Hummmm. Interesting.
cocojo, you sound pretty positive about having owned an all steel M39-2. This may well be correct, but it runs contrary to all I've ever read about the steel frame model 39 pistols. I've mentioned the
SCS&W book. Jim Supica is acknowledged as perhaps the foremost independent authority (not connected with the corporation) on Smith & Wessons. He is very positive when he states that only some 927 of the early M39s had the steel frame, and the subsequent pistols were alloy framed. Both authors are very good about mentioning even very small numbers of special type handguns, and occasionally, they discuss even
RUMORED variations. They say nothing of any 39-2 pistols with steel frames.
Some other references I checked:
Sixguns, Elmer Keith's classic book, the 1961 edition, mentions only the alloy version.
Book of Pistols & Revolvers, seventh edition, 1968, W. H. B.Smith and Joseph E. Smith - - Also describes the pistol as having an alloy frame.
Gun Trader's Guide, 25th edition, by Stoeger, acknowledges the steel frame variant, using the same numbers as Jim Supica- - -
Note: Between 1954 and 1966, 927 pistols were produced with steel instead of alloy.
They assign the steel version a value of more than twice that of the alloy framed pieces. Also note, the latter date was some five years before the advent of the Model 39-2.
I've also discussed the steel frame variants with several S&W autopistol enthusiasts in the D-FW area, and none of them admit to having seen an all steel 39-2.
cocojo, might you have a record of the serial number of the pistol you recall as a steel 39-2? If you'd share that number with me, I'd like to do some additional research, at my own expense. I'd be glad to let you know the results.
Oh, and, thanks for the additional information concerning the humped feed ramp on the early M39s. I understand the same humped vs. unhumped feed ramp evolution took place in the Browning Hi Power. I owned my no-dash M39 before domestically produced 9mm JHP ammo became readily available. It did NOT feed the old Norma JHP reliably, which was not surprising, given the amount of exposed solf lead. It liked the early Super Vel 90 gr JHP pretty well, though, but I probably shot less than 100 rounds through it. I never tested any of the SV 112 gr. JSP ammo. I handloaded mostly FMJs and bullets home-cast in a Lyman-Ideal 356402 mould. Strangely, I also had pretty good luck with the old design Speer .357 half-jacket HP with milder charges of Unique. Yep, slightly oversize, but I was young and foolish.
Both of the 39-2s I've had reliably handled all the JHP ammo I tried in them.
Best,
Johnny
