S&W 39 Illinois S.P.

stahlhutdp · June 12, 2009, 09:42 PM

I have a S&W Model 39. I pretty sure its alloy frame. It was made for the Illinois S.P. (Has "ILL. S.P. 1636") Ser No. 108592

I believe there were about 2000 of these made. Looks to be in decent shape with some holster wear marks. Any idea of value or how to get a value?

txstang84 · June 13, 2009, 07:32 AM

This is purely an opinion, but...

Does it just say 39, or 39-2 below the ser #? IF it's a 39, I *think* those were steel framed, but I'm not completely sure on that

I would say it's probably worth about $500, but, there's been one on GB for over three months now for the same price...a State Police pistol. No one has bid on it yet.

BillCa is a 39 afficionado, he'll probably chime in on this one

stahlhutdp · June 13, 2009, 10:43 AM

It says 39. I'm not sure where to check the frame with a magnet. The trigger guard is definitely not magnetic.

txstang84 · June 13, 2009, 08:13 PM

Hmm...there's thread in the revolver forum where a couple of guys will look up your serial number and tell you when it was made...maybe that can help you out.

I'm betting you can find it by putting in S&W serial number in the search bar...

varoadking · June 13, 2009, 08:40 PM

Quote:

IF it's a 39, I *think* those were steel framed...

Fewer than 1,000, in 3 different production runs over time. Most were alloy...

vostracker · June 13, 2009, 10:04 PM

stahlhutdp: I have one and it's a straight 39 with alloy frame. My Ser # puts it in the 1967 production date.

txstang84 · June 14, 2009, 05:57 AM

Thanks for the clarification there va...my familiarity with the 39 is very limited. But, I know that I can't wait to get home and take possession of the one (plus a model 439) that I've bought since being deployed.

Thank heavens for flexible GB sellers!

ISP2605 · June 14, 2009, 09:19 AM

Yours will be an alloy frame. We never issued steel frame models. The ISP first issued the 39 in 1968 and continued until 1981 when we went to the 439. Mine has serial number 106XXX and was first issued in 1968. Yours would be the first issued. In 1968 there were abotu 1700 Troops in IL. We no longer have the records how many 39s were purchased but given the trend of buying more guns than we have people so there are plenty of spares the initial contract could have been for about 2000 guns. When the 39-2 came out the 39-nothings stayed in service and new Troops coming on got the 39-2 models. All of the 39-nothing guns were stamped "ILL S.P." Not all of the 39-2 guns were so stamped.
The number on yours "1636" (mine is "998") are not real significant other than to give a basic idea when they were first purchased. Back then the state of IL purchasing/inventory rules required all state owned equipment with a value over $100 to have a unique inventory number afixed to it for inventory purposes. The law did not take into account serial numbers as being adequate for inventory. So every piece of state owned equipment valued over $100 was assigned an inventory number. Even vehicles had their own assigned number. Eventually the law was changed to where if a piece of equipment such as guns and vehicles had adequately controlled serial numbers then inventory numbers didn't have to be assigned.
Several years ago I went thru records trying to find out which Troop might have been issued a specific gun. Unfortunately all those records have been destroyed. It would have been interesting to see who got each specific gun.
Can't tell you anything on the value.
Here's mine.

stahlhutdp · June 14, 2009, 09:36 PM

Thanks for the great info. I was hoping the ISP number would be more meaningful and useful for putting together a history on the gun. Oh well! I'll post a pic when I get my camera batteries charged.

June 12, 2009, 09:42 PM	#1
stahlhutdp Junior Member Join Date: June 12, 2009 Posts: 3	S&W 39 Illinois S.P. I have a S&W Model 39. I pretty sure its alloy frame. It was made for the Illinois S.P. (Has "ILL. S.P. 1636") Ser No. 108592 I believe there were about 2000 of these made. Looks to be in decent shape with some holster wear marks. Any idea of value or how to get a value?

June 13, 2009, 07:32 AM	#2
txstang84 Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2009 Location: The Lone Star State Posts: 636	This is purely an opinion, but... Does it just say 39, or 39-2 below the ser #? IF it's a 39, I think those were steel framed, but I'm not completely sure on that I would say it's probably worth about $500, but, there's been one on GB for over three months now for the same price...a State Police pistol. No one has bid on it yet. BillCa is a 39 afficionado, he'll probably chime in on this one __________________ The best defense is a good offense

June 13, 2009, 10:43 AM	#3
stahlhutdp Junior Member Join Date: June 12, 2009 Posts: 3	S&w 39 ill s p It says 39. I'm not sure where to check the frame with a magnet. The trigger guard is definitely not magnetic.

June 13, 2009, 08:13 PM	#4
txstang84 Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2009 Location: The Lone Star State Posts: 636	Hmm...there's thread in the revolver forum where a couple of guys will look up your serial number and tell you when it was made...maybe that can help you out. I'm betting you can find it by putting in S&W serial number in the search bar... __________________ The best defense is a good offense

June 14, 2009, 05:57 AM	#7
txstang84 Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2009 Location: The Lone Star State Posts: 636	Thanks for the clarification there va...my familiarity with the 39 is very limited. But, I know that I can't wait to get home and take possession of the one (plus a model 439) that I've bought since being deployed. Thank heavens for flexible GB sellers! __________________ The best defense is a good offense

June 13, 2009, 10:04 PM	#6
vostracker Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 343	stahlhutdp: I have one and it's a straight 39 with alloy frame. My Ser # puts it in the 1967 production date.

June 14, 2009, 09:19 AM	#8
ISP2605 Junior member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Posts: 954	Yours will be an alloy frame. We never issued steel frame models. The ISP first issued the 39 in 1968 and continued until 1981 when we went to the 439. Mine has serial number 106XXX and was first issued in 1968. Yours would be the first issued. In 1968 there were abotu 1700 Troops in IL. We no longer have the records how many 39s were purchased but given the trend of buying more guns than we have people so there are plenty of spares the initial contract could have been for about 2000 guns. When the 39-2 came out the 39-nothings stayed in service and new Troops coming on got the 39-2 models. All of the 39-nothing guns were stamped "ILL S.P." Not all of the 39-2 guns were so stamped. The number on yours "1636" (mine is "998") are not real significant other than to give a basic idea when they were first purchased. Back then the state of IL purchasing/inventory rules required all state owned equipment with a value over $100 to have a unique inventory number afixed to it for inventory purposes. The law did not take into account serial numbers as being adequate for inventory. So every piece of state owned equipment valued over $100 was assigned an inventory number. Even vehicles had their own assigned number. Eventually the law was changed to where if a piece of equipment such as guns and vehicles had adequately controlled serial numbers then inventory numbers didn't have to be assigned. Several years ago I went thru records trying to find out which Troop might have been issued a specific gun. Unfortunately all those records have been destroyed. It would have been interesting to see who got each specific gun. Can't tell you anything on the value. Here's mine.

June 14, 2009, 09:36 PM	#9
stahlhutdp Junior Member Join Date: June 12, 2009 Posts: 3	S&W 39 Illinois S.P. Thanks for the great info. I was hoping the ISP number would be more meaningful and useful for putting together a history on the gun. Oh well! I'll post a pic when I get my camera batteries charged.