"Grail" gun found!

I had been meaning to get over to the LGS a couple of weeks ago to look for my annual birthday gift from my daughter. If you're not a dad that means it comes out of her inheritance. Stuff happens and I got sidetracked. Today I had that feeling and headed over to the shop. To my surprise I saw this sitting on the shelf. Fran said it came in yesterday. I asked to take a closer look. A quick negotiation and I was filling out the 4473.

Over 40 years ago I foolishly traded one away and have been looking to replace it ever since. It cost me a lot more than it did then but I couldn't be happier. Happy Birthday AND Merry Christmas to me!!

 

But, but, but...

It's not striker-fired!
It has a safety!
It's not polymer framed!
There is no rail!
It's not tactically colored!

Outstanding purchase!

 

Boy, that's pretty, Jimbo80. I don't know how to date S&W guns by the box. Is that an early production gun? I know the extractor varied, but I forget how. Anyway, I'm glad you found such a fine example of a gun you wanted for so long.

I am going to reminisce: Back when I was young and gas was expensive to me, I sometimes took an intercity bus to go visit my parents on weekends, because they lived 90 miles away. Once when I was waiting in the bus station at their end, a man in street clothes walked in with a holstered nickel-plated wood grip Model 39, just like Jimbo's here. His Hawaiian shirt was loose enough to have covered it, but it was out in the open now. I had no idea what was going on. Some other men, less obviously armed, came in another door. Suddenly they grabbed a guy and hustled him out of the building. It was all over in three minutes. I told my folks about it later, and they read in the paper that an escapee from a nearby low-security prison had been caught there. I was kind of surprised; except for the Indiana State Police, all cops carried revolvers back then. (The ISP also had Model 39s.)

Sorry for the long story, but nickel-plated Model 39s always remind me of that day.

 

This one dates to '74 and is a couple of years older than my first one. BTW I found it at the same LGS where I got the original. I did learn my lesson all those years ago and stopped selling guns I like. The only reason I sold the first one was because 9mm ammo was $9 a box which was a LOT of money at the time. I traded it for a S&W 15-2 .38 and $100 cash. The 15-2 is still around.

 

It wasn't considered by the British SBS or Navy SEALs !

 

Very nice -- and I am envious!

I think I first saw the M39 on the old Perry Mason TV series, where it showed up a few times as a murder weapon. Though never in factory nickel!

 

Gorgeous!

 

Very nice score. I always have room in my safe for a Smith semi auto

 

Jimbo80

One word...Sweet!!!

 

There's one that has showed up at a regional gunshow; if it is still there next time, it will follow me home.
Nice catch, Jimbo. Love the feel of a 39.
Moon

 

Congratulations, beautiful. My first handgun was that exact model. Unfortunately I wore the finish off carrying it daily but it was always reliable.

 

I've never seen a nickel finish Model 39 in person, but if I were to, and it was in good condition, my wallet would be coming out of its pocket in record time. I'm a sucker for S&W first through third generation auto pistols. What a sweet score!

 

Great find! Among my favorite pistols -- I have 2 39-2s and found a 639 to get a shiny one (albeit in stainless). Been searching for years for a 3906 I could afford and finally settled for a 3904 plain jane.
And I too, if I saw one "around," would be over it like a cold sweat. Nice job.

 

Nice! Very pretty, that is in excellent shape!

Your LGS has been the repository of some mighty fine S&W’s, you are lucky indeed.

Stay safe.

 

Funny, I just bought a blue one to replace the one I bought new in the mid '70s and foolishly sold off in the early '80s, regretted it ever since. I should have it by tomorrow or the next day, pics will follow. I still have the box and paperwork for my original one.

A couple of promised pics. It appears to have been unfired since new other than factory testing. It was a bit gummed up but all is good with a bit of cleaning of dried out lube. It looks way better than my picture taking shows. The FFL was shocked when he unpacked it, his first comment was "where did you find a 39 in that shape?".

 

The flood of memories coming back since I got this pistol has been pretty amazing. Time to find a blue one to go with it. Hopefully it'll cost me a lot less than nostalgia did on the shiny one.

 

The first handgun that I ever bought and carried (1979) was a nickel-plated Smith & Wesson 39-2, just like that in the picture except that mine had a more satiny sheen iirc and not as brightly polished as this one.

 

Well Done!
I have a 39-2 blued. Found it at a Gun Show and bought it (quick) long after the fact (out of production) and truly appreciate it. One of the sexiest looking pistols ever. I say this while admitting the caliber doesn't really move me and I'm a cocked and locked habitué.
Nickel? If anything, it looks better than blue.
Again, Well Done!

 

Beautiful pistol!I had one back in the 80's,only it was blued.I was heavy into big revolvers and I sold it to help buy my M29.In 92,I ran across a Shorty Forty from the Performance Center,and to this day,I still carry/shoot it regularly.It's the pistol I feel good about carrying when I'm going to be somewhere there's more danger of needing it.I compare it to modern pistols,and although it's a dated design to some because it's not a striker fired polymer framed gun that holds 20 rounds,it's a powerful,reliable and compact pistol.Old Smiths rock,and those of us who have them know what they can do.

 

I'd make room in the safe for that. Beautiful pistol.

 

I bought a 39 new back when. I absolutely hated the sloppy trigger on it, so much so that I gave it to my BIL. I don't miss it one bit.