Historical Guns: Smith & Wesson Model 39 | Guns & Gear

‪@SmithAndWessonInc‬ Historian Mike Helms joins Guns & Gear’s Ryan Gresham in the studio to check out the Smith & Wesson Model 39. The first 9mm semi-auto pistol made in the United States, the Model 39 was originally known as the “9mm Automatic” when released in 1955, and its design ushered in a host of features commonplace in modern pistols.
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[@Excalibur01]

I want one

[@1jbunceiii]

I have one, was my dads....i think he got his in 1959, i have the original wood grips but added rubber grips. Works awesome...back in the 1990's i did a few steel plate shoots with it. The safety is a little weird, its backwards...

[@Mongo63a]

I had one that I loved the feel of it in my hand but sold it because of the hammer bite.

[@mayberrygary25]

Military officials requesting S&W submit a test gun for a 1911 replacement were quite enamored with the Walther P-38 they encountered in WWII. The Walther DA/SA action was the design inspiration behind the 39. The first major LE agency to adopt the 39 was the Illinois State Police in 1967. Connecticut followed soon after. The Model 39 was also the first "Hush Puppy" pistol requested and used by Navy SEALS in Vietnam. (there was a locking bar mounted on the side of the pistol to prevent the slide from cycling, creating more noise than the shot itself). This also was the first use of heavy 147 grain ammunition.

[@mlat3141]

I own one. I .o e the gun. Not fond of the sights, but I'm able to shoot it accurately

[@davidkuhn2659]

Truly a historic pistol but the video shows a 39-2 not an original 39. You would think the historian from S&W would get it right.