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S&W M39
Mar 5, 2021 14:46:48 GMT -5
Post by bushog on Mar 5, 2021 14:46:48 GMT -5
What’s the good and bad about the Smith Model 39s?
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Post by bigbrowndog on Mar 5, 2021 15:26:36 GMT -5
The original 39’s are highly revered as being accurate and very comfortable to shoot and carry. I never owned a 39, but have had very good luck with the 59’s, having owned 2 as well as a 469 and currently a 6906 The latter two being SW’s answer to the popularity of the Devel conversions. My current 6906 is very accurate considering it’s intended purpose is CCW.
Trapr
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Post by bradshaw on Mar 5, 2021 15:44:06 GMT -5
What’s the good and bad about the Smith Model 39s? ***** Smith & Wesson’s first attempt to make an auto pistol for military consideration that could stand in the shoes of Browning’s 1911. Couldn’t even touch the shoelaces. More would have been learned about the M-39, had it been around to throw against the tough Walther Pistole 1938 9mm Luger. I'd trust my 1944 Wehrmacht P-38 against any M-39 under any conditions. As for taking handloads, the Browning P-35 would & did eat the M-39 alive, as we fed ‘em the old Hornady 115 JHP over 6/Hercules Unique. Moving up to 6.5 grains/Unique, the M-39 felt like real trouble, while the Hi Power cruised. Granted, the M-39 has an aluminum frame, but (to quote Ben “Bear Man” Kilham) the P-35 is “soft.” Nor could accuracy approach my late-war P-38, let alone a proper P-35. If you have an M-39 that never bobbles, have at it. Today the isles are full of better pistols chambered for the 9mm Luger (call it what it is). I cannot imagine the M-39 trying to sneak up on the reliability of a good 9mm today. David Bradshaw
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Post by Ken O'Neill on Mar 5, 2021 18:44:09 GMT -5
Terry Murbach loved the Mdl.39
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Post by taffin on Mar 5, 2021 19:57:16 GMT -5
Terry Murbach loved the Mdl.39 FOR MANY YEARS I CARRIED A 3913 IN MY BELT. IT NOW RESIDES IN REACH.
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Post by ezekiel38 on Mar 8, 2021 10:21:41 GMT -5
Mr. Taffin is correct on the 3913, best 9mm Smith ever built IMHO. People don't let go of them and they are hard to find in the best of times. Years ago 1985 to be exact I was detailed to bring up some confiscated weapons at the Sheriff's Office where I worked to have "not police type guns" for our Narcs to carry. One of those weapons that I chose was a pristine Model 39 taken off a drug dealer a couple of years earlier and given to the SO by the sentencing judge in the case.
Sent the firearm to Smith and Wesson for a "once over" and they sent it back with mods that made it a 39-2 to "enhance reliability". The gun shot well and was issued to one of my officers.
Smith also said that the then 3 digit 39s like the 439, 539 or 639 (later to become the 4 model number series) were the ones to own for police work, as the older 39s were no longer supported with parts and service. Big thing with 39s for those who I know who own them is magazine availability. As a rule of thumb with modern S&Ws they got better as the model numbers grew. Had a 539 for a while and it was a nice gun, heavy but nice. If I found a 3913 or 439 today it would come home.
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Fowler
.401 Bobcat
Posts: 3,546
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S&W M39
Mar 15, 2021 9:07:09 GMT -5
Post by Fowler on Mar 15, 2021 9:07:09 GMT -5
Wasn't it a Smith 39 of some variant that Phil Shoemaker used to stop that Grizzly that was about to eat one of his clients fishing in Alaska?
I've never owned one but I always thought they were slick guns, had a reputation for being very reliable.
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S&W M39
Mar 15, 2021 10:26:22 GMT -5
Post by bigbrowndog on Mar 15, 2021 10:26:22 GMT -5
I believe you are correct, it was a 39 variant.
Trapr
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groo
.327 Meteor
I yet live!!!!
Posts: 855
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Post by groo on Mar 26, 2021 15:05:58 GMT -5
Groo here Have a few... Like many of the auto's of the times the 39/59 was picky of ammo [the hps were just starting to come out.] If you wanted hp's , you had to find the one the GUN liked. I have a m-39-2 , some 39-13's , a chief but the one that was the best was the 469. Easy to carry, 12 rounds and just shot.........
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gtojim
.30 Stingray
Posts: 205
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S&W M39
Mar 26, 2021 22:06:36 GMT -5
Post by gtojim on Mar 26, 2021 22:06:36 GMT -5
I have a 39-2. It has the sweetest factory trigger. I shot it a lot when I first got it. Haven't lately but never a problem.
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S&W M39
Apr 12, 2021 15:47:37 GMT -5
Post by crazyhorse on Apr 12, 2021 15:47:37 GMT -5
I always loved the feel of the grip on the model 39.
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S&W M39
Apr 12, 2021 22:54:09 GMT -5
Post by rock185 on Apr 12, 2021 22:54:09 GMT -5
I've been a fan of the 39s for a very long time. That being said, my 39 no dash, and subsequent 39-2s, all purchased new, were not as functionally reliable as might be desired. I'd been spoiled by the Hi Power's boring reliability. I loaded thousands of rounds of the 6 grains of Unique with 115 and 124/125 grain bullets back in the day. Also a bunch of 9mm loaded with 7 grains of Herco, and the same 115 and 124/125 grain bullets. The Hi Powers handled everything without issue. My 39 and 39-2s were very nicely finished guns and fit me very well, but unfortunately, that reliability thing....
The 2nd and 3rd Gen. guns fared much better in the reliability department. In fact, I have some 3rd. Gen. guns that are as reliable as any pistols I've ever owned.
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