Smith & Wesson 39-2

Status
Not open for further replies.

brbdwyr

Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2013
Messages
57
Location
Land of Beer and Cheese
To fire or not to fire? Purchased from the original owner who claims it to be unfired. After close inspection, I don't doubt him.

DSCF55591024x768.jpg

DSCF55611024x768.jpg

DSCF55641024x768.jpg

DSCF55621024x768.jpg

DSCF55651024x768.jpg

So....I picked up this classic Roy's Original Pancake to go with it.

DSCF55661024x768.jpg

DSCF55671024x768.jpg
 
Depends on you. Are you a collector or a shooter?
If a collector or wish to keep it as an investment, don't fire it.
If you are a shooter, fire away. You won't be disappointed with it's performance, and she is a beauty. Good score.
 
Ask yourself, are you going to feel more warm and fuzzy if you keep it in a safe for life, die, and let someone else be the curator, or would you enjoy it more if you lived only once, and carried it often, if not only to annoy the collectors?
 
Ask yourself, are you going to feel more warm and fuzzy if you keep it in a safe for life, die, and let someone else be the curator, or would you enjoy it more if you lived only once, and carried it often, if not only to annoy the collectors?

Well......I did buy that holster....:cool:
 
Shoot or not to shoot?

I say shoot the damn thing! They're great guns...not all that valuable. Putting a few rounds through it isn't going to hurt it!
 
Nice! If it were mine, I'd shoot it, but then, again, mine has 26 years worth of shooting enjoyment logged. They're great handling and shooting pistols. It would be a shame to not personally discover that for yourself.
 
Well,

I am personally a "choot-em 'lizbeth" kind of guy, I don't own anything I won't shoot. However, if you are ever a "collector" kind of guy looking toward resale value, that would be a "collector" piece for sure. The first round you fire will cost way more than just the cartridge.

You can indeed find shooter grade examples if so inclined. Bust that cherry and there is no going back.

For your consideration.
 
Last edited:
Is that gold plating? If so then don't even use the holster because gold is so soft a metal it will quickly wear off.

If not its up to you.
 
brbdwyr

It sure is pretty looking, especially with those vintage Jay Scott grips, but I'm also with those who advocate shooting it. I don't believe in safe queens or keeping a gun "minty" fresh.
 
The first round you fire will cost way more than just the cartridge

How much will I decrease the value? Is it sustantial? Could you give me some numbers as to the value as it is, and what it may be worth if I do run a box of shells thru it?

Are those pearl grips worth anything? The original box says Jay Scott was a designer for Colt, and they were $9.95 in 1976.
 
Ah, I have a story about a S&W 39-2 nickel with J Scott ivory grips. I was dating a girl back in 1978 whose father had a beautiful Colt Diamondback 2 1/2" nickel .38 with pearlite grips, and the dad asked me to find his daughter a nice gun similar, as she really liked his gun and wanted something like it. I suggested a nickeled 39, which we found and bought, but could not get the pearlite grips anywhere at the time. I did find the synthetic ivory, and the pistol still looked darn good. This girl was something else. When she unwrapped the gun, she insisted that I show here how to disassemble and reassemble it for cleaning. She sat on the floor and did it both ways about 7-8 times, until she had it by herself. She was INTO it! Never met another girl who took to the whole enchilada; some like to shoot, but none cared about cleaning or knowing the gun. The girl is still an old friend, and still a force to be reckoned with.
 
As the saying goes, anything is only worth what you can get someone to pay for it. Gun values are in a state of more rapid change than normal due to current events and political considerations. The best answers to the questions posed come from watching gun auctions to see what similar examples are actually selling for, not just what someone asks.

To get this started;

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=347716589

Not sold yet and also not advertised as "unfired", often truly unfired NIB (new in the box) will command say a 10% premium over LNIB (like new in the box)

and;

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=347449120

Nickel will generally bring more than blue. Hope this helps.

Once again, I personally would keep and shoot (and be damned pleased about it). You should make a fully informed decision as a benefit of your spanking new THR membership. In any event it is a beautiful example of what I and many informed others feel is a highly underrated handgun. Underrated handguns have a habit of suddenly "catching fire" or being discovered and inflating in value rapidly. Will yours? No-one truly knows, but there is no doubt that if it does the unfired examples will garner the largest increase in value. This is one school of thought that produces "safe queens" and the people that own them are capable of rational thought too. You should hope that the Smith experts will chime in with such details as which box, the blue box pictured in the auction or your silver box is actually "correct" and what value to assign to the Jay Scotts. I know they are not cheap.

Regards
 
Last edited:
Sorry, but it's a beaut! I would keep it as is. U can always find another 39 to plink with. For me, the "being unfired" would be one of the major reasons to have made the purchase. Once the trigger is pulled, its like every other 39 out there, as it sits now, it is unique. It's like going back 40-50 years in a time capsule and being able to bring something to the present time. But thats just me and my type of O.C. Personality
 
Holstering any handgun with any holster will abrade the finish and the caliber (i.e. category, class, status as NIB) that your piece currently resides in will not benefit by it, instead it will lose that status completely. If you elect "safe queen", lose the holster. Not literally, just don't carry, store or in any way mar the finish by using the holster.

On the other hand, if you go practical, damn the torpedos-full speed ahead, looks like a darned good choice for leather to me.
 
Last edited:
I'd sell everything and buy a shooter 39-2 and a big pile o' ammo... I love both of mine - they're sweet guns. (I had to get one with a pierced hammer, and one without...)
 
Just as a counter-thought about "highly underrated" handguns. Some of us want to use the best designed and executed handguns that we can afford. That should also be a part of your consideration. Do you actually use handguns such as this 39?

If so the counter view is that you got a brand new one at less than it's true worth might be, and can have a lifetime of constructive use for what some others may soon be paying more to experience (or if they also go "safe queen" no-one actually gets what they are made to provide).

You must ask why you own handguns, is this the "it" gun for your purpose? Do you value investment speculation more? Truth told, guns like many potential investments are "iffy" at best and collector grade guns are a lousy ways to make money, good ways to provide for personal defense and a helluva lot of fun if used.

My case and opinions are now fully presented.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top