Make: Smith & Wesson

Model: 39-2

Serial Number: A652772

Year of Manufacture: 1979-1980

Caliber: .9mm Luger

Action Type: Single Action Double Action, Semi-Automatic with Magazine Safety Disconnect , Decocker, and Removable Magazines

Barrel Length: 3.9"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated ramp fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a target sight with a square notch, adjustable for windage, and is dovetailed into the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered wood panels, each with a S&W medallion at the top. There are a few light handling marks. The checkering is sharp. There are no chips or cracks. The grips rate in about Excellent overall condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is some fouling near the chamber and on the feed ramp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 98% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish is strong. There is faint thinning on some of the leading edges. There are small handling marks.. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in about Excellent condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger pull is short and crisp with a short reset. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol includes its factory box with matching label, total of two magazines in Excellent condition, and factory handouts including manual.

Our Assessment: Smith & Wesson’s Model 39-2 sits at a pivotal moment in American service-pistol history: the first U.S.-made, alloy-frame, DA/SA 9mm to gain real institutional traction, refined from the original Model 39 with the “-2” extractor update of the early 1970s. Slim, light, and well-mannered, it previewed the features that would define later duty pistols—decocker/safety, magazine disconnect, and crisp single-action breaks—while retaining the elegant lines and high polish of S&W’s post-war craftsmanship. Chambered in 9mm Luger, a cartridge dating to 1902 that became the world standard by the late 20th century, the 39-2 delivered controllable recoil, reliable feeding, and practical accuracy in a trim single-stack package that set the stage for the wonder-nine era to come.

This 1979-dated example presents in Excellent condition with about 98% original blue, sharp markings, and factory checkered wood panels showing only light handling. The bore is bright with sharp rifling (about 9/10), the DA/SA system, decocker, and magazine safety operate correctly, and the adjustable rear alongside the ramped front provides a clean, usable sight picture. With its high condition, this Model 39-2 remains a compelling, carriable slice of S&W history—svelte in the hand, mechanically sound, and ready for the collection.