Can anyone ID this pistol? It's a beautiful pistol and I'd really like to know what it is.

It's in Perry Mason Season 3 Episode 8 - The Case of the Bartered Bikini which aired Dec 5, 1959.

I think that's the Colt logo in the medallion on the grip.

Apologies for the poor quality of the photo. It's a screen capture.

S&W 39

That was quick. Thanks.

I remember seeing the episode with that gun.

I’ve seen a model 39 in other episodes, curiously enough there was one featured as a weapon used for security at an army base.

The S&W model 39 was a handsome pistol but was handicapped by being a single stack 9mm at a time that double stacks were becoming popular. I don't know how well they shot butI wouldn't mind owning one.

Illinois State Police were one of the first LE agencies who went to an Auto in the early 70's and it was the Model 39. The Federal 115 Grain +P+ was a direct result of them working on getting a effective 9MM round and has stood the test of time.

quote:

Originally posted by Texas Bob C.:
The S&W model 39 was a handsome pistol but was handicapped by being a single stack 9mm at a time that double stacks were becoming popular. I don't know how well they shot butI wouldn't mind owning one.

They shoot great!
Still carry and shoot mine frequently. Lightweight aluminum alloy frame, smooth DA, short reset and crisp SA trigger. Here’s my 39-2-

quote:

Originally posted by GCE61:
They shoot great!

Indeed. My only criticism of old-school the Smith 39 is the annoying magazine disconnect safety.

The S&W Model 39 was also carried by the Navy SEALS in Viet Nam.

And, of course it needs a proper leather holster, no kydex for this old gal.

quote:

Originally posted by GCE61:

quote:

Originally posted by Texas Bob C.:
The S&W model 39 was a handsome pistol but was handicapped by being a single stack 9mm at a time that double stacks were becoming popular. I don't know how well they shot butI wouldn't mind owning one.

They shoot great!
Still carry and shoot mine frequently. Lightweight aluminum alloy frame, smooth DA, short reset and crisp SA trigger. Here’s my 39-2-

Beautiful. The first pistol I ever fired was my father's early run 59. I remain on the lookout for a clean one at a good price.

never managed to keep one, despite having several thru the shop including at least one Steel Frame version,

did buy it's NM sibling, the Mod 52 in 38 spl

Another Fan here, both of the gun and the show. I have the newer 439, very good double action and combat accurate. As to Perry Mason, great show, lots of classic cars and very classy ladies...

60

The first two pics in this thread show the first Model 39 with the long leafspring extractor, which were breaking a little too often. The 39-2 therefore had a new extractor to solve this.

Original spare magazines are hard to come by over here. The cure was to use slightly modified Walther P38 magazines. Surplus P38 /P1 magazines were plentiful and cheap. A cut for the magazine catch with a Dremel cutting wheel (always measure twice before cutting once, haha) is all it takes.
The metal magazine follower also needs a little add on to properly activate the slide catch.

Adopt, adapt and improve…

The S&W M39 with its black high gloss finish on the aluminum frame is one of the best looking (and best pointing) handguns imho.

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Other than war movies with the M1911 (we) or Luger, PPK or P38 (they), you seldom saw an auto pistol of any kind in TV shows or movies until well into the 1980s.