Schweeet. I've often considered getting one myself as a companion to my Model 59.

 

They are great handguns. I could shoot 6 inch groups at 70 yards two hand hold with the first one I ever touched. They make a great carry gun and fine addition to any collection. Congrats on finding a clean one.

 

Quite possibly the most comfortable gun to shoot ever made.

Bob

 

The Model 39 was S&W's vain attempt in 1954 to convince the Army to replace the 1911.

It wasn't S&W's "vain" attempt to "convince" the Army to replace the 1911 but in response/submission to an Army program that started in 1947 to develop a lighter-reduced caliber handgun in 9mm to replace the 1911. NATO ammunition standardization was another desire by the Army. The Colt Commander was another pistol that came out of that program and trials. High Standard also submitted a gun (the T3 and later T4). All 3 companies were asked to submit prototypes by the Army. Actually S&W had started the program to develop the 39 in 1946 at the request of the president of S&W C.R. Hellstrom who had seen a Walther P38. The guns performed satisfactory in the tests but the Army ultimately decided not to spend the money as they had an overabundance of 1911's in inventory. The 39 was probably the best gun in the trials.

 

I had one of the smaller S&W pistols back in the mid-80s. 3913 I hink it was, single stack compact model with a de-cocker safety, stainless slide and alloy frame. It was 100% reliable and a lot of fun to shoot, even for such a small gun. Wish I still owned it!

 

I own 1 very nice firearm it went up against the Beretta mo during the military trial I have a very clean a636 version

 

My God it’s Gorgeous!

 

Outstanding gun! Over the past couple of years I've acquired a 469, which I carry, and a 5906, for a house gun. I really like the S&W metal-framed autos, even with the DA/SA trigger.

 

As I recall, the US told NATO that our next service pistol would be a 9mm. That way we could more easily supply them - again - in case of conflict.

The requirement was for a DA/SA like the P38 that was considered a modern sidearm.
S&W submitted the Model 39 which tested well.
High Standard offered the T3 which was blowback in spite of repeated failures by other companies to make that work. One site says the Army wanted a blowback, which seems not smart.
Colt showed the T4, which looks kind of neat, too bad they didn't commercialize it like S&W did.

Colt also brought out the Commander with established SAO action and Inglis had a lightweight BHP, also still SAO.

So, typical of military development programs, the DoD decided they had enough .45s and deferred the 9mm for 20+ years until many of those 1911s were worn out, given away, surplused, and pilfered; and the secondary standard .38 revolvers were wearing out.

 

I like em too...
I'd like to have a shiny one too

But, only got this'n

///

 

Congrats, it is very good shape.

 

I've always wanted one. Great score!

 

All great comments. It was around 1979 when I first was handed one by my buddy. A rock about 6 inches tall was at waters edge seventy yards away across the pond. I emptied the mag and hit it every time, the sights were spot on and I was young and steady. I was carrying a Colt Commander that day, and my issue gun was a Commander, so my skill was put to the test by a gun I had never seen. No way I could hit that rock with the 45.

I was never able to find one for my collection but did buy a Model 915 when they came out, a good gun, but not the same grip as the 39.

Now, over 4 decades later, we get to compare it to all the striker 9s and dozens of other models. It measures up and us old guys wish we could have gotten one new. Most of us are too paranoid to carry any gun that does not hold 15 or more rounds and drifted toward the high capacity Guns. Except for those old guys that carry a 45 1911, they are not afraid of anything...lol

Give us a range report. Maybe fire a few rounds out to 70 yards...You are a smart guy to snatch up one in that condition..

 

Great find! I have a 39-2. Have had it 40+ years. Always cycles. For years I preferred it to a 1911 for CCW.

The 39-2 is loose by my current standards. It was always loose, looking back on it. I have debated getting a model 52 on and off over the years. At this point, I will stick with the 1911 platform. But my 39-2 will never be sold.

best wishes

 

nice piece ! beautiful

Kodi nox​

 

Normally I don't like the looks of S&W semi-auto pistols, nor do I like nickel or chrome finishes. I do like a polished stainless steel finish. But, yours actually looks quite nice. First off, are you sure that's a nickel finish and not a polished stainless steel finish? And, secondly, the regular, ugly S&W sight with the huge metal box that protects it is missing and replaced with a decent looking rear sight. Very nice pistol you have there.

 

...First off, are you sure that's a nickel finish and not a polished stainless steel finish?...

Exactly my thought; nickel would appear a bit more to the gray side? Eh, maybe it's the lighting and camera angles. Freakin' beautiful pistol in any case.

 

You are in the wrong decade. S&W did not bring out stainless construction and the winged rear sight until about ten years after the OP's gun was made.

Style differs but I think a traditional nickel plate IN GOOD CONDITION is the most attractive of the "white" finishes.
Polished stainless usually looks overly buffed to me. But it doesn't flake and can be "refinished" without chemicals.

 

@Bushmaster1313 this pistol is in immaculate condition! May I ask where you found this gem??? Are those grips original????

 

I once had one just like that. It had been found on a country road, in perfect condition, in it's holster. The finder turned it over to the police.

Eventually the cops called the finder & said he could have it if he wanted. A Finders Keepers situation. I bought it from that guy, doing the transfer through an FFL without issue.

Never fired it. Did a trade for some other gun that I don't remember. However, the S&W was clearly a nice piece.

 

S&W 39-2s were the first 9MMS my department adopted when we swapped out of 357 revolvers.

We later went to Model 59s.

I HATED the 59. Grip felt like holding a 2×4 to me, while the 39s fit my hand like a glove. Investigations (me) got to keep our 39s for duty, but had to carry 59 if you were wearing uniform.

Nobody said that the rules had to make sense.

Congratulations on a very nice pistol.

Thanks for sharing it.

 

S&W 39-2s were the first 9MMS my department adopted when we swapped out of 357 revolvers.

We later went to Model 59s.

I HATED the 59. Grip felt like holding a 2×4 to me, while the 39s fit my hand like a glove. Investigations (me) got to keep our 39s for duty, but had to carry 59 if you were wearing uniform.

Nobody said that the rules had to make sense.

Congratulations on a very nice pistol.

Thanks for sharing it.

Same situation at Georgia Street Station. 39s to 59s but the 39s went away because the duty round was Super Vels 90 grain. Many 39s were being emptied on aggressors with little to no effect, so instead of realizing the ammo was poop command went with higher capacity. That didn't work as well either and for a period of time stations allowed you to carry anything you could qualify with that was approved by your watch commander. LOTS of S&W .357 and 44 specials appeared along with 1911s.

Nice find, you got a keeper!

 

I bought a 39-2 back in the early 70’s when I worked at a gun shop. It was my first 9mm as I had always carried a Colt 1911 45 ACP. After holding the S&W in the shop, I decided to get one and carry it due to its weight. It was a nice carry piece, but I eventually went back to my 1911 in 45 ACP after picking up a LW Commander.

I now carry a Range Officer Compact 45, light enough and small enough.

 

Outstanding!!!!! Now that's a superb find. Lots of 'style' and 'class' in that one!!!

 

I have a 39, it might be a 39-2, I really don't remember. I remember handling them back in the 60s and thinking they felt "clunky" and fat and top heavy compared to a 1911 and I avoided them.

The 80s and 90s sort of snuck up on me and when I picked one up in a gun shop, after handling modern plastic guns, all of a sudden they felt nice! Bought one for $250 that was in good shape - I regret not buying the magazines the same shop had for $5 each!

The trigger on mine is a bit weird (it has almost zero overtravel and stacks up right before the sear breaks in single action - none of the others I've tried are like that) but I don't use it as a defense gun so it will do for me. It is fairly accurate.

I remember Maj. George Nonte being a fan, I always liked him - he left us way too soon!

Riposte

 

Very nice

 

Nice classic Smith and Wesson. I had a stock 39-2 and ASP built on a 39-2 and as ASP built on a 439. But IMO the absolute best was a 3913 I had that had been turned up at Wayne Novak’s shop

 

It's a beauty!