What can you tell me about the Model 39?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What can you tell me about the Model 39?

Posted: 3/9/2020 5:57:26 PM EDT

Years ago I inherited my father in laws model 39, cleaned it and stuck in the safe for my son one day. Over the weekend I was doing to some cleaning and purging and dug out the 39. Today I cleaned it again (for no reason) and damn its a nice gun. A little wonky with the "safety" or whatever it is but I know next to nothing about this model. I've watched some YouTube videos but for you guys that have experience with this, what can you tell me?

Posted: 3/9/2020 6:03:15 PM EDT

[#1]

The Model 39 is a great example of the 1960-1970 state of the art!

Posted: 3/9/2020 6:14:54 PM EDT

[#2]

Hush puppy .

Posted: 3/9/2020 7:06:10 PM EDT

[#3]

Quote History

Quoted:
The Model 39 is a great example of the 1960-1970 state of the art!

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Its a really nice gun and this one is in fantastic shape. Kind of like a Browning Hi Power...ish. I might shoot it this week.

Posted: 3/9/2020 7:25:33 PM EDT

[#4]

The 3953 is my carry gun when I need a little more than a 37

Posted: 3/9/2020 8:53:41 PM EDT

[#5]

39 single stack pre dated teh 59 double stack mag guns double action for the first shot and has a safety. They were very popular 9mm's in a day when the Browning Hi Power was king of the hill. Should have a steel frame blue or nickle. Later versions of the 59 designated 459 had alloy frame 659 was stainless 469 was a compact model ( I had one of those with 25 round mags in the 80s). Nice pistols.

Posted: 3/9/2020 10:10:03 PM EDT

[#6]

Mates in the gun club when I first started into handgun shooting for fun had all sorts of 9mm models

Tried the Model 39 single stack & the Model 59 double stacker
Aside from the magazine capacity = fatter grips for the 59, the guns from memory were about the same, features wise.

MUCH preferred using the 39 of the two

Nice pistols - run some Win white box through it every couple of months or so

Posted: 3/10/2020 4:18:27 AM EDT

[#7]

39s are neat. They never were super ergonomic with the slide mounted safety. When you take it apart, the P-38 and Beretta DNA is apparent. But they fit most people's hands very well. First 9mm to be adopted by US LE that I'm aware of.

Extractor is fragile; never drop the slide with a round in the chamber. Feed from the magazine only.

Mine, by accident really, is a pre-39 with a shorter safety and different grip panels.

Posted: 3/10/2020 7:16:21 AM EDT

[#8]

I have an old beat up one that runs like a top and is decently accurate. Very slim pistol, mags are a little pricey these days. Promag actually mag a mag that works in these, or at least mine do.

Posted: 3/10/2020 7:30:25 AM EDT

[#9]

Soft shooting.

My dad has an old factory nickel plated version. I think he paid $50 or $75 for it new.

Posted: 3/10/2020 9:24:03 AM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
39 single stack pre dated teh 59 double stack mag guns double action for the first shot and has a safety. They were very popular 9mm's in a day when the Browning Hi Power was king of the hill. Should have a steel frame blue or nickle. Later versions of the 59 designated 459 had alloy frame 659 was stainless 469 was a compact model ( I had one of those with 25 round mags in the 80s). Nice pistols.

View Quote

The 39 was an alloy frame. Very very few all steel 39s were made.

Posted: 3/10/2020 11:30:37 AM EDT

[#11]

Post pictures and the first few digits of the serial number and can tell for sure when it was manufactured. I have a 39-2 I bought from a LE Friend and was my first pistol I carried in uniform. The 39-2 had a better extractor than the original model 39.

Posted: 3/10/2020 9:09:01 PM EDT

[#12]

It's a fantastic DA/SA Metal and Walnut American Classic. The Father of some of the best wonder nines.

Attached File

Posted: 3/12/2020 5:28:43 AM EDT

[#13]

Posted: 3/12/2020 6:35:59 AM EDT

[#14]

I still carry the same 439 today that I wore on duty 30 years ago. I'm used to it by now.

Good shooter, slim carry. Black rubber Pachmyer grips add a bit of bulk but fill my hands very well.

Posted: 3/12/2020 7:46:07 AM EDT

[#15]

I have the final variation of the Model 39. The Model 909, Smith & Wesson's Value Line Series Full Sized Single Stack 9mm.

Made from 1997 to 1999.

Posted: 4/6/2020 11:17:29 AM EDT

[#16]

A friend of mine has a 39-2, does anyone have a good source for magazines??
Thanks!!

Also, any feeding issues with JHP? Or does anybody recommend one for it??

Posted: 4/6/2020 2:07:30 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:

A friend of mine has a 39-2, does anyone have a good source for magazines??
Thanks!!

Also, any feeding issues with JHP? Or does anybody recommend one for it??

View Quote

Jhp may require some experimentation. It took Smith and the bullet companies a while to come up with the right feed ramp configuration vs bullet shape.

Mags are out there but they tend to be spendy.

Posted: 4/6/2020 2:27:13 PM EDT

[#18]

https://promagindustries.com/smith-wesson-model-39-9mm-8-rd-blue-steel/

Anybody know if this would work with the 39-2??? I looked on Ebay, saw 1 magazine, 80 bucks and looked rusted out. Gun Broker had some Triple K brand.
Don't really know squat about Smith and Wesson early semi autos. Trying to help my friend out, he only has 1 magazine.

Posted: 4/6/2020 2:33:46 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:

A friend of mine has a 39-2, does anyone have a good source for magazines??
Thanks!!

Also, any feeding issues with JHP? Or does anybody recommend one for it??

View Quote

I got a couple new old stock 639 mags on gunbroker that work in my 439 or a 39. 9 shot too.

Posted: 4/6/2020 3:29:44 PM EDT

[#20]

P38/P1 Mags will work in the M39, but I don't think the hold open functions without mods.

Posted: 4/8/2020 1:56:40 PM EDT

[#21]

1st 9mm pistol i owned was a 539 pistol..

shot the snot out of too the point where the hammer and sear had to be replaced.. It would only shoot doa after wearing out the parts..

Replaced the parts and went back to shooting as normal.. They are tanks, heavy and can withstand abuse..

sold it replaced with a sig p226 along with a 659.

Posted: 4/8/2020 1:57:35 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
P38/P1 Mags will work in the M39, but I don't think the hold open functions without mods.

View Quote

I wasn't aware of that.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What can you tell me about the Model 39?

Handguns » Smith & Wesson

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