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.


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.




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.


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.

Gluing down the faux ivory grips does a lot to bring it together. I still need to glue down the 'fake' screw heads (obviously if I install real screws I lose the magazine function).


-Attaching the slide required some dremeling out of the base. It is only friction fit at the moment but is pretty snug.
-The ejection port is just a piece of plastic from the doner slide cut to fit the real slide and the same fake metal finish sticker from the doner.
-Unfortunately the slide does not rack. There may be a way to make that possible, but it requires more engineering that I am prepared to put in at this point!


So here is the main bit. Hammer cocks, trigger activates hammer, and mag button releases magazine.



Here are a couple pics next to the Matsuo resin one just for reference.



Not quite done yet though. I still need to figure out how to install a guide pin in the bottom front of the slide (its empty there now and nothing for a real guide pin to attach to). Also the doner foundation pistol is a tad bit larger than ideal with a slightly bulkier grip and trigger guard. In theory, the airsoft claimed to be a replica of a .45 while the target m39 was a 9mm, so I think that is why it was ever so slighty bulker making the proportions just a tad off, but I still like it.

Damn, that's COOL!!

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Lt. Melissa L. Klassen, ALG
AL Colonial Admin. - Executive Officer (XO) -- 2021-2022
RCCM | Royal Canadian Colonial Marines - Commanding Officer (CO) -- 2021-2022

Read the AL Charter Rules & Regulations: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i3gd9QUyIqI_6rfk8kpxspbKU-JT4MBAjLPxfCkvGJ8

very very nice!!!

Wow! Very cool ... I sense the start of another project for me coming on ...

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Cpl Aron "septic" Williams
A10/TQ0.0.82146E1

That is real nice work.

Ive been looking at trying to get a VP70 but struggling and seems out of production or dold out everywhere,

It was botherng me that it did not look like the pistol Vasquez used in the ducting and double checked the film then a bit of research chucked iup the S&W M39.

I'm going to try to get one and this will be a good reference, thank you.

nice one