Can anyone tell me when these were made from to ended? A friend said the US military used them at one time. Its a alium. frame & wood grips. Just interested in it.
Ken
Ken
munson1
Model 39 came out in mid 50s.
All the 2nd gen models ended in the late 80s and had about a decade run. Most can be identified by their 3 digit name.... 639, 659...etc. Then came the 3rd gen updated models with 4 digit names.....5906, 4006, 1006.
S&W naming is a little confusing. Each number stands for a option, finish, trigger, material. So a 5906 would be a full size 9mm, double stack, all stainless steel double/single action but a 5946 would be the same gun but double action only. However these aren't hard rules. Some 3 digit numbered guns were also 3rd gen suck as the 910 which was the economy version of the 5906 but made during the 94-04 ban era so it would only have a 10 round mag.
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All the 2nd gen models ended in the late 80s and had about a decade run. Most can be identified by their 3 digit name.... 639, 659...etc. Then came the 3rd gen updated models with 4 digit names.....5906, 4006, 1006.
S&W naming is a little confusing. Each number stands for a option, finish, trigger, material. So a 5906 would be a full size 9mm, double stack, all stainless steel double/single action but a 5946 would be the same gun but double action only. However these aren't hard rules. Some 3 digit numbered guns were also 3rd gen suck as the 910 which was the economy version of the 5906 but made during the 94-04 ban era so it would only have a 10 round mag.
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The 439 is a derivative of the 39. It would be the 2nd gen version. The 3rd and final gens were the 3904, 3906, 3913, 3914..
The 2nd generation was made from the late 70s to late 80s. So you're looking at something like 79 - 89. It is an alloy frame. Steel frames were 539 and 639.
This was their compact single stack guns. Think S&W Shield.
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The 2nd generation was made from the late 70s to late 80s. So you're looking at something like 79 - 89. It is an alloy frame. Steel frames were 539 and 639.
This was their compact single stack guns. Think S&W Shield.
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A prefix would be pre 83-84ish, that is about the time Smith did the alpha numeric serial numbers (like ABC1234)
I would need to look in my S&W book to narrow that down,
I would need to look in my S&W book to narrow that down,
I have an aluminium frame 439 I "adopted" when I found it looking lonely and neglected, as well as quite inexpensive, in a local shop.
Pretty much same as a 39 except for the sights, as I recall.
Original magazines for either the 39 or 439, same work in either, run close to $ 50 these days, when they can be found.
The ProMag magazines are lots less and that is what they are worth, at best.
\No idea on the manufacture dates.
Pretty much same as a 39 except for the sights, as I recall.
Original magazines for either the 39 or 439, same work in either, run close to $ 50 these days, when they can be found.
The ProMag magazines are lots less and that is what they are worth, at best.
\No idea on the manufacture dates.
In its early days S&W offered an accessory dust cover for the Vietnam era pistols. It was a sheet metal hood that covered the ejection port and was held in place by the slide stop. My pistol came from the S&W rep’s trunk while on a visit to the PD, it had the cover installed but I removed it and of course lost it when I found it wore the blue on the slide. I carried that early model 39 as the only officer on the dept. who had a semi auto, it had the humped feed ramp and fed ball ammo without fail....through the years I replaced the barrel with a straight feed ramp. This pistol also has the long flat spring steel extractor...Smith later changed to the current one because the long one tended to break in the middle.
Recommending Smith 469
As noted, these entire series of pistols have bred model numbers which may be great for factory reps of the day, but for folks who don't live with such stuff regularly; toward terminal confusion. That said...
From '84 to early nineties I carried an S&W 469 about every workday. A compact model of the multi-type series. 13 round mags double stacked. Alloy frame & steel slide as most, decent weight to application ratio. More chunky than pretty. Pure business and getting the job done as required. Moreover important for me, unnecessary projections 'light', meaning not tearing up suit coat linings or getting caught in the (even those days) airline econo-seating.
I commend it to anyone considering that era Model 39 species. for me, replaced in nineties by a Glock 26. 10 rounds more than enough, more compact. Yet still with the 469. Moreover, confidence in it if ever needed.
Just my take
As noted, these entire series of pistols have bred model numbers which may be great for factory reps of the day, but for folks who don't live with such stuff regularly; toward terminal confusion. That said...
From '84 to early nineties I carried an S&W 469 about every workday. A compact model of the multi-type series. 13 round mags double stacked. Alloy frame & steel slide as most, decent weight to application ratio. More chunky than pretty. Pure business and getting the job done as required. Moreover important for me, unnecessary projections 'light', meaning not tearing up suit coat linings or getting caught in the (even those days) airline econo-seating.
I commend it to anyone considering that era Model 39 species. for me, replaced in nineties by a Glock 26. 10 rounds more than enough, more compact. Yet still with the 469. Moreover, confidence in it if ever needed.
Just my take
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