what has happend to my 39-2 in its past life?

[rorygs]

My dad recently gave me this gun a while back and im thinking of having it refinished, it has a very nice trigger and is a tack driver. Its a 39-2, I just cant figure out why someone would remove some of the material just behind the front sight, any ideas?

 

[30-30remchester]

First I have to ask, was this gun new when your dad bought it? If so, was the gun neglected to give it its current appearence? If it was new when he bought it and he didnt abuse it, but instead used it, and this is the reason for its appearence, then I contend that you would FOREVER be removing any history your dad had with this gun. Those dents, dings, and rubs are way cool to use collecters that admire guns with history. Anywhere in the gun auctions are many guns this age without a mark and could be sold as new. Why not use the money you are planning on spending on refinishing and just buy one of these if you want a shiny gun. Then you will have 2 guns, one new and one with caractor?

 

[Gunhacker]

Looks like someone was trying to make the slide look like a 3rd gen by machining a flat down the top of the slide. What a shame... the good news is stripped and complete M39/59 slides show up for sale on a some what regular basis on the auction sites should you want to make it "right" again.

 

[growr]

If having it be a pristine totally restored to factory new is important then by all means spend a lot of money in doing so. Were it mine and it belonged to MY dad I would leave it alone or at best simply replace the slide only if it bugs you that much. As mentioned above they do show up on GunBroker with some degree of regularity. You can use either a 39 or a 59 slide as they are the same.

Randy

 

[squidsix]

Please leave it alone, or sell it here and get a nicer one if you have to have that.

 

[1 old 0311]

Why it was done? Couldn't begin to guess but like others have said keep it and shoot it. All weapons don't have to be 'safe queens.'

 

[1 old 0311]

Why it was done? Couldn't begin to guess but like others have said keep it and shoot it. All weapons don't have to be 'safe queens.' Keep it and shoot it. It's good to have at least one handgun you don't have to worry about it's appearance.

 

[rorygs]

My dad bought this at a gun show a couple months ago for $200, when I seen it, I absolutely fell in love with it and I was fortunate enough to talk him out of it. Since my dad did give it to me it has loads of sentimental value. It will by no means be a safe queen I like to shoot way too much. It just really drives me crazy looking at the way someone in its past life has filed that area down.

 

[baldysky]

The few I have seen at shows and in shops have all had a fixed stepped front sight.....my guess would be they did not like that. I don't like it myself....it's why I never picked one up....even though I like the feel of them otherwise.

 

[rorygs]

I've been looking at slides on gunbroker they are all over $100, I'm gonna keep it the way it is. It shoots perfect.

 

[RufusG]

Could be it shot low and they ground down the sight and slide to raise the POI?

 

[old&slow]

Rorygs,
I can't tell from the picture. But, are you talking about the flat area on top of the slide between the ejection port and the front sight ?
If so the 39-2 came that way from the factory. The one I have has that same flat.

 

[rorygs]

I should have taken a better pic, if you look directly behind the front sight someone has removed some material.