Any Model 39 has been my dream gun for years, with the "Hush Puppy" and "ASP" being some of my true holy grails. It's just such an iconic and aesthetic firearm.
I still have an S&W Model 459 that I purchased new in the late 1980s. My late father was a Police Officer, and S&W was "his brand" of pistol. He carried a revolver at the time but was really impressed with the double stack magazine the 459 has.
I was an Ordnanceman in the US Navy, and the fighter squadron I was in the model 39 was our aircrews sidearm. The timeframe was 1966, 67, 68, & 69. I worked on the pistols, but cleaned them most of the time. I didn’t care much for them. Now, as a civilian, I own one. lol. I like the arched back strap.
Great handgun. I still carry a version of the Model 39, a Model 3914 DAO as my primary EDC handgun. I have had it since the 90s. Nothing better has been made since.
I have a S&W Model 439 made in the early 80's that I carry for duty. It's the sweetest 9mm pistol I've ever owned, and always a great conversation piece when people ask me about it. Would never sell it.
I had a S&W Model 39 when I was younger. It had an Aluminum frame and didn't care for frames made from Al so I sold it. A few Model 39s were made with steel frames and through the years for a while I tried to acquire a steel framed version but didn't find one at a reasonable price. Now they are many thousands of dollars in price. Nice shooting with one Hickok45.
The single stack S&W pistols feel really good in the hand, similar to the feel of a M1911-A1, but not exactly the same. My 439 has the fixed rear sight instead of the adjustable. The model 39 was designed with an aluminum receiver, S&W did make a limited run of carbon steel receiver Model 39's, they are rare and expensive. In the second gen pistols, the 439 had an aluminum receiver and either a blued or nickel plate finish, the 539 had a carbon steel receiver and either a blued or nickel finish, and the 639 was all stainless steel.
I love this gun. I once knew a guy who carried one as his duty weapon as a state investigator. It was a model 39 with no dash whatever. He lover that gun. When the department went to Glocks, he kept his 39 and just carried more mags. One of the older guys still carried a 2 1/2 inch smith 357 with plus Ps. To each his or her own.
I was issued this pistol with the Illinois State Police. We carried it until we upgraded to the S&W 5904. Carried it until we transitioned to the Glock 22.
@@djack3291. I still have my father’s 39 from ISP with Illinois State Police engraved on the slide. I found a 39-2 for sale 2 years ago that looks brand new and purchased it. Both great shooters
It is based off of the S&W 39-2. The model 39 was the first American made Semi Auto DA/SA pistol. Single Stack magazine. Very slim, very carryable. Good shooters.
The first semi auto pistol I ever bought was a S&W Mod 39-2. I had just joined the Police Dept and wanted more ammo capacity. That was in 1969, loved that gun carried it for years, even as a backup for my service revolver a S&W Mod 10. Back then there weren’t many semi auto choices, the most popular was the Colt 1911. DA/SA semi autos were unheard of other that the 39 and the PPK in .380. The basic design of the 39 came into its own in the 80s, it was the basis for the 59 Series and all of the S&W 3 rd generation of Super nines that most Police Departments adopted after the government trials in the mid 80s looking to replace the 1911 with a higher capacity sidearm. Back in the day the 9mm had a terrible reputation for stopping an assailant as most offerings were underpowered full metal jacketed round. Then a man called Lee Jarras started Super Vel and built a high powered hollow point version of the 9mm and the world took notice at the results! The government wanted them, the Police wanted them, but the 39 was one of the first. In 1985 my department switched over to the 59-06 a fully stainless service pistol with a double stack 15 rd magazine, I still have mine and qualify with it twice a year, great gun, the only gun I like as much is my Sig P226, but that’s another story!
I've had a love affair with the 5906 ever since forgotten weapons did his video about the USPSA version that changed USPSA rules for more then 20 years. Still haven't ever got one though.
I've got a 5906 which is from the 90s a LEO trade in. It's great shooter but it's a brick and I hate that decocker/safety. It's just a happy member of the collection. Sits in the safe and comes out occasionally from some range fun. I'd never sell it because I quit selling or trading guns years ago. I'm a collector only these days. Thanks as always Hickok.
Waaaaay back, in the 1990s, a company called Kassnar imported a number of interesting firearms from FEG, including a "clone" of S&W's model *59,* which they labelled the MBK9HP. (*NO* relation to the Browning Hi-Power clone) I have one of the model 59 clones and I really enjoy shooting it. I can't see why the original S&W isn't more appreciated! Thanks for the video, Hickok45!! 👍
My first Centerfire handgun was a S&W Model 39. Other than it being a Single Stack...That was an excellent pistol. I have a picture of my daughter holding it.
Smith blended design features of the Walter P38 and Colt Commander (based on feedback of WWII forces) to produce the S&W model 39 as a submission for the pistol trials. It went to the civilian market after the government decided to stay with the 1911. After the Illinois state police ISP adopted this pistol, law enforcement across the United States started to authorize their officers to carry it on and off duty. This was a time when we carried six shot revolvers on duty, and generally five shot 38 off duty, so a nine shot semi auto which was flat and lightweight was quite the rage back in the day. I still have my 39-2, which I carry from time to time and shoot often. It feels incredibly comfortable in the hand, and is very accurate handgun. The DA/SA and de cocker/safety is designed as a military and law enforcement system which fulfills the needs very well.
Classy piece. I remember seeing a lot of non-beat cops carrying these in the 90s/2000s. Detective & the like. As a child in that era, there were a lot of early BB/Airsoft replicas sold in sporting goods retailers because S&W was licensing out the brand and likeness for these replicas.
Used by the USN along with the ModO hushpupy, issued with 200 rounds of subsonic ammo, the frames would crack after 200 rounds...147grain boattail with 5grains of Unique powder eventually destroyed the frame...
I always remember this as the other handgun from 'Aliens'. Yes, it was the 39; the 439's predecessor but I always taught it looked cool as Cpl Vasquez blazed away with it at the alien.
The very first pistol I bought was a 39-2 in ‘83 for $260. Still have it. Always loved the aesthetics. Probably why I’ve never been able to stomach the Glock.
Dad carried a 39-2 for 30 plus years (60s, 70s, 80s and 90s) in Law Enforcement. Got him a 539 with the all steel frame to shoot in the 90s, the arched backstrap always felt good.
Owned a S&W 5904 for about 15 years. It was the next generation (higher capacity) but pretty much the same gun as that 439...Same sights, alloy frame, DA/SA. It's the one gun I've owned that never had a malfunction. Couldn't get over the long, heavy trigger pull and traded that gun in on a Walther PPQ. Nuff said.
I had one in 1972, I had a tendency to shoot low. I got rid of it and ended up getting another in the late 70's. Same story. Also tried a model 59. lol some people never learn from mistakes!
That backstrap checkering is what they should have done to the Sheild all along, The DE cocker takes all of a couple hours to master and it is like riding a bicycle. I scratch my head hearing from people how difficult it seems to be for certain folks. It is a one smooth motion with the thumb. Not down then up. More like a rolling motion with the thumb. Easy. Don't over think it.
Safety levers: for the M1911 and Beretta 92 / S&W 59 series, despite the difference in usage, there is a consistent way to think about which way to move the lever to fire: move the lever so that it is parallel with the barrel.
I had a 3913 and traded it wish i still had it. A coworker had the 5906 and it started shooting wild. He sent it back to Smith and they refurbished it for free if he would let them use it in some of their promos. he wrote a letter and spoke of all the crap the pistol had pulled him through, and they featured it. to m y understanding they offered him a new pistol for it.
i thought the same. There must have been a lot of blank firing replicas in that era. In reality, i didn't see too many beat cops with them but did see some detectives carrying these.
@gilldavidmour4199 yea kind of a niche firearm. Aren't they only 5 round mags and shoot full wadcutters only? I think it was made for bullseye competition.
@@Swishersweetcigarilo I'm not saying they are not worth the money they command these days. It's just that I'm too cheap to pay it! But then again, maybe one day. Btw, My father had one 50 years ago when I was young. I remember him saying it was accurate as he did his own reloads for it. Those were good times.
I've got a couple of 39s and think they are among the best looking pistols ever designed even if they are 9mm crunch-n-tickers. The 39 feels good in my hand, but the 59 is almost as bad as holding a Glock.
I still have my 1st Gen Model 59 S & W. When they first come on thew market there was the 59 and the 39. The 39 was a stainless steel the 59was blued steel both were a 15 round mags. They would not fire if the mag was removed, loaded or not, and they were S A D A.
The 39 came out in the '50s and had a single stack 8 round magazine. The 59 came out in the early '70s and was basically the same gun but with a wider grip to fit a double stack magazine. Both guns were carbon steel and available with either a blued or nickel finish. I personally have a blued model 39 and a nickel plated model 59.
Looks like it handles way better than the PAMAC-50 that we used while I was in the Legion, funny how the same cartridge/capacity can be worlds better on a better gun!
