Unfortunately there aren't many options for an accurate m39 pistol out there. My wife's resin Matsuo build, once so beutiful, has seen its better days after a few drops (literally and figuratively! "drop" events and drops to the floor out of her holster
)
So I set out to build a 'pretty wall hanger' for the display. Much like my Ithaca 37 build that I did for Hicks, I thought I would get the best looks by incorporating actual Smith and Wesson model 39 parts.
For the foundation, I grabbed a spring airsoft pistol with the mostly correct body. I believe it was called a 'firepower 45' or something to that effect. It had a metal slide, but was not at all accurate. Mostly I was sold on the 'lower'. It wasn't perfect, but it was a good starting point.
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Removing the rubber grip revealed it simply had a weight in the handle, not the accurate curve. So i set about in locating a factory M39 grip "back strap".
To replace the slide, I found an honest to goodness m39 complete slide assembly.
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To get the back strap installed, I had to remove the weight and get to chopping in order for it to fit, but fit it did!.
It wasn't real pretty, but the grips would cover much of the slop.
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Unfortunately, I had to lose the airsoft internals. There was just too much going on to fit inside the factory slide (and milling out the slide to make room is not really within my workshops capabilities!).
So after gutting it and shortening the grip/magazine, I was able to save the hammer/trigger function AND the magazine catch/release.
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