretheren.
This example was produced in 1974, but the design dates back more than two decades prior. When Carl Hellstrom assumed the reigns at S&W directly after WWII, one of his first directives was to initiate the design of a DA autoloader. By 1948, prototypes were developed and sent to Springfield Armory for testing. The military requested single-action versions and these were provided as well, but interest in the 9mm by the Army waned, content as they were at the time to stay with the .45 ACP. Smith turned their attention to the commercial and law enforcement markets, and by the mid-fifties, both the aluminum alloy framed DA and SA versions were a standard catalog item. The SA never caught on and although catalogued as the model 44 until 1959, only 10 were ever built.
By the early 60's, interest in the 39 by the LE community began to develop and sales increased as more and more departments found favor with the concept. Never a company to waste material, in 1966 Smith produced a little over 900 steel framed versions, from frames forged during the early development stages, but never used. Today these are highly sought after by collectors. The 39-2, with it redesigned extractor, was introduced in 1971. That year also saw the unveiling of the Model 59, a high capacity version with a 14 shot staggered column magazine, the first of the so called "wonder-nines". Production continued until 1980 when both the model 39 and 59 were updated and re-numbered.
So the S&W 39 certainly has its place in firearm history. Although not the first successful DA auto design (that distinction belongs to Walther with the PPK and later, the P-38), is was the first DA auto conceived and produced in the U.S., and not only re-introduced the 9mm to these shores, but ushered in the extremely successful era of the double action autoloader that continues to this day.
