The Marlin 39 Club
- Thread starter AStone
- Start date
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AStone
Member
What'cha gonna do with that, 900F?
Nematocyst;
I'm not sure exactly what you're asking about. Is it the bike or the model 39A I want the wood for?
The gun is being brought back to useful condition after obviously having been abused as a child.
The bike I bought new in 1981 & still have. The air in the tires is stock, not much else.
900F
I'm not sure exactly what you're asking about. Is it the bike or the model 39A I want the wood for?
The gun is being brought back to useful condition after obviously having been abused as a child.
The bike I bought new in 1981 & still have. The air in the tires is stock, not much else.
900F
AStone
Member
Nematocyst;
Yup, you missed it. My handle, CB900F, refers to a Honda sportbike of that model name. So: "What'cha gonna do with that, 900F?" could be taken either way.
Now that that's cleared up, here's the story on the 39A. I bought it out of a garage sale at a reasonable price for the condition it was in. Said condition was b-a-d. The buttstock currently fitted to it is not the original & the fitting was butchered. The forend may be the original, but there's no finish of any kind left, there are splits, & I didn't know that the grain could be raised that far without getting the FAA involved. The outer magazine tube was hammered, it was filthy, and there was some rust.
I've been bringing it back to a presentable condition. What I'd like to do is simply replace the wood with factory stocks, not custom. However, that doesn't look like it's going to be possible. I'm regarding the gun as a shooter, not a full restoration, and really don't want to sink a whole bunch of money into the wood. I'd hoped to be able to find a set of the older style, fat forend, plain dark walnut, no white spacer, stocks.
I've been looking, albeit in a desultory fashion, for about two years. But now, the cleaning and the metal work are all done. So, it's time to finish this project by getting the wood. Time's a-wasting! Other projects to do!! Ducati's to drool over!!!
900F
Yup, you missed it. My handle, CB900F, refers to a Honda sportbike of that model name. So: "What'cha gonna do with that, 900F?" could be taken either way.
Now that that's cleared up, here's the story on the 39A. I bought it out of a garage sale at a reasonable price for the condition it was in. Said condition was b-a-d. The buttstock currently fitted to it is not the original & the fitting was butchered. The forend may be the original, but there's no finish of any kind left, there are splits, & I didn't know that the grain could be raised that far without getting the FAA involved. The outer magazine tube was hammered, it was filthy, and there was some rust.
I've been bringing it back to a presentable condition. What I'd like to do is simply replace the wood with factory stocks, not custom. However, that doesn't look like it's going to be possible. I'm regarding the gun as a shooter, not a full restoration, and really don't want to sink a whole bunch of money into the wood. I'd hoped to be able to find a set of the older style, fat forend, plain dark walnut, no white spacer, stocks.
I've been looking, albeit in a desultory fashion, for about two years. But now, the cleaning and the metal work are all done. So, it's time to finish this project by getting the wood. Time's a-wasting! Other projects to do!! Ducati's to drool over!!!
900F
AStone
Member
Ah, gotcha. Thanks for the clarification.
Yeah, sounds like a great, worthy project.
Hope you're taking pics as you go.
No suggestions for you about the stock,
but I'll bet someone in here will.
Yeah, sounds like a great, worthy project.
Hope you're taking pics as you go.
No suggestions for you about the stock,
but I'll bet someone in here will.
dfariswheel
Member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2002
- Messages
- 6,656
Cheap Marlin trick.
Here's Marlin trick, a speed loading modification.
If you push out the tiny pin in the ferrule that holds the magazine tube in place, you can remove the tube by sliding it forward.
Use a small triangular needle file to file a new slot on the tube about 90 degrees from the original.
Reinstall the tube by inserting it into the rifle and rotating until it slips into the receiver hole, and insert the pin through the new slot.
If you work this right, this will put the loading slot in the magazine on the side instead of the bottom of the barrel.
This allows faster loading by dropping the cartridge on the trough formed by the barrel and the magazine tube and sliding it back until it drops into the tube.
This makes loading faster and much easier in cold weather when your hands are cold.
Here's Marlin trick, a speed loading modification.
If you push out the tiny pin in the ferrule that holds the magazine tube in place, you can remove the tube by sliding it forward.
Use a small triangular needle file to file a new slot on the tube about 90 degrees from the original.
Reinstall the tube by inserting it into the rifle and rotating until it slips into the receiver hole, and insert the pin through the new slot.
If you work this right, this will put the loading slot in the magazine on the side instead of the bottom of the barrel.
This allows faster loading by dropping the cartridge on the trough formed by the barrel and the magazine tube and sliding it back until it drops into the tube.
This makes loading faster and much easier in cold weather when your hands are cold.
AStone
Member
Oh, yeah. Took two readings,
but I think I get it.
Very cool.
but I think I get it.
Very cool.
Hud
Member
^
Actually a High Standard trick.
Here is the patent:
http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=6pdTAAAAEBAJ&dq=3018577
Works good; I've modified a couple of my .22's.
Actually a High Standard trick.
Here is the patent:
http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=6pdTAAAAEBAJ&dq=3018577
Works good; I've modified a couple of my .22's.
Chuckleberry
Member
Well, I've been looking for the right opportunity to join the 39 club and this weekend it found me when when I picked up an older mountie. Serial number starts with R, which I believe means it was made in '57. the metal/bluing is in good shape with just a couple of minor blemishes here and there, but nothing major. The stock has a few dings and someone put a coat of laquer on it and it looks like they did it in a hurry. I gave it a good cleaning and the action is now as smooth as I've always imagined it would be. Shot a few shorts out of it but won't really get to work it out until later this week.
I plan on refinishing the wood, anything else I should be looking for/thinking about?
Thanks
I plan on refinishing the wood, anything else I should be looking for/thinking about?
Thanks
AStone
Member
Welcome in, CB. Sorry you waited until you had one to join.
(Ownership is not a requirement for the "club"; just an interest.)
But glad you're here now.
You'll get some good feedback on it here.
And yes, I second Lead's suggestion re pics.
(Ownership is not a requirement for the "club"; just an interest.)
But glad you're here now.
You'll get some good feedback on it here.
And yes, I second Lead's suggestion re pics.
Chuckleberry
Member
no pics, have I not learned anything all these years goofing off on gun boards? ;-) here you go. It may not be perfect, but it's mine!
full pic
39-A Mountie
receiver
Other side of receiver - missing an ejector base screw, already found a replacement at brownells
forend - notice the dings...
serial # - no I'm not bothered by posting this ;-)
chip on the buttplate
small crack in buttstock - just noticed this when taking pics, looks minor though...
So -- what's everyone think? I realize it's not a collectible or a rare model but I think I got a pretty good deal at $350(low end of what used 39s go for here). It's been used, that's for sure but it also looks like it's been taken care of. Heck, even the gold has been worn off the trigger face.
If you see anything that looks bubba'd or out of whack, please point it out. I'm no expert on 39's but I've always been a fan and I'm willing to spend a few dollars to help get it looking like it did when it was made.
full pic
39-A Mountie
receiver
Other side of receiver - missing an ejector base screw, already found a replacement at brownells
forend - notice the dings...
serial # - no I'm not bothered by posting this ;-)
chip on the buttplate
small crack in buttstock - just noticed this when taking pics, looks minor though...
So -- what's everyone think? I realize it's not a collectible or a rare model but I think I got a pretty good deal at $350(low end of what used 39s go for here). It's been used, that's for sure but it also looks like it's been taken care of. Heck, even the gold has been worn off the trigger face.
If you see anything that looks bubba'd or out of whack, please point it out. I'm no expert on 39's but I've always been a fan and I'm willing to spend a few dollars to help get it looking like it did when it was made.
I recommend EVERYONE with a 39A to get this spring set...
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=20641/Product/LEVER_ACTION_SPRING_KIT_for_MARLIN_LEVER_ACTION
Cycles all types of rounds without fail and goes from hard trigger to about a 2lb trigger.
Just installed it on my dads rifle. He was skeptical at first. Until he fired it. Big smile on his face.
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=20641/Product/LEVER_ACTION_SPRING_KIT_for_MARLIN_LEVER_ACTION
Cycles all types of rounds without fail and goes from hard trigger to about a 2lb trigger.
Just installed it on my dads rifle. He was skeptical at first. Until he fired it. Big smile on his face.
Nice old rifle Chuckleberry! Strip the stock with Zip Strip, and see if you can steam out some of the dents with a moist cloth and a hot iron. I like Tung Oil or Tru-Oil for a finish, Tru-Oil being a little better for touch ups later.
Best of luck with your restoration!
Best of luck with your restoration!
JohnBT
Member
I hate Brownell's. A $20 order ends up costing me $400 or $500. :banghead:
Chuckleberry
Member
I snuck away tonight and put about 75 rounds through it before the range closed. yep, I'm pretty impressed so far. I had a blast in that short, short half hour. Fun, accurate, cool, it's got it all. Both ROs asked me about it as well.
only one minor problem though. It didn't eject shells consistently. 1 or 2 casings wouldn't eject the receiver cleanly per tube. did some quick digging and it sounds like I'll have to figure out if the extractor isn't holding the case properly or the ejector isn't kicking it out hard enough. Anyway, if that's all I've got to worry about, wow, I'm really happy with it.
CharlesT -- thanks for the spring kit suggestion, looks like a good addition and for $16, it's hardly a big risk.
only one minor problem though. It didn't eject shells consistently. 1 or 2 casings wouldn't eject the receiver cleanly per tube. did some quick digging and it sounds like I'll have to figure out if the extractor isn't holding the case properly or the ejector isn't kicking it out hard enough. Anyway, if that's all I've got to worry about, wow, I'm really happy with it.
CharlesT -- thanks for the spring kit suggestion, looks like a good addition and for $16, it's hardly a big risk.
CaliCoastie
Member
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2010
- Messages
- 497
for those looking for gun stocks, check macon gun stocks. you pay a bit but, good walnut. or what ever you want to pay for.
flusher
Member
One of your pictures showed the ejector holddown rivet pin about 10 oclock.
I believe it should be at nine oclock allowing the ejector to seat properly thereby giving the ejector full force.
I believe it should be at nine oclock allowing the ejector to seat properly thereby giving the ejector full force.
Last edited:
kimberkid
Member
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2010
- Messages
- 1,654
I should have an old forend around here somewhere ... we moved about a year ago but its not like me to throw away gun parts of any kind ... as I remember its rough but if/when I find it you can have it for shipping costs. For the feeding tube and other parts you might also check Numrich Gun Parts.
The story of my first 39A is much like yours; picked up from a garage sale, had been abused and not cared for ... had been sitting next to their water heater for 20+ years. The barrel was a sewer pipe, heavy rust on the barrel and feeding tube ... I found a cheap 20" octogonal barrel from Marlin's Century model which required a slim forend as well, so my fat forend wasn't needed.
-------------------------------------------------
I got the scope mount and hammer spur I posted about a page or so back, but it wouldn't fit! It was listed to fit a "pre-83", which my gun is ... however it doesn't fit a pre-56 ... which my also gun is. The serial number is either a C or a G which makes it either a 45 or 49.
However fate smiled on me this weekend ... I found a like new (still has sticker on forend) 1981 39A Golden at our local show this weekend, at a price I couldn't pass by!
The old and the "new" -
Chuckleberry
Member
One of your pictures showed the ejector holddown rivet pin about 10 oclock.
I believe it should be at nine oclock allowing the ejector to seat properly thereby giving the ejector full force.
Nice attention to detail flusher.
I noticed that it wasn't lined up after I shot it(pics were before shooting it) as well. I played with it a bit and couldn't tell that that the ejector was getting hung up or that it felt "firmer" after turning it, but I haven't gotten to shoot it again yet either. I'll find out tomorrow night!- Status
