S&w 39?
- Thread starter tsillik
- Start date
Schlitz 45
New member
My guess-1965ish
FYI-S&W goes by shipped dates not manufactured dates. S&W can tell you the exact ship date & I believe there’s a book too.
FYI-S&W goes by shipped dates not manufactured dates. S&W can tell you the exact ship date & I believe there’s a book too.
Last edited:
To find out more about your gun you can also go here...
http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-semi-auto-pistols/
The book mentioned in another post is the "Standard Catalog of Smith&Wesson" It's now in it's 4th edition. You can get these new and used at Amazon and other places...
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=standard...g+of+smith&wesson,aps,226&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_32
The Model 39 was S&Ws first truly successful pistol in 9mm and in a caliber other than 22 l.r. or the oddball 35 S&W auto. A few variations were made of the original no-dash 39s.
If you can take some good clear pics of your gun, that you can post here, it would help.
tipoc
http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-semi-auto-pistols/
The book mentioned in another post is the "Standard Catalog of Smith&Wesson" It's now in it's 4th edition. You can get these new and used at Amazon and other places...
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=standard...g+of+smith&wesson,aps,226&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_32
The Model 39 was S&Ws first truly successful pistol in 9mm and in a caliber other than 22 l.r. or the oddball 35 S&W auto. A few variations were made of the original no-dash 39s.
If you can take some good clear pics of your gun, that you can post here, it would help.
tipoc
I will give a second opinion that 1965 may be right there in the wheelhouse. The fantastic book that we used that tipoc mentioned above is very good with SN look up for a lot of S&W guns but it's extremely vague for pistols in this SN range for whatever reason, most likely because S&W did a lot of unpredictable things when it came to SN's and rotation and storage of stock. It has been suggested that there was a lot of "First In, Last Out" and detailed records searching has sometimes shown literally YEARS between ship dates of guns that are extremely close in range.
The easy answer that a lot of the hardcore guys who are knee-deep in to the lore and mystery of S&W is always simply that S&W was in the business of selling guns and they had no care whatsoever for collectibles and for doing things in any manner of any predictable order, they simply had the goal of making guns and selling and shipping, using EVERY PART possible, all the time.
Some folks have had luck calling S&W and asking for a ship date by giving the SN over the phone. That call is free but I believe the older guns are not in the system these folks on the phone will use if you call now.
The reason that I believe the 1965 is likely is that I have a Model 39 no-dash that is a 31xxx serial number and I've been digging through many discussions overs the few years I have owned it, and the date that I keep coming up with is 1964. Also note that I have never seen a Model 39 with a 5-digit SN in the range of 5xxxx, I believe that the 5xxxx range was was used for the Model 52 guns, starting with 50000 in 1961. I am unsure if any Model 41/46's used the 5xxxx range, but I have never seen a 39 that has.
Hey... now that I think about it, I don't think I've seen any 4xxxx SN's in Model 39's either. But I can tell you this... there are a couple active guys on that other forum who will know the ranges that 39's have appeared, far better than me.
All of that is a long way of explaining that my 31xxx and your 61530 may sound a lot of numbers away from each other, but I don't think they are that far at all.
The little Model 61 Escort, .22LR pistols, I don't know what number range they used. I only bring them up because the 5-digit number with no alpha and the later A-prefix and 6-digit SN's were all used exclusively for semi-auto pistols. And between 1961 and 1970, that means models 39, 41, 46, 52 and 61 except for the oddities that were not made in volume. While it seems like S&W made fifteen thousand different semi-auto pistol models, they made only those five models back in those days. The Model 59 came around in the early 1970's, and the 2nd Gen pistols arrived in 1982 or 1983.
The easy answer that a lot of the hardcore guys who are knee-deep in to the lore and mystery of S&W is always simply that S&W was in the business of selling guns and they had no care whatsoever for collectibles and for doing things in any manner of any predictable order, they simply had the goal of making guns and selling and shipping, using EVERY PART possible, all the time.
Some folks have had luck calling S&W and asking for a ship date by giving the SN over the phone. That call is free but I believe the older guns are not in the system these folks on the phone will use if you call now.
The reason that I believe the 1965 is likely is that I have a Model 39 no-dash that is a 31xxx serial number and I've been digging through many discussions overs the few years I have owned it, and the date that I keep coming up with is 1964. Also note that I have never seen a Model 39 with a 5-digit SN in the range of 5xxxx, I believe that the 5xxxx range was was used for the Model 52 guns, starting with 50000 in 1961. I am unsure if any Model 41/46's used the 5xxxx range, but I have never seen a 39 that has.
Hey... now that I think about it, I don't think I've seen any 4xxxx SN's in Model 39's either. But I can tell you this... there are a couple active guys on that other forum who will know the ranges that 39's have appeared, far better than me.
All of that is a long way of explaining that my 31xxx and your 61530 may sound a lot of numbers away from each other, but I don't think they are that far at all.
The little Model 61 Escort, .22LR pistols, I don't know what number range they used. I only bring them up because the 5-digit number with no alpha and the later A-prefix and 6-digit SN's were all used exclusively for semi-auto pistols. And between 1961 and 1970, that means models 39, 41, 46, 52 and 61 except for the oddities that were not made in volume. While it seems like S&W made fifteen thousand different semi-auto pistol models, they made only those five models back in those days. The Model 59 came around in the early 1970's, and the 2nd Gen pistols arrived in 1982 or 1983.
jetinteriorguy
New member
I miss my Model 39, best 9mm I've ever owned next to my CZ75B SA. I once shot a coyote in the head at 65 yds. It did take two tries, and was pretty much just luck. Never could understand why it sat still after the first shot. Back in the day though, I got $75.00 for the hide so that was nice.
As I understand things Smith started selling model 39's around 1955 and the 39-2's came into being around 1966 thus a no-dash should be pre 1966 so IIRC that's your date range.
A consideration for you is the reason the dash 2's came into being is the extractors in the no dash versions had a tendency to break. I'm not sure if the proper extractor is available anymore. I think a 39-2 slide will fit should the need arise and a complete slide might be easier to source. Just food for thought.
Mine's a 39-2 and I hope I never need any parts since Smith has orphaned all their metal pistols.
Even the proper magazines are generally extinct.
A consideration for you is the reason the dash 2's came into being is the extractors in the no dash versions had a tendency to break. I'm not sure if the proper extractor is available anymore. I think a 39-2 slide will fit should the need arise and a complete slide might be easier to source. Just food for thought.
Mine's a 39-2 and I hope I never need any parts since Smith has orphaned all their metal pistols.
Even the proper magazines are generally extinct.
Last edited:
This simply isn't true. S&W continues to make "metal" pistols with their 1911's. It's the 1-2-3rd Generation guns that are out of production and S&W still has many parts, just not all of them. And it's total nonsense to suggest that magazines cannot be found, I ordered two of them for a 3953/3913 just three weeks ago.
I can't understand why people constantly make this stuff up. This week on the S&W forum, a guy had a THREE WEEK total turnaround on a warranty/recall job on a Model 469 -- a 2nd Gen pistol out of production since 1988.
Yes, Smith & Wesson customer service in 2019 doesn't have a lot of resources for a pistol made in the 1960's. Is this a shock? Colt won't fix a Python either. Winchesters are made in Japan. Remington cannot find their butt with two hands and a map.
I can't understand why people constantly make this stuff up. This week on the S&W forum, a guy had a THREE WEEK total turnaround on a warranty/recall job on a Model 469 -- a 2nd Gen pistol out of production since 1988.
Yes, Smith & Wesson customer service in 2019 doesn't have a lot of resources for a pistol made in the 1960's. Is this a shock? Colt won't fix a Python either. Winchesters are made in Japan. Remington cannot find their butt with two hands and a map.
Good to know just in case something finally breaks on my 469. My serial number was among those in the Safety recall but passed the half cock test so I never sent it back for service. I do recheck it though every few years and it still works as designed.
Other thoughts to consider when it comes to the "usable life of a Smith & Wesson 1-2-3rd Gen pistol"
They made truckloads of these guns. Mountains of them. By the advent of 3rd Gens, there were literally dozens of models and variants but the differences between those models in the same caliber are typically small and thus, they share MANY parts.
And LE contracts mean that a ton of them were ridden hard and dinged around heavily but still have fairly low round counts. Places like Numrich and Brownell's have a slew of small bits and parts available and the fact is that whatever you search there today has little relevance to what may be available in 3 months. Guns get scrapped often, more parts show up constantly.
Smith & Wesson won't find a frame for you, they likely don't have a slide or a barrel either. They have a scattered assortment of other parts and latest reports are that they still have 3rd Gen grips if you need those. Midway offers new old stock parts for them also. Including magazines.
On top of that, look around. There are more more more of these gun available on the secondary market. Do a Gunbroker search for a 39-2 or a 59, or a 469 or 6906. Search for a 5906. You couldn't read every one listed over your lunch hour. You can bring some of these home for under four hundred bucks. Buy a whole gun, you have one of every part to back up the gun you already own and love. search Gunbroker for a 5906 magazine and report back. Mec-Gar makes them also and they run 100% of the time. Anyone and everyone reading this post will be dead and buried before this planet runs out of 5906 magazines unless/until Pelosi melts all of them in her garage.
If you still worry about the life and longevity of your Smith & Wesson 1-2-3rd Gen after you have exhausted all of the above, then SELL the one you have and buy a Glock and then you'll be able to sleep at night with no concern over parts.
They made truckloads of these guns. Mountains of them. By the advent of 3rd Gens, there were literally dozens of models and variants but the differences between those models in the same caliber are typically small and thus, they share MANY parts.
And LE contracts mean that a ton of them were ridden hard and dinged around heavily but still have fairly low round counts. Places like Numrich and Brownell's have a slew of small bits and parts available and the fact is that whatever you search there today has little relevance to what may be available in 3 months. Guns get scrapped often, more parts show up constantly.
Smith & Wesson won't find a frame for you, they likely don't have a slide or a barrel either. They have a scattered assortment of other parts and latest reports are that they still have 3rd Gen grips if you need those. Midway offers new old stock parts for them also. Including magazines.
On top of that, look around. There are more more more of these gun available on the secondary market. Do a Gunbroker search for a 39-2 or a 59, or a 469 or 6906. Search for a 5906. You couldn't read every one listed over your lunch hour. You can bring some of these home for under four hundred bucks. Buy a whole gun, you have one of every part to back up the gun you already own and love. search Gunbroker for a 5906 magazine and report back. Mec-Gar makes them also and they run 100% of the time. Anyone and everyone reading this post will be dead and buried before this planet runs out of 5906 magazines unless/until Pelosi melts all of them in her garage.
If you still worry about the life and longevity of your Smith & Wesson 1-2-3rd Gen after you have exhausted all of the above, then SELL the one you have and buy a Glock and then you'll be able to sleep at night with no concern over parts.
Shucks, if S&W doesn't have the part, Numrich & many others sure do 
Ain't nobody gonna be hurting for 1-2-3 Gen parts, in reality,
there's just way too many out there...
There are even guys making the most-needed parts in their basements,
you can even send your .40S&W barrel in for reaming to 10mm,
so your CS40 suddenly develops chest hair and a 10mm label
Ain't nobody gonna be hurting for 1-2-3 Gen parts, in reality,
there's just way too many out there...
There are even guys making the most-needed parts in their basements,
you can even send your .40S&W barrel in for reaming to 10mm,
so your CS40 suddenly develops chest hair and a 10mm label
That was a damn fine shot. I mean, almost up there with Wild Bill Hickok versus Dave Tutt. Think that was the shootee's name.
At that range, maybe the 'yote didn't move because it was the first bullet which finally arrived and struck him, and the second one eventually just passed the corpse
Seriously, nice shot.
Now, about Model 39s. I always loved the fit and balance of them but never bought one. But I came close to buying the only single-stack full size 3rd Gen I ever saw. I passed on that deal because of a big scratch on the frame, and also a big price on the ticket. It was essential a 3rd Gen Model 39.
Bart Noir
If it was a 9mm 3rd Gen full size single stack, then it was one of three models:
3906 was all stainless, stainless steel heavy frame
3904 was black with alloy frame
909 was the black, alloy frame Value Line gun, a cheapened version of the 3904.
The 952 is a modern, full size, single stack S&W 9mm, but not really a "3rd Gen."
3906 was all stainless, stainless steel heavy frame
3904 was black with alloy frame
909 was the black, alloy frame Value Line gun, a cheapened version of the 3904.
The 952 is a modern, full size, single stack S&W 9mm, but not really a "3rd Gen."
Jim Watson
New member
I have read that Jack First is making 39-0 long extractors.
The long extractor from the first production runs went extinct at S&W in the early seventies, I had an extra and gave it to the director of the LE gunsmithing schools. He was building a target pistol for his son and wished to use the long extractor as it was totally reliable, at that time he told me there were none available at the factory and they would simply replace the slide if there was warranty work involving the long extractor.