Evolution of the S&W Model 39

I use to like the compact, double stack versions, like the Model 469 and Model 669. Very reliable and durable with nothing to report in terms of problems with magazines or ammo; fed just about everything I ran through it. Decent double action trigger but with quite a bit of travel. Single action typically felt a little mushy. Didn't care for the location and flat sides of the slide mounted safety. Accuracy was okay for a service grade pistol. I always felt the Model 39 was a true classic in terms of postwar 9mm. pistol designs; should have picked one up years ago when they were still being made.

Still have my 39-2. Third one for me. Get one, shoot it, like it, get talked out of it, miss it, find another. Not a good way to save money. Done the same thing with 6" Security Sixes. Might learn someday.
Still want a 3913.

All S&W 3904/3906 pistols have squared trigger guards. They are favorites of mine.

I had a 3906. Ex took it with her. I still miss that gun.

I currently have my old 3913 off duty gun, a 3914 "prototype" (actually a pre production example) a 3914NL that I carried religiously - until I picked up a CS9 a few months back.

IMO, the finest single stack 9mm carry guns extant. Great triggers, thin, light weight, well built, accurate and bet your life reliable. And they look good doing all that. Metal framed hammer fired goodness.

s&w panty shield? Never heard of her.

Don't wait too long, prices are generally rising on older metal framed guns and S&W is on the record as considering them obsolete. Very few are made now for specific contracts to police agencies. Along with that the collector market has been active picking them up for the last five years, and prices are exceeding MSRP for the rare guns.

The 4566TSW I purchased a few months ago was one of the last I saw sell for under $500. The listings I passed over are repeatedly relisted with high first bids or reserves. The 9mm was produced in much higher numbers but they have been inflating as time goes on, too. I won't be long that the utility value of the gun on the market will be eclipsed by the collector money willing to pay a lot extra. Case in point, HK P7. I was first looking at them used imported at $450. They frequently exceed $1800 now.

Best buys on the S&W forum seem to come from gun shops and pawnbrokers. The general public doesn't much care or know about them. Good luck.

The M39 'Smiffs are the most ergonomic pistols I have ever encountered... unfortunately as the design progressed over the years the grip became less ergonomic...

S&W autos are dead reliable... and built like tanks... The only reason I can think of they have been less popular is the slide mounted de-cocker... they did tinker with a few frame mounted de-cockers but they never got much distribution and are not well known these days.

To me the M39 is one of the guns one has to have if they are a serious shooter... as others have noted they have (fortunately or unfortunately depending on if you are selling or buying) been appreciating quite a bit over the years... but there are still some of the Israeli surplus examples on Gunbroker.

Anyway, I'm sure you will find them to be great shooters and very easy to carry.

FWIW

Chuck

Devonai said:

One of my holy grail pistols is the S&W 3904/3906 (specifically with Novak sights and rounded trigger guard), though I do have the S&W 909, the budget version of the same. I've also considered adding to my collection an earlier version, perhaps going as far to also grab a 39-2 and a 439. If I really lose my mind I might also get a 3913, 908, and CS9.

But as far as the various generations, I'm curious to hear from folks who own two or more across the line. What is your favorite, and why? Any mag or ammo related issues?

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Bought these in the mid 70s. The 59 never received the "unreliable" memo.

Devonai, the ProArms Gun Shop in Live Oak, FL has a holster-worn but mechanically perfect 3904 in their used gun case for $325. Don't recall if it had rounded guard and Novak sights or not. Their phone number is 386 364 GUNS.

The S&W M 39 .9MM was built for a Military contract originally in 1955. The Army did not buy the Americanized Walther P 38. In 1958 the S&W 39 was offered to the public. The Illinois High Patrol and the Seal Teams adopted the S&W 39.
I bought one new around 1970. The 9MM cartridge was not the 9MM of today. It was an unimpressive relic of WWII and the failed Nazi Military. The M 39 was a fine handgun. The post war 9MM round failed in the market place back 40 years ago. It was not the failure of the S&W platform of that time.

I love, love, love the single stack 3rd generation Smiths. Also always wanted a 3904/3906. I have a 3953 and 2-3913's. Have owned several others in the past. I did sell off my CS-9 because I prefer the 'feel' and balance of the slightly larger 39xx's. I wouldn't worry too much about S&W turning their backs on them. If you get a decent example, especially a steel model like the 3906, the only thing you're likely to ever need is springs, and you'll be able to get them.

The Model 39-2 is my favorite centerfire semi-auto pistol (the Ruger MK is my favorite rimfire). I've owned three over the years and like someone else earlier, I'd get talked out of them, miss them, buy another. The next time one of them malfunctions, will be the first time. The slide mounted decocker never bothered me. I never tried to use it as a "safety." Just drop the hammer with it, then flip it to the off position. Again as has already been pointed out, it is the most comfortable semi-auto I've ever owned. Thin, flat and fairly light, it's the "Goldilocks" gun. Just right.

I picked up another one not too long ago. It's got a little "character" but I think I'm going to keep this one.





I'm no expert on these things, but I suppose the 457 fits into basically the same class of gun except it's in 45 acp. It's heavier than the 39 but feels similar to me. Grip is not quite as comfortable, but I like it better than any other 45 I've used.

There are a lot of posts stating the all stainless guns are a "tank" or that it's the heaviest pistol in the gun collection. Truth is compared to a full size 1911, not so much. Entirely the reason the Army was looking into 4" barrels and lighter weight frames after WWII. I note that the full size 1911 carriers never mention weight as an issue.

If anything the cops that carried them were concerned about their belt weight creeping up from all the other gear that became standard after their PD's adopted Glocks. It's the same mindset, they make the guns lighter so the officer/soldier can carry something else, too.

When on duty in 2002 at the front gate of Ft Benning we wore a duty belt with the M9 in the holster of choice, a mag carrier, cuff carrier, and pepper spray. I added a Surefire G2. Three days on, two off. A shift was 12 hours plus pickup of vehicles and weapons issue and turn in. I never thought the rig was heavy - then. Now, a SIG P938 will create problems after an hour. The difference? Having a GOOD gun belt. No matter what I do to get a holster to work, it doesn't. It never will with cheap leather or webbing belts which are barely rated to hold up my expanding waist. Never had the problem with a web pistol belt or duty belt.

The trick to carrying those larger guns is what the large frame 1911 carriers all do, and they state it in their posts if we read closely enough - use a good gun belt and no problem. Everybody uses a huge variety of holsters but for the most part we rarely read about the belt - until you get into the 1911 crowd, which are largely professional grade carriers. I've proven cheap belts won't work for me so I've been looking at a good one - and I won't get it for less than $50. I will just have to bite the bullet on that.

The heavier guns were 100% of the market before 1984. Nobody worried too much about it then, I didn't. What we have now are large frame guns that weigh 10 oz less because polymer. The tradeoff is higher perceived recoil - and accuracy. It's a tradeoff and it was commonly accepted when there was no choice. Now we do, but I'm not sure the race to the lightest carry gun is necessarily the best intention.

We are supposed to be comforted we have the gun, not always so comfortable we don't notice it. And by the way, I have two shoulder rigs for the 4566. Belt carry isn't all that.