I realized...

SaxonPig · December 2, 2016, 09:57 PM

...that I have never owned a nickel auto pistol. Many revolvers (I like the shiny ones) but no autos. Fixed that.

Targa · December 2, 2016, 10:01 PM

Nice!! I do not have one but I would like to fix that myself, I really like the nickel finish.

Big Shrek · December 2, 2016, 11:29 PM

Less storage maintenance,
but more oil-cloth wiping when used

dgludwig · December 3, 2016, 12:34 PM

Like it! More evidence they sure don't make them anymore like they used to.

mk70ss · December 3, 2016, 03:46 PM

Beautiful

UncleEd · December 3, 2016, 03:52 PM

The Smith Model 39 was a very wonderful little 9 mm.

Smith designed it for the Army which was looking for a 1911 replacement.
Colt also developed the Commander with LW frame in 9 mm. This was around 1950.

And then.......

357 Python · December 3, 2016, 05:15 PM

Nice S&W 39, you can tell by the arched backstrap (mainspring housing). I have a nickel 59 which has the flat backstrap (mainspring housing). If memory serves me correctly the Illinois State Police issued the 39 in 1968 and continued until 1981. They then went to the 439 until 1988.

Mike38 · December 3, 2016, 05:25 PM

I'm not a fan of nickel plated guns, but I kind of like that one.

burrhead · December 3, 2016, 05:30 PM

My first centerfire auto was a blue M39. Carried it for a few years, went to a Colt Government and gave the 39 to my Father 30 odd years ago. After he died, my brother and I were divvying up the guns, brother wanted it and he still carries it when hunting. They're great guns from days gone by.

UncleEd · December 3, 2016, 06:43 PM

357python,

Yes, the Illinois State Police carried the Model 39, the first major department in the U.S. to issue an automatic and was expected to be the off duty gun as well.

The funny, silly thing, about the first issuance is the State Police were saddled with cross-draw flap holsters on the left hip and weren't allowed to have magazine pouches which would have screwed up the lines of the belt with
shoulder strap.

And because they were issued WD40 as I guess a "lubricant" the guns jammed. That gave the aluminum framed Model 39 a bad rep.

As time passed the Illinois State Police also got Winchester, IIRC, to make plus P plus 9 mm rounds.

The most sought after Model 39s are the few made with steel frames.

After my .45 Combat Commander, the Model 39 was my second auto.
I shot at an indoor range run by state police officers. A couple of them
told me about the Browning Hi Power, which then became a lifelong love affair with that gun.

Now, this is for SaxonPig: You must seek out a chrome or nickel plated Hi Power and be sure it has the gold trigger!!!!!!!!

Snyper · December 4, 2016, 06:42 AM

Remember not to use copper solvents on any nickel finish.
I'd rather have hard chrome if I want "shiny"

Reloadron · December 4, 2016, 09:34 AM

Enjoy it!

My only nickel finish gun is an old Colt Series 70 Gold Cup plus a few beater top break revolvers which are wall hangers.

Ron

Skans · December 5, 2016, 11:42 AM

I remember choosing between that very gun and an all stainless 659 in the late '80's - I chose the 659 (which I still have) but really liked the nickel one too.

CajunBass · December 5, 2016, 04:23 PM

Man, that is pretty SP. I've owned several Model 39's over the years but they've all been blue. I still have one. Probably my favorite automatic.

Walt Sherrill · December 5, 2016, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Remember not to use copper solvents on any nickel finish.
I'd rather have hard chrome if I want "shiny"

The concern about copper solvents doesn't apply to ANY nickel finish, only those guns which had a copper undercoat. Many of the newer nickel-plated guns don't. (My CZ-85 Combat is one that doesn't.)

(For those who don't understand the warning -- many plated finishes will develop micro-cracks that you can't see, but which can admit some solvents. If there is a copper underlayer/base, as las the case with many older guns, the solvents eat away the base ayer and the finish above flakes away.)

Skans · December 6, 2016, 12:27 PM

I'm pretty sure the older S&W nickel plated autos uses a copper base, at least on the aluminum frame. I think that's the only way they could get nickel to adhere to aluminum.

Bill DeShivs · December 6, 2016, 05:44 PM

Proper cleaning procedures with copper solvents won't hurt nickel plating.
SOAKING nickeled parts could hurt them.

December 2, 2016, 09:57 PM	#1
SaxonPig Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2006 Posts: 1,900	I realized... ...that I have never owned a nickel auto pistol. Many revolvers (I like the shiny ones) but no autos. Fixed that.

December 2, 2016, 11:29 PM	#3
Big Shrek Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: NorthWest Florida Posts: 1,358	Less storage maintenance, but more oil-cloth wiping when used __________________ Marlin Specialist Calico Specialist A gun should be a tool in the hands of a deadly weapon, not a deadly weapon in the hands of a tool.

December 3, 2016, 12:34 PM	#4
dgludwig Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2005 Location: North central Ohio Posts: 7,486	Like it! More evidence they sure don't make them anymore like they used to. __________________ ONLY AN ARMED PEOPLE CAN BE TRULY FREE ; ONLY AN UNARMED PEOPLE CAN EVER BE ENSLAVED ...Aristotle NRA Benefactor Life Member

December 3, 2016, 03:46 PM	#5
mk70ss Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,598	Beautiful __________________ Say when.....

December 3, 2016, 05:30 PM	#9
burrhead Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 1999 Location: Chihuahuan desert, Texas Posts: 1,148	My first centerfire auto was a blue M39. Carried it for a few years, went to a Colt Government and gave the 39 to my Father 30 odd years ago. After he died, my brother and I were divvying up the guns, brother wanted it and he still carries it when hunting. They're great guns from days gone by. __________________ Join the GOA, SAF and the TSRA I'm offended by people that are easily offended.

December 2, 2016, 10:01 PM	#2
Targa Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2014 Posts: 2,084	Nice!! I do not have one but I would like to fix that myself, I really like the nickel finish.

December 3, 2016, 03:52 PM	#6
UncleEd Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2013 Location: N. Georgia Posts: 1,150	The Smith Model 39 was a very wonderful little 9 mm. Smith designed it for the Army which was looking for a 1911 replacement. Colt also developed the Commander with LW frame in 9 mm. This was around 1950. And then.......

December 3, 2016, 05:15 PM	#7
357 Python Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2007 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 941	Nice S&W 39, you can tell by the arched backstrap (mainspring housing). I have a nickel 59 which has the flat backstrap (mainspring housing). If memory serves me correctly the Illinois State Police issued the 39 in 1968 and continued until 1981. They then went to the 439 until 1988.

December 3, 2016, 05:25 PM	#8
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	I'm not a fan of nickel plated guns, but I kind of like that one.

December 3, 2016, 06:43 PM	#10
UncleEd Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2013 Location: N. Georgia Posts: 1,150	357python, Yes, the Illinois State Police carried the Model 39, the first major department in the U.S. to issue an automatic and was expected to be the off duty gun as well. The funny, silly thing, about the first issuance is the State Police were saddled with cross-draw flap holsters on the left hip and weren't allowed to have magazine pouches which would have screwed up the lines of the belt with shoulder strap. And because they were issued WD40 as I guess a "lubricant" the guns jammed. That gave the aluminum framed Model 39 a bad rep. As time passed the Illinois State Police also got Winchester, IIRC, to make plus P plus 9 mm rounds. The most sought after Model 39s are the few made with steel frames. After my .45 Combat Commander, the Model 39 was my second auto. I shot at an indoor range run by state police officers. A couple of them told me about the Browning Hi Power, which then became a lifelong love affair with that gun. Now, this is for SaxonPig: You must seek out a chrome or nickel plated Hi Power and be sure it has the gold trigger!!!!!!!! Last edited by UncleEd; December 3, 2016 at 06:48 PM.

December 4, 2016, 06:42 AM	#11
Snyper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2013 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 3,047	Remember not to use copper solvents on any nickel finish. I'd rather have hard chrome if I want "shiny" __________________ One shot, one kill

December 4, 2016, 09:34 AM	#12
Reloadron Senior Member Join Date: June 8, 2016 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Suburbs Posts: 1,750	Enjoy it! My only nickel finish gun is an old Colt Series 70 Gold Cup plus a few beater top break revolvers which are wall hangers. Ron

December 5, 2016, 11:42 AM	#13
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	I remember choosing between that very gun and an all stainless 659 in the late '80's - I chose the 659 (which I still have) but really liked the nickel one too.

December 5, 2016, 04:23 PM	#14
CajunBass Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2005 Location: North Chesterfield, Virginia Posts: 4,767	Man, that is pretty SP. I've owned several Model 39's over the years but they've all been blue. I still have one. Probably my favorite automatic. __________________ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)

December 6, 2016, 12:27 PM	#16
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	I'm pretty sure the older S&W nickel plated autos uses a copper base, at least on the aluminum frame. I think that's the only way they could get nickel to adhere to aluminum.

December 6, 2016, 05:44 PM	#17
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,985	Proper cleaning procedures with copper solvents won't hurt nickel plating. SOAKING nickeled parts could hurt them. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com