Opinions on S&W 3rd Gen 9mm's

[DuncanSA]

To go somewhat further back than the 3rd generation, may I please ask for opinions on the S&W model 39.

 

[Uncle Mike]

That said, I think the 39193TSW is one of the finest handguns available. My wife carries one everyday. I'm looking for one myself; if I can find a pre-rail version in LNIB condition.

I'll drink to that... I carry a 4013 with a spur hammer installed.

Now... WHY oh WHY has smith discontinued these fine pistols?
Corporate greed... they can belch out 5 plastic framed pistols to one aluminum frame pistol. :banghead:

Smith is forcing us to shoot these plastic turds....

If I had a dime for every customer that came in here bitching that smith dropped these fine pistols I would retire to sweden.

The 3gens are getting extremely hard to find... we used to get a steady supply from texas, but not anymore!

 

[skoro]

I have a 908S. It's been flawless. And I like the DA/SA action. Seems to bother some guys, though. I wish my M&P had it.

 

[skoro]

may I please ask for opinions on the S&W model 39.

I've never fired one. But I held one once in a gunshop and almost drooled on it.

 

[Dr. Fresh]

DuncanSA-

I can't tell you about the 39, but my 59 has been great. They're mechanically very similar.

 

[Confederate]

To go somewhat further back than the 3rd generation, may I please ask for opinions on the S&W model 39?

The initial issues of both the 39 and 59 really gave S&W a black eye when it came to autoloaders. To put it mildly, they jammed repeatedly, and with all kinds of ammo. I first heard about the pistols back in the late 70s or early 80s when a redneck publication called HANDGUN TESTS appeared on newsstands. I was just getting into guns and was attracted to the Ruger Security-Six .357. But I'd never heard of Ruger, so I set out to learn a little about the gun and the company.

The first magazine I bought had a big B&W spread entitled, "Why a $49 Raven .25 is Better Than a $220 S-W 9mm Model 59." As I began reading it, I saw that they were also including the Model 39 as well.





Some years after the publication of this magazine, I began hearing rumors that S&W had fixed the problems with both the 59 and 39. What exactly they did to fix them, I don't have a clue, but about 1986 people began saying that their 39s and 59s were working, but only with FMJs. The second generation pistols (459) fared very well in the military trials, but even their excellent redesigns couldn't compete with the Beretta 92. The malfunction rate for the 92 was an average of once every 2,000 rounds, while the rate for the 459 was once every 952 rounds. Both were excellent, but the Beretta's lack of a feed ramp and ejection port gave it the distinct advantage with all the varying types of rounds being fired.

The subsequent 559/659 and 639 pistols were champs. They had steel frames and could eat JHPs without problems. Production prices were a bit high and the third generation pistols featured some improvements and were a bit lower in cost to produce.

The 39 should be test fired before any reliance is placed on it. I wouldn't bet my life on the 39 unless it had been thoroughly tested.

.

 

[jackstinson]

I like them. I did the shooting portion of CCW class with a 3913... and the 6946 "police trade" I bought has never glitched once.

 

[isp2605]

The 39-nothing was my issued sidearm for several years. My dept was the first agency in the nation to issue autos in 1968 and it was the 39 and later 39-2. We carried the 39 until 1981 when it was discontinued and the 439 replaced it. We had very good luck with the 39. The changes made to the 39-2 and 439 were the result of recommendations made by our range officers.
Many find the grip angle and design of the 39 to be near optimum. With the right ammo they will be tack drivers. Mine has an exceptionally smooth trigger and with a good load will keep them in the X ring all day long at 25 yds.
When we went to the 439 we were allowed to buy our issued guns. Mine is not for sale.
As far as the 3rd gen S&W they are some of the finest guns you'll find. We issued the 3rd gen S&W until 2000. I still carry my 6904 quite a bit and on occasion will tote my 5904. While I've never had a 2nd or 3rd gen S&W that was as accurate as my 39 they will still run under 3" at 25 yds and have all been 100% reliable.

 

[Dr. Fresh]

That's a nice 39 you got there. It has a lot of character.