Smith & Wesson Model 39-2 info please

[whatnickname]

I'll have to admit that these past few years there have been some outstanding values in the used gun (LEO Trade-in) market for second and third generation Smiths. Of all these vintage pistols the one that fits my hand and feels the best is the 39 / 639 (unfortunately not LEO guns for the most part). I had two 639s years ago and traded them away...regretted doing so too. Bought a nice 639 three years ago for $400 that is in 95% condition. The price on these has since gone through the roof. Supply and demand I'm sure. More recently I acquired two S&W 39-2s for $325 and $400 respectively. Some cosmetic issues on the nickel plated pistol which is why I got it for $325. Other than that, both pistols are mechanically sound and show little evidence of being fired much. I seem to recall there some issues with the first generation model 39 (no dash). I was too young and too broke at the time to pay much attention in the gun rags. My question is this: Can anyone tell me what the issues were with the original 39s? How were they corrected? Does anyone know of any issues with the 39-2s?

 

[Ed4032]

The extractor was long and wide. It tended to break.

 

[RainDodger]

I had an original 39 and traded it to a friend who still has it and shoots it regularly. It's been a wonderful pistol for both of us. No problem with it. In the 1980s I smoothed and lightened the action a bit and it's been nearly flawless since then with nothing breaking, which is really something. Shoot it and enjoy it! They're very nice pistols.

 

[9mmepiphany]

The early M39 would choke on slugs lighter than 100grs...the 90gr JHP was all the rage at the time. The correction was to not use bullets that the gun wasn't design for. Not a problem if you stick to the original design weight of 124gr...or even 115gr.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Mine killed a lot of groundhogs with the Super Vel 90gr, JHP's back in the early 70's. To my knowledge, that was one of the first effective jacketed hollow points for the 9mm.

 

[vkeith]

I've owned my 39-2 for 25 years; it was the first pistol I ever bought, and I originally purchased it because it was inexpensive ($240 new), but have grown to love it for it's reliability. It has had several thousand rounds through it without a single issue. It has never failed to fire, eject, or chamber a round no matter what kind ammo I have run through it.


Congratulations, and enjoy.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

The "-2" manufacturing change is supposed to be the one that fixed the early extraction and ammo compatibility issues. However, the first generation is not totally "drop safe" unless the safety is on.