S&W 39-2 Question?

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Darkmind

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Ok so a coworker of mine is selling a S&W 39-2 almost NIB. Only has about 50 to 100 rounds put through it. It also comes with the box, five mags, and some extra rounds. He told me that he would sell it to me for $200 with all the extra stuff. I told him that i would take it off his hands next thirsday. I havent seen the pistol just yet but for that price i couldent say no.


I got on the net last night to get some info on it and i couldent come up with anything. I dident even find anything on the S&W home page.

Can someone help me out, Pics, Info, ect. ect. ect.



Thanks for any help
 
About how long have they been discontinued? Does it have some kind of collectors value?


I'm paying $200 for it, Knowing that the pistol is 95%+ will i be able to turn around and sell it for 400,500, maybe 600? Or is this something i should hold on too cause its discontinued?


Thanks for any and all help
 
You'll have to wait until someone with Standard Catalog of S&W shows up but I think they were cut around 1985 when the double stack guns were introduced. You might get $400 for it if it's nice but that would be tops imho. It's a nine. It was in competition with the Colt 45 at the time which was the only other autoloader commonly available in the US other than the Browning High Power.
 
I think it's a heckuva buy - -

The pistol alone would surely be worth some $300, in nice shape. given the probability that it is in 95%+ condition, with box and four extra magazines - - I'd say AT LEAST $400 and probably more. The mags alone go for over $30 each.

The 39-2 is approximately the size and weight of a Colt Commander. It has an excellent grip-to-bore angle and "points" very well. It is, I think, the sleekest and best looking of ANY of the S&W autopistols. It came with the traditional S&W wood stocks with logo. I don't know when the successor models of the 39 went to the blocky, clunky look with dull finish and synthetic stocks, but the 39-2 was still a NICE-looking handgun. As a bonus, I've never seen one that didn't shoot very accurately.

The ONLY drawback I can think of is that the rear sight was windage adjustable only, and certain loads would sometimes shoot a bit low at 25 yards. IIRC, most of hte 124 gr loads were very close to point of aim.

If I had any need at all of a traditional DA/SA 9 mm pistol, I'd jump on this deal ASAP. If I wanted the opportunity to turn a quick 50% return on a modest investment, or a slower 100%, I'd jump right on it.

Best,
Johnny
 
Dont get me wrong, i'm jumping, i'm jumping:D


There is a gun show end of this month in my area, and i have no need for a DA/SA 9mm, so i'm hopeing i can make a good bit of money on it at the show ( I mite keep it but i'm not sure yet ). I need more money for my M4 project before the end of the year. ( if ya know what i mean )
 
I own a S&W 39-2 and love it.
If you want to sell it make me an offer.

I think the aluminium framed ones are worth about 300$-350$? not sure. if it has a steel frame hang on to that sucker it's worth a lot, of the top o me head i think it's some where in the 700$ range min.

(Waves hand like jedi) You wish to sell me this gun. :D


BTW parts and after market stuff are really hard to find for this gun.
 
LOL at Walking arsenal


Hold your horses, I havent even had a chance to go look at it yet. I'm going to be makeing some calls so i can find out more about the pistol its self.



Walking Arsenal : I'll keep you in mind, PM some time next week and remind me. I should be picking it up next thirsday.
 
Johnny, I agree about the 39/39-2/439s being the best looking of all the S&W autos. Could be just nostalgia, though: my first semiauto was a 439.

<Sigh.> :)
 
My first issued gun was a 39. As an agency we started carrying the 39 in 1968 and were the first large agency to go to autos and 9mm. I bought mine back from my dept when we transitioned to the 439 in 1981. The 2nd gen guns were OK but weren't near the gun as the 39.

BigG,
The double stack S&W (Model 59) came out in the early 70s.
 
I've got one, My Dad was/is the first owner. These days, it's pretty much mine.
Still have the wood stocks, box, manual, mags, and acessories. It's a great gun. Mine is capable of some wonderful sessions at the range.Have put over a thousand rounds through it and have had zero problems.

If that pistol is indeed in the condition mentioned. Get it! :D
Ditto on the steel frame models. If it is, that would be the icing on a already tasty cake.
By the way.... why is Your friend selling it?
If it is a steel frame model, You might want to tell Your friend that.
 
I had a 39-2 and got rid of it. I bought it used, way before I really knew what to look for in a used gun (or look out for!). It had evidently been very well used. A few years ago I bought a 439 that was in about 98% condition. It really is a great carry gun, ultra reliable, and accurate with ammo of reasonable quality.

The 39-2 was produced from 1970 to 1982, so there are scads of them out there, very little collectors value. All 39-2's had aluminum frames, 927 model 39's had steel frames and there were about 10,000 model 539 steel frame guns.

Value of a 98% model 39 is around $325. Extra magazines cost around $30 each.
 
Did someone say pictures? I bought a Model 39-2 from a Border Patrol officer down in El Paso in 1970 or 71. Sold it a few years later for some unknown reason. Maybe a little big-n-heavy for a single-stack 9mm by today's standards, but nice nonetheless. At one time this was Maj. George Nonte's favorite gun as I recall.
 
Here's another pic, though definitely not mine. I found this out there somewhere and kept it since I'd had an M39 at one time. Pretty fancy work by someone.
 
I'll try to put some pics up next week when i pick it up if i can find a digi cam. As of right now its not for sale, but if you live in michigan i mite be selling it at the next Grand Rapids gun show at the end of this month, but i mite not.


I will not be able to pick up the pistol tell next thirsday, so if its not in my hands i cant sell it. I will entertain offers but i will not say ya or nay or set anything in stone tell its in my hands. And please remember that once its in my hands i mite not want to sell it. Every one please keep an eye out and feel free to PM me.
 
For $200 you must absolutely buy it and do it as soon as you can before the seller regains his senses. I have owned my 39-2 since 1977 (which was made in 1974) and is still LNIB and I use it as my home defense weapon. So when I go to gun shows I always look to see prices on the 39-2. First of all you don't see that many and secondly when you do see them that are LNIB with matching box and extra mag they go for $400 to $450 (at least in my area). Also if you get a bunch of extra mags and they are S&W, the well used ones go for about $20 and the newer to like new are $30 - $35. Afterrmarket new go for $20 - $25 and used about $15. So all in all you have an excellent deal going.

My s/n range is A234xxx and was made in 1974. IIRC the Model 39-2 was adopted by the Illinois State Police and was the first major law enforcement agency to go to a semi-automatic pistol which was in the early 1970s. The single stack frame was eventually replaced by the double stack. I bought a Model 59 in nickle but I didn't have it for long because it felt too big in my hand.

My 39-2 is actually not with me now. It is in the S&W shop awaiting repair. I attended a defensive pistol class last month. On the second day the pistol stopped going to full cock and would only go to half cock. I could still fire the pistol but only in double action - not a safe situation at all. So my home defense weapon right now is my Mossberg 590 with #4 Buck in the tube. I am not discouraged though. The 39-2 feels good in my hand, has been reliable (with the exception noted above), and accurate so I have no plans to get rid of it. I have shot factory 115 gr FMJ, factory 124 gr HP, reloads in 115 gr FMJ and LRN in 124 gr. It gets through them all without a hiccup and even asks for more.

When you buy it be sure to post pics and I'll do the same when mine comes back from S&W.

Good Luck!
 
"IIRC the Model 39-2 was adopted by the Illinois State Police and was the first major law enforcement agency to go to a semi-automatic pistol which was in the early 1970s."

Correct except it was 1968.


"The single stack frame was eventually replaced by the double stack."

The single stack wasn't replaced. S&W made both the 39 and 59. The 39 was first out in the 50s for the military procurement tests. The 39 continued until about 1981 when the 2nd generation guns came out and the 39 became the 439. The 59 started production in about 1971 and continued until the 2nd gen guns and became the 459.
 
I'm here with the book!

A NIB (unfired) Smith & Wesson model 39-2 9m/m semi-auto
would be valued at $475; with the value dropping to $350
for excellent condition, and $300 in very good condition. The
very last model 39-2 was shipped from the Smith & Wesson
factory on February 15th, 1983 with serial number A747148.
These pistols enjoyed a storied lifespan from 1954 to 1982.

*Source- The Standard Catalog Of Smith & Wesson
2nd edition by Supica & Nahas.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
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