Only took 41 years………

I have been keeping my eye out for reasonably priced , well preserved Marlin 39a’s. I have been on a mission to have enough for each of my grandchildren to inherit one. I thought I was done , but then I noticed that my last acquisition was not in as good a shape as the others. It was noticeable enough that I did not want to let my last grandchild feel shorted one day.
On my latest search effort I ran across what is for me a “grail gun”. I have wanted a 1951 “peanut edition” 39a since I first learned of their “uniqueness” as a teenager. Well I have found many of them over the years all at “collector prices” Well not long ago I found one is good shape that was very reasonable considering today’s market.
I have decided this one will go to my youngest that way I get to keep it for the next 11 or 12 years
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rust collector said:

I would be interested in hearing the story of the peanut gun, as I too was minted in 1951 but I haven't attracted any attention from collectors. Why does the grip cap screw appear to have been exercised?

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rust collector ……… Marlin decided for the beginning of the second half of the 20th century that they would place a small brass insert in the cap of the pistol grip of the stock. They offered to engrave up to three initials on the brass insert for any customer who sent it in to Marlin. This turned out to be a one year only offer in the 100 plus year history of the 39’s production. Whether Marlin intended to or not they created a rare collector gun. Thus sending guys like me on a quest for something (an un-molested1951peanut) that is in reality only a cosmetic difference with an “H” prefix, but we still want one anyway ??? …… as for the screw marks I have no idea what went on in the 71 years before it came into my possession … BTW it produces really good groups

jmr40 said:

I've always liked the 39's but preferred the Mountie versions with straight grip and 20" barrel.

It shouldn't be expensive, nor hard to have initials engraved on the grip cap by someone locally, but I'd not have it done. I'd leave it as is.

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jmr40 , As it is (at least in my mind) my grandson’s rifle I will leave the choice of (engrave or not to engrave) up to him. I probably won’t even point out the fact that the brass peanut itself can be engraved until I feel he is mentally mature enough to understand the significance of the history of the rifle he now own’s ? What I hope stands out to him the most is the time he spent with his PawPaw among the Oaks and the Hickories of his family farm waiting for a “North Georgia Limb Rat” to step out on a limb, and making a DrPepper can dance after shooting it off the fence post .
This was from about 40ish paces ,shooting off the hood of my truck with the barrel supported by my folded up coat. Each group was all 18 rounds from the tube . Top group was Aguila standard velocity, middle group was CCI mini mags, and the bottom group was Federal Automatch bulk ammo. My poor eyesight is the limiting factor especially with the factory sights. In the hands of a better marksman than myself I think this rifle could produce some really tight groups. That being said ……even I can keep minute of squirrel head