I just can't say no to history as long as the firearm is made out of steel and wood, because in 100 years, it won't be a recycled water bottle.
I picked this one up last week and shot it yesterday. Unbelievable groups. It gave the CZ75 PCR a run for it's money.
Developed in 1954, S&W was looking for a pistol that could compete with the M1911A1 in the Army field trials. The -39 was America's first US-made double action semi automatic pistol with spirits of the Walther P-38 mechanics and the M1911A1 frame design.
It failed to capture the attention of the Army back then but 9mm ammunition was no where near as powerful as today 9mm ammunition.
After being rejected by the Army, S&W made the Model 39 available commercially.
The Model 39 was originally manufactured commercially with an anodized aluminum frame, a curved backstrap and a blued carbon steel slide that carried the manual safety. There were very few manufactured with a steel frame and those are highly sought after firearms by collectors.
The grip was of three pieces made of two walnut wood panels joined by a metal back strap. It has a magazine release located at the rear of the trigger guard, similar to the M1911A1 it was designed to replace. It also used a conventional slide, barrel bushing, slide arrangement as opposed to the exposed barrel arrangement of the P38. Features common to its cousin , the Walther P38 were mechanics such as a de-cocking safety that disconnected the trigger and hammer. Also in common with the German P38 was the 8-round single-stack magazine and added a magazine catch cutout to it. These pistols have a frame lanyard loop.
At 11 ozs. less than the 1911 A-1, the compact 9 mm seemed to offer exactly what a covert operator needed in a sidearm so they made a version for the Navy Seals that had a 14 round capacity.
The commercial Model 39 went on to some improvements thus the Dash 2 was created. This S&W pistol was manufactured from 1955 until 1982. The last pistol was shipped in Jan 1983.
This particular firearm pictured below I received today. It was made in 1981. The seller did not know if it had been fired and upon inspection by my gunsmith and myself, it was determined that this firearm has never been fired and actually needs a complete degreasing! Bonus to the auction win!
It came with the original box, all the paper work including an extra magazine, just as they were shipped!
Very happy with this purchase.
