![]() Note the sloppy fit against the frame, especially by the beavertail. The alloy mainspring housing of the Model 39-3. Left hand view of the slide, note the location of the safety/decocker lever. This is a secured by a barrel bushing (above, right) that is locked in place by the guide rod. Note the one locking lug on the straight, non-tapered barrel. The double action trigger on this pistol was 11 pounds 11 ounces, and the single action trigger broke at 5 pounds 3 ounces.ĭisassembled 39-2 slide. The single column 8 round magazine helps provide the shooter with a comfortable grip. That said, the gun shoots well, and was 100% reliable with the 200 rounds of 147 Bonded JHP’s I fired through it. ![]() Unlike more modern designs, the shooter’s hands sit lower over the bore axis and the sights are somewhat rudimentary by today’s standards. The double action trigger, single column magazine and slide mounted safety and decocker makes for a nice handling pistol. Once you get past the crude machine work, the Model 39 points and handles well. While the gun I purchased has an aftermarket nickel finish, factory nickel guns were available, and demand a premium nowadays. The 39-2 is like the 39, except it has a different extractor that uses a coil spring. As part of that process, I picked up the used Smith and Wesson Model 39-2 shown here. ![]() So lasting, that I am getting ready to build an ASP clone. The smooth lines, transparent grips and unique guttersnipe sight left a lasting impression of the ASP. I was first bitten by the ASP (and Smith 39) bug in the 1994 when my friend handed me the coolest pistol I had ever seen. ![]() Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Commons – Later, the steel frame was replaced with an aluminum alloy. The first Model 39s had steel frames and slides. ![]() Borrowing heavily from the German P38 pistol, which impressed its US counterparts, the Model 39 was used by various law enforcement agencies, adopted by the SEALs in Vietnam as the infamous “Hushpuppy” (see Small Arms Review, The Hushpuppy) and later served as the basis for the iconic ASP Pistol designed by Paris Theodore- a revolutionary compact handgun that incorporated many ideas that are common to contemporary defensive handguns. The year was 1954 and the pistol was the Smith and Wesson Model 39. Thirty-one years before the United States military adopted the the M9 Beretta as its primary service pistol, Smith and Wesson designed and submitted a 9mm double action pistol for military trials. ![]()
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