The Marlin 39 Club

[johnmcl]

AStone,

Make it more than an annual return, dear friend. You are not a comet.

On an unrelated topic, as the weather is warming up nicely, how about an an index card mail match? Three shots or so into an index card, with the closest group winning?

 

[Fast Frank]

I think I can participate.

Sent from my cellphone by TapaTalk

 

[Coyote3855]

Local gun shop has a Model 39. I wasn't smart enough to look at the model number. The serial is N 14556, which the interweb tells me dates it to 1956. Allegedly came from a local estate. Looks dull from storage, would benefit from some work with an oily rag on the metal and clean/wax/buff on the wood. I'd say conservatively 95% blue on barrel (some minor missing blue at barrel end) and receiver. No bluing loss on receiver. The wood has wood no nicks, dings, scrapes, just no maintenance/TLC. Is $499 a good price? Completed sales on GB seem to running much higher for one in this condition.

I have other Marlins - 336/.30-30, 1893/.38-55, 94 in .45 Colt, a Centennial 39, and an old Model 97. This would just be an addition to the collection.

 

[kimberkid]

Octagon barrel? 39 or 39A?

If it's a round barrel, 39A that's about right I my area.

 

[Coyote3855]

Serial Number prefix "N" indicates 1956 manufacture, so I assume it's a 39A.

 

[tubeshooter]

I think $500 is a good price for nowadays. It might feel a tad high compared to years past, but it is old enough to have that era of build quality that is highly regarded now.


If I was in the market for one, I would feel perfectly fine about that price.

 

[SixtyGrains]

Like the new look of the Site. Will try and post more frequently.

I have JM built 39M and also a 39 Original Golden with the longest, heavy barrel. Fitted a Williams Receiver Sight and Lyman Tang 'peep. Both rifles have repeatedly done the one-ragged-hole trick at 100 yards on no-wind days. CCI Standard is their favorite ammo for accuracy and reliable cycling.

I found the Takedown Screw needs be tighter than even my strong fingers can do alone for flawless cycling and prevention of long-term Bolt loosening, so I use a USA Quarter coin. As 'luck' would have it, the Takedown Screw is cut just for that...

I found best accuracy with the 1964 and earlier Quarters. A prized find over here

SixtyGrains from the UK.

 

[Fast Frank]

Bump!

Haven't seen much action here in the club house.

Some of us fell off...

Maybe some of us died off...

And I'm just generally a little off anyhow you look at it.

I still have the same two Marlin 39a rifles I had way back in the beginning of this thread, and I have acquired a few other .22s to go with them.

Haven't been shooting much because of the (Can't talk about it here) political climate, but hopefully that will cool off for a while because of the (Can't talk about it here) political climate.

I saw a shooting match mentioned above, and I think it's a great idea. I'll need somebody else to shoot, Or I'll tie myself for first and last place and that's too many trophies for me to haul home.

Speak up, guys! Is anybody out there?

 

[HOWARD J]

I acquired my first 39A from my brother around 1951.
He took my Savage 22/410 into the woods with a bottle of
Old Grandad-when he came out he had no 22/410 & had no idea where it was.
I raised so much hell he gave me his new 39A which I still have today
My sister passed on last year & gave me her sons 39A
A gun in beautiful condition.
My sons will get mine when I am gone
I love those guns.

 

[Rbstuartjr]

HI guys, fairly new to the forum and found this great thread. So here's my contribution. This was my grandfathers gun, he bought it new in the early 1920's. When I received it after his passing she was in rough shape. The outside ammo rod was rusted to the inner rod. The case coloring was gone completely rusted and pitted. The bolt would barely move and the inner spring were completely varnished. I cleaned it up best I could. I used steel wool on the receiver and barrel to get the rust out. I did put some bluing on the receiver to give it an old patina. Now she shoots and works well for a firearm of her vintage. The ammo tube spring is weak and sometimes she jams when trying to load a round from the tube. I would like to get a new spring for it but haven't any luck finding one. Eventually I would like to have her case coloring restored and few cosmetic all things done. She is a family heirloom and is going to get passed down to my kids.

 

[Coyote3855]

I finally brought the 1956 vintage 39A home. Can't get it to separate to clean the internals. Much of the disassembly information I can find addresses new models. I backed out the disassembly screw. Rapped the barrel on cloth padded bench, but no joy not a budge. What's the correct hammer position? Lever? Right now it's soaking in Kroil. Any advice would be appreciated. Based on cleaning up the external metal and wood, it's been a long time since the rifle was serviced/maintained.

Never mind. The Kroil worked and it came apart easily. Shot a few rounds in the back yard and everything functions as designed.

 

[cocojo]

I have one, sign me up. Great rifle, I purchased my gun in the 90's. Shot many woodchucks with it. My gun does have the dreaded safety.

 

[Steve_53]

My 39A "Golden Mountie" (purchased new in 1966) was the first gun I ever owned, it still shoots great after all these years, hope to pass it on the my grandson someday.

 

[johnmcl]

Hey Frank, things have been quiet on this thread.

To all, What do you think about a three shot, best group index card match?

 

[Irish Bird Dog]

Hey guys, Irish Bird Dog here, Been gone along time.....still have my two 39's.....a Original 39 Golden M sans gold trigger mine is blue and a Marlin 39 Article II (with medallion) rifle, oct bbl, brass curved buttplate and brass nose cap. dfaris will remember I had quite a time getting that one to function (at one point I could load and fire my flintlock faster) but did persevere with much assistance from him and others on this site and it works fine now and wears a Skinner sight. Been playing catch up reading many posts from B4 to now, skipped over a several years worth to get to present day posts. Enjoyed the time spent reading them. Happy New Year!

 

[Fishbed77]

I've been wanting to join the 39 Club for a long time. They are essentially non-existent in gun stores around here (I assume folks hold onto them), but after months of watching Gunbroker and other online sites for a good rifle, I finally pounced on this example that was in my price range (I almost have to laugh at the $200 prices folks brag about in the early days of this thread). It's a 24" barrel Golden 39-A manufactured in 1960. When it arrived to my FFL, I was shocked to find it was even more beautiful in person than the photos lead on. Much of what I thought was wear or damage was dirt that was easily cleaned away in an afternoon, and I easily replaced some missing plug screws and the missing Marlin stock bullseye. The fit of the wood to steel blows away anything mass-produced today. The bore was advertised as being excellent, and it certainly is - the Micro-Groove rifling looks practically new.

And what a shooter! Despite the long barrel, the rifle feels perfectly balanced, and it's refreshing to shoot a classic .22LR that was obviously built for adults.

Sorry for the crappy cellphone pics:

 

[chicharrones]

Welcome to the club, Fishbed.

 

[CB900F]

Fishbed;

Welcome to the club and a hearty congratulations on finding one you could afford. By the way, were you a MIG21 pilot?

900F

 

[tubeshooter]

Congratulations and welcome to the club! That is a nice one you got there.


I am sure you will enjoy it for years to come.

 

[Frog Prince]

These two babies have been locked away for too long so I decided to bring them out for Spring cleaning. If I remember correctly, I purchased the 39A in 1966 for about $69. She's is a great squirrel gun and is as tight today as the day I brought her home. I am not sure when I added the .22 Simmons scope. She originally wore a Weaver. The Model 39 was purchased at auction in April 1992 for $250. I have never shot her. My interest in her perked up when I recently saw a similar Model 39, in much poorer condition, at Cabela's for $1,995. I don't know what either is worth....and doubt I could part with them regardless of value.

 

[chicharrones]

Great looking 39s, Frog Price. Very nice.

 

[John Jarosz]

Hello,
I've been lurking a while. Recently started a thread: https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/marlin-original-golden-39a.818874/ just to get information.
I've spent the last couple of days reading this thread (I'm up to page 80 or so). Good info. I am amazed my father-in-law bought a 39A as he didn't own any guns and I never thought he had any interest. He probably bought the gun from a friend in his very small town that had a gunstore.

I have a very small collection of guns I bought in the 90's. I am completely amazed how the value of guns has soared since then. As far as the 39A is concerned, I had no idea a 22 cal lever action rifle (made in largish quantities) could be worth as much as it is.

You have a lot of good info/ambiance in this thread/club. Someday I'll finish reading all 185 pages of it.
John

 

[johnmcl]

Hey Frog,

I love your old 39As. While I have one scoped as you do, and its a shooter of the first order, I love even more the clean lines of a 39A with iron sights. I have a Skinner rear sight on my 1960's era 39A, and it shoots like a house on fire. What fun afternoons have been had and will come with these two fine rifles.

John --> Welcome to the Club. This thread is an awesome compendium of 39A knowledge and fine people. I do not know what I value more.

 

[tubeshooter]

Nice rifles, Frog Prince! And welcome to the club, John Jarosz.

Just to echo what johnmcl has said, this thread has been a great resource for the 39A and related predecessors. Also a fine and reasonable group of people to discuss with. I am glad to be a part of what is probably on or near the first page of search results when people look for info online about this iconic .22 levergun.


From reading another thread, I understand that the 39A (in addition to the 1894 in .357 mag) is not currently showing on the website as "in production". I am saddened to see that. I don't know if it means that the model 39A's distinction of being the longest continuously-produced production rifle has been jeopardized, but it still can claim a run of over 100 years. Which is not too shabby, I must say.

Just the same, this bothers me...


So Marlin, Remington, Cerberus, whoever is calling the shots - please get this rifle back in production and available at the great level of quality we are all used to and that this rifle deserves. I want my kids and grandkids (and everyone else's) to be able to buy one of these new if they want. And bring back the 1894C too, please. Thank you.

 

[chicharrones]

I wonder if Marlin would entertain the idea of making an "economy" model of the 39. The traditional walnut stocked, polished blue model is hitting near luxury status in price for the average rimfire gun purchaser.

Basically, make the traditionally outfitted 39 with the Marlin Bullseye and another version with a bead blasted blued finish and inexpensive stock. Maybe a basic laminate like Marlin has put on some 336 carbines. Then offer both versions with 20 inch barrels.

I already have a Bullseye equipped Marlin 39, but I would also love to have a "beater" economy version.