Smith & Wesson model 39

[blaze]

I'm looking at a couple model 39's.  This will be my first 9mm handgun.  Have had/have several revolvers and really like them, but have decided to make the jump into the 9mm pistol field.  Want an all metal, double action, single stack (small hands) pistol with some craftsmanship in it.  Anyone have experience with the model 39? Good/Bad? Whats an idea of a fair used price for very good to excellent condition?  Thanks for the assistance.

[drdougrx]

I've had several!  Mostly nickel plated...even bought a 39-2 new in the 80s...wish I'd kept it.  Why did I sell it and the 2 since....stupidity.  I convined myself I needed larger magazine capacity....stupid thinking.  They are wonderful guns!  I remember I had a case of rusty, steel jacketed sun machine gun ammo from the Czech republic. Paid like a penny a round...must have had 1000 rounds....fired all of it and never a hiccup.
 
Today, I have a 3914 - the blued chopped version of the 39....had it since...93 or 94 I think.....never leaving my possesion and it's one of my top 3 carry guns!
 
Buy the 39!

[Dee]

Ask the Illinois Highway Patrol how they liked the Smith Model 39 9mm.

[Goldstar225]

While I've never owned one, I must say that until I bought a Kahr K40, the model 39 fit my hand better that any other semi-auto.  I carried a 3904 as an officer for a couple of years.  While it was a good gun, the original 39 had a better feel.

[drdougrx]

Hey Dee!!

Please fill us in....what's up with the 39 and the Ill HWY Patrol??  Were they the one's that had the 39 and not the 39-2???

[SHOOTALL]

I once read an article written by a chopper pilot. Seems he was sent to PU an SOG guy . Seems these PU's could be dareing ( I have a friend that did the same in small boats and he said it was dangerous ) . Seems they spotted the guy running to the PU site . As they watched many NVA's were in chase. The SOG guy had dropped everything but radio ( which he dropped as the chopper landed )  and mod 39 S&W . The chopper covered him as he jumped into the chopper exhusted . As they off loaded he handed the 39 to the arthor said it was all he had left to thank him with. The arthor sait it didn't even have a mag in it . But later he got a mag and it worked fine . He carried it alot afterward.

[williamlayton]

I am not hijacking!
Drdoug
What in the hell is that you are riding these days---did you go completely green?
Blessings 

[Dee]

Hey Dee!!

Please fill us in....what's up with the 39 and the Ill HWY Patrol? ?  Were they the one's that had the 39 and not the 39-2???

When the first model 39s came out the Illinois Highway Patrol purchased enough to completely convert over to them, and the 9mm. A Texas Dept I worked for read it, and jumped on the band wagon, and did like wise just before I came into the dept.
The Model 39 and the 9mm round were a pitiful failure on the street, as far as duty weapons in almost every category, and the firearms program for state troopers was re-vamped, and the weapon replaced. The Texas Dept experience the same, and when I took over the firearms program for them I educated them on police shoots involving the 9mm. The Chief at the time told me that he did it, so that in large volume of fire gun fights, one need only toss a fellow officer a spare magazine. I informed him that if he had shot all his ammo, and we were still in a fight, that he damn sure wasn't shootin up all of mine.
He admitted that he had never actually been in a gun fight, much less a "large volume of gun fire"    one. I told him I had, (over in under 6 seconds) and that he was poorly armed, and showed him recorded facts of police shoots. Officers were then allowed to carry major caliber after the weapon, and the officer carrying the weapon were approved by myself.
The 9mm was, and still is, a poor fight stopper, and I would never bet my life on it. I also reject the hype on the "latest bullet" crap. Any time a bullet is dependent on expansion for performance, it's gonna fail. Certain types of clothing will make a hollow point fail, and it is not a bone breaker by its nature of configuration.
Now, before anyone gets all up in the air, about me criticizing their favorite pistol,and caliber, understand that I don't care if you carry a BB gun. I'm just givin my opinion. I don't have an axe to grind, and I don't want to debate the issue, and  I based it on personal experience, and the experience of other officers over a 20+ year period, on ACTUAL SHOOTS, and OFFICAL RECORDS, not some gun rag writer, or a bullet company "hype chart". Remember! The Titanic wasn't supposed to sink.

[drdougrx]

Dee.....No problems from me...I asked your opinion cause I know you have a learned one!  Thanks!!
 
Hey Will....?? 

Drdoug
What in the hell is that you are riding these days---did you go completely green?

[Dee]

Your welcome Doc, and I'll admit that I have carried a 9mm, but was uncomfortable with it, and it did not last long.