s&w m39

anyone know anything about s&w m39 9mm. good shooter? why does mine have black frame, black handgrips and shiny silver slide? the ones i searched for on net shows pics of all black with brown grips.

An S&W Model 39 is a 9mm single stack with an alloy frame and steel slide. I had one in the early 70's and it was a quality pistol. I've never heard of two tone models unless someone had hardchromed the slide. The factory didn't do it. The original grips were wood, not plastic. I would guess the grips came from a later model. It has adjustable sights, so you can tweek the accuracy.

Unless you are getting a really great deal (well under $300) I'd stay away from it. If it was perfect and in the original box, it would be far more attractive. The single stack magazine is the biggest drawback. Check out GB for some comparison prices.

One variation, the Conn state police 75th anniversary edition, was shipped with a nickel slide in 1978. I have seen "plain" nickel slide versions before, many wholesalers special order guns in lots from the manufacturers in "non-standard" finishes, bbl lengths, etc. Yours could be a factory finish, just special ordered and somewhat rarer than most.

IIRC, there are several "revisions": the original model 39 and the "dash" models (39-2, etc.). Main difference was the early models had a weird shaped feed ramp "hump" that made anything but FMJ a sure way to jam the gun. The extractor was also changed and possibly a few other minor tweaks.

This is the pistol Paris Theodore massaged into the famous ASP pistol, which was the inspiration for a host of follow on "mini 9s" such as the Devel and even several from S&W themselves.

As mentioned, the single stack mag was a drawback, especially since the very similar model 59 could be had with a double stack mag. The model 39 did have the distinction of being the first production double action 9mm made in the USA and was issued to Navy SEALS in vietnam along with a "hush puppy" silencer for quiet sentry and guard animal "removal".

thanks. i did pay 275. its used though but seemed to b in good condition when i purchased. i was on lunch break so i had to hurry. i dont have it on hand yet but will in two weeks when paperwork clears. it must have been customized. the right handgaurd is replaced with a handgaurd w/ rail and has red-dot scope sight.must've been used as a target pistol.

$275 sounds like a pretty good deal on one these days, if it is a functional/reliable shooter, ignoring any collectibility aspects. I have one (39-2) I've had since the late 70s. I do remember doing one or two extractor upgrades to it when new revisions came out (I believe I got them from Brownells in the late 70s or early 80s). The really collectible ones in that series are things like the 539, which has a steel frame, rather than aluminum, and were made in much smaller quantities.

In 1971, the M39 was very difficult pistol to buy. They carried a premium and it seemed like everyone wanted one. The finish was beautiful. We used a police purchase order and about 10 of us bought them for $90 apiece.

A Colt Series 70 was about $100 and a Model 10 S&W 2" cost me $76.00.

Those were the days.

...and then came the inflationary period during Carter...sigh :(

I seem to recall paying maybe $125-$150 or so for mine, used, in 1978 or so...

took it to range and had no feeding problems. the red dot sight was off.but the range officer helped me put it on paper. the trigger system is awsome. the only thing i cant figure out is how to remove barrel from slide. it slides back and forth and able to tilt out a little but not enough clearance to remove.seems to be stuck from the front of barrel.

Are you removing the bbl bushing? IIRC, you turn it 90 degrees and it pulls out.

Had two of these. Purchased first one in 1969. Fed it commercial ball, commercial JHP and a couple k of Korean milsurp corrosive. Never hiccuped. Bought a second one in 1972. I carried these as backup weapon in a shoulder holster with two extra mags. Bought both at LE price, $90, had both shipped to my workplace. Very reliable weapons and a confidence booster when the issued service weapon was a 6 shot revolver. Yeah, I still have sellers regret for both of these.