In view of the comments I got about the “overstatement” of concerns with the hammer drop safety, I’ve updated my initial post here.
I've been discussing this project over on the S&W Forum for quite a while now, and since it's finally complete I thought I'd share. Back in 1978 I found a like-new Model 39-2 in box with 3 mags. The only fly in the ointment was that Dad left handed, very left handed... he couldn't blow his nose with his right hand! By about 1980 I had located and installed an ambidextrous safety... problem solved.
Dad passed away about 2 1/2 years ago, and before he did, he gifted the 39 to me, but with all the family considerations led to it being left in my safe until about last Fall. At that time, I decided that it needed the factory optional full adjustable lollipop style rear sight. I found that and took it as I went to visit a friend in Ohio. We took the whole thing to his gunsmith friend who put it in place while making it look easy. The next day I suffered a setback in the project when I discovered that the right side safety lever and screw had gone missing. This started a search that led to all sorts of blind leads, false starts, and the final revelation that the ambidextrous unit I installed 40 years ago was an aftermarket unit, long discontinued!
Over the past weekend the clouds parted and a parts vendor on GunBroker listed a Model 439 slide assembly at a very favorable price, and wonder of wonders it had the safety I needed... and it wasn't even mentioned although it showed up in the pictures. The nice man from FedEx showed up at my door with a package yesterday afternoon, and before the sun went down, the ambidextrous safety was retrofitted onto the 39-2. Everything was as it should be.
Today I was able to get out to the range for test firing. some people who have worked with the 1st and 2nd Generation S&W auto pistols have reported a concern for the safety, not only to provide the safety function, but to serve as a decocker, dropping the hammer toward a firing pin going toward a loaded chamber. Long story short, everything worked just like it was supposed to. Dad's Model 39-2 has learned to be all that it can be. I think he would approve.
That's my story... over 6 months to get it set up the way I wanted it, and the funny thing is, I'm actually more of a revolver guy. This gun may weaken my resolve though.
Froggie