The Marlin 39 Club

[AStone]

So sorry to be such a slacker in the club.

Haven't lost interest. I just don't have my 39 right now.
Still stored elsewhere after my move. I miss it.

Welcome to the new members:
hutech, kmock72, king fisher, gcrjordan.

 

[dfariswheel]

king fisher


Obviously the rounds are hanging on the chamber mouth, which is denting and bending the bullet.

First step is to try different ammo. I'd recommend .22 Long Rifle, since some rifles just don't seem to "like" shorts.
Also, make sure you move the lever all the way down and forward when operating the lever.
You don't have to operate the rifle hard, just make sure you're operating the action fully.
In pump shotguns failing to fully open the action is called "Short stroking".

 

[alukban]

Late to the party...

Here's my 39, first year of production (err... 1939) with a no-prefix S/N.



It wears correct Lyman No 1a tang sights and a matching globe front of the same vintage. The best part is that I was living in New Haven (partly) at the time that I bought it and actually purchased it from Blue Trails Gun Shop/Shooting Range in Middletown - the former "Lyman proving grounds". It is a locally produced gun shooting local game - HEE HEEE. I get akick out of that for some reason.

I shoot mostly .22 Shorts in it and those are typically total pass thoughs on rabbits under 30 yards. It is quieter than most airguns. For shots within 25 yards, I don't even need the rear tang sight. I just aim with the front globe, like a shotgun. I shoot it A LOT I don't care if it gets wet or planted in the snow. The reason this gun exists is to be in the field.

 

[pxgq55a]

Hello fellow 39-ers. I just got my 39a last weekend and so far, i love it. I posted a couple of questions about in 'Rifle Country'. here's the link-http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=573471

My question still remains about the rear sight. I have two photos of 1941 vintage 39as with a different sight than mine. Mine just has your standard stamped rear sight like this.


But here are the photos of two seperate 1941 39a rear sights that are totally different than mine.




Wondering if mine had been switched over at some point or if Marlin possibly used both or switched to these bottom two 1941? I'd like to get the correct one in place, if possible. thanks.

 

[cpirtle]

I have the same gun, maybe a couple thousand newer than yours but a B prefix. Will check the rear sight and report back.

If I had to guess they could have been a transition parts, based on a quick look there seem to be a mix of both. If you look at Alukban's first picture you can see his is the heavier type and it's a no prefix gun. Just guessing though..

 

[king fisher]

Looking for a 1972 hammer spur

Just purchased a cherry 1972 39M. First time gun owner. Wow! Didn't understand the world of 39's was so profound! I feel like I walked into a secret club house! Cool.

Would like to mount a scope due to old eyes and got edjamicated about hammer spurs. So ... looking for an original (1972) crescent shaped one vs the new barrel shaped ones offered at Brownells or Gun Parts Corp. Saw one pictured on a post with the marlin initials on it. Anyone have an extra for sale or know where I can buy one?

Learning more every day. Found out about Conetrol. Good stuff there. George is a great guy with lotas patience !Gotta save and figure out how to hide from wife or be over run with her buying like amount in shoes!!!!

Also my finger lever wiggles a bit from left to right. Maybe an 1/8-3/16th. Tightening the finger lever screw gently did nothing as it was snugged down already. Should I replace the finger lever screw or look for a new square finger lever? Whats the right fix?

Any help on these fronts would be appreciated. Thanx guys.

 

[Johnnyb8612]

First THR post, whoohoo!

For Christmas this year, my dad gave me his 1981 Original Golden 39M. This is the gun I grew up shooting, I remember diving into his closet as a kid just to get it out and look at it. It's still in great shape (probably less than 3,000 rnds through it).

King Fisher, mine actually had the curved hammer spur with it, though I'm not sure if it was bought separately. I also had the slight wobble at the lever. It may be a little 'ghetto,' but all I did was make a small washer from a milk jug and slip it over the lever screw. That way it takes up the slack without damaging any metal parts it may contact. Fixed the little wiggle just great.

Also, does anybody here have any opinions/experience with adjusting the trigger pull on the 39M? It is smooth and crisp, but it does take quite a tug to get the hammer to drop. Is that job better suited to the local smith?

 

[CharlesT]

I posted a little back about a trigger kit.


Here is what you want...
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=...VER_ACTION_SPRING_KIT_for_MARLIN_LEVER_ACTION

CHEAP MOD ALERT!

It works great in my old 39A

 

[dfariswheel]

King Fisher

The Marlin lever will have some slight side to side movement.
If you think it's excessive, try a new screw first.
A new lever would probably be as loose if not looser.

One fix that's a little more difficult is to make a very thin washer that will fit into the lever hole to shim the screw.
Making the shim is somewhat difficult.

 

[Johnnyb8612]

So, I was out shooting my 39M this afternoon, and halfway through the box, one round was chambering a little rough (nothing too unusual) so I gave a little extra oomph to the lever, and something felt odd. I tried firing, and 'click.' Took it apart and found half a firing pin where a whole one used to be. I guess it snapped, no idea how or why. Is this common? Where can I find a new firing pin? I guess it wouldn't be that hard to make one if I had to...

 

[CB900F]

Johnny;

The first place I'd go is: www.gunpartscorp.com. That's Numrich's web site. The odds are way good that they will have what you need at a decent price. You will need to know the age of your gun, there are differences in firing pins through various manufacturing changes. Though, come to think of it, that may not apply to the Mounties. Best of luck to you -

900F

 

[Johnnyb8612]

900F, that site is an amazing resource, thanks for the tip. My Mountie is from 1981, and they have the firing pin in stock for $23. Looking at the pin more closely, it might be possible to make a new one with stainless steel stock. It may also be worth the money to not have to mess with it, though.

I'm still trying to figure out what made it break in the first place, so I can avoid it in the future.

 

[Fast Frank]

Imagine that!

I posted this on another forum.

Much to my surprise, it got 138 views and only two comments. One guy said "Cool" and another guy vowed to watch his DVD collection. (I still haven't figured out what that meant )

Here it is in entirety. Maybe some of you will get a kick out of this. Enjoy:
##############################################################################################


So I'm surfing around on the net, right?

Just randomly reading whatever catches my eye.

I see a thread about the sawed off rifle that Steve McQueen carried on the TV show "Wanted Dead Or Alive".

Sweet. Here's the page if you want to look at it.

http://www.mcqueenonline.com/gunsquarterlyarticle.htm

So, I see this pic. They are saying that old Steve wasn't just a TV shooter, he had a collection of his own guns and hunted.

Cool.

Here's the page. It shows Steve McQueen handling what appears to be some of his private collection.

Wait a minute...

Could it be? Let me zoom that in a little.

Yep, no doubt in my mind whatsoever.

Look at the lever, the fat forearm, the loading hole in the mag tube, the sling mounts, the cap on the forearm, the white line on the butt, the hood on the front sight....

That right there is a picture of Steve McQueen holding his own personal model 39.

Ya know, he was just a little cooler than I was aware of. ;D

I'm betting that he was standing there, a millionaire, able to buy any and every gun that struck his fancy, and thinking "I like this one more than all the others".

Check out the look on his face. No doubt about it. He reached past all the others to pick up that .22 for a reason, and I know exactly how he felt.

And as far as the "To Scope or Shoot Irons" question... Steve had Glass on his.

 

[AStone]

^ That is cool.

Good eye.

I suppose some may debate your conclusion,
but it sounds reasonable to me.

 

[morgantruce]

Cool.











But then, everything about Steve McQueen was cool.

"Terrence Steven "Steve" McQueen (March 24, 1930 – November 7, 1980) was a popular American movie actor.[1] He was nicknamed "The King of Cool."

--Wikipedia (good read)​

 

[toysoldier]

Stainless steel is tougher than carbon steel, and would be less likely to break, but it cannot be hardened effectively, and would quickly deform.

 

[towboat_er]

Got this at a pawn shop today. Been looking for one for quite a while. Smooth action and shoots great.

​

 

[AStone]

Welcome in, Towboat. Beautiful rifle.

Now the question is, what'd you pay for it?

(There is no 'wrong' answer'. Just curious.)

 

[towboat_er]

$300 out the door. How'd I do?

 

[AStone]

Ya done good. Real good.

 

[towboat_er]

Thanks

 

[JustsayMo]

The 1897 Cowboy vs. Steel

Made it to the local silhouette match today with the 1897 Cowboy. Even though it was it's first time out I was pretty confident it would do well. This was also my first match at this range and I was very impressed by how well it was run.

We started on Turkeys and I struggled a little bit but still managed to tip over six. I did a little better on the Rams but stunk up the chickens - it seemed it was not my day for the feathered. Swept the Boars though.

Managed to squeak into the money with a 30 (out of forty). I'm pretty confident it was more of a matter of learning the sight settings/pictures for the various ranges than the rifle.

Of the many Marlin 39 variations this one is my favorite. I know I've said it about the Mountie, the 39 Ltd and the TDS... but this time I really mean it.

The Federal 40 grain solid is this rifle's prefered bullet. In the second to lowest notch on the elevator a leg hold works well on the chickens, a just touching the bottom edge of the boar's belly is right on for them and I need to cover the turkeys with the bead. The Rams take a two notch up position on the rear elevator and that gives me a right on hold.

MAN do I ever LOVE that long octagonal barrel. It just seems to hang on the target. This 1897's trigger is quite good and if I do my part breaks just at the right time.

Please excuse this conceited indulgence but I'm in a celebratory mood.
The second match - pistol caliber: I used my Marlin 1894 Cowboy Ltd in 45 Colt went WAY better than I could have ever expected. Started on the Turkeys again, managed seven which is about average for me but I've done WAY worse, so putting seven in the book was somewhat of a relief. I managed 8 rams, swept the chickens and missed the 9th Boar for a total of 34 with to my surprise put me in a tie for the match lead. The other guy had won the earlier match with a 37 and had a bad run in the centerfire. The shoot-off was on the turkeys; best out of five. I shot my first, he shot his, I shot my second and third before he shot his second to put a little pressure on him. I tipped over my fourth and he missed his third so all I had to do was put my fifth turkey down and the match was over. Man did that bird look small but I put the bead right in the middle of him and squeezed it off - HIT!!!! Five for five in the showdown. That totally rocked!!! Not that I expect that to happen but man when it does, it feels mighty good!

Still need the hard ones to complete the "slam" but it felt good to get official on the pigs and chickens.

The load I used was a slightly hotter than book charge of SR4756 under an alox lubed Lee 452-250 RFN. Gets between 1100-1200 fps in the Marlin and man does it ever rock silhouettes with authority.

 

[JustsayMo]

Forgot to mention the trip to the cabin the previous weekend with the 1897 Cowboy.

It's been a few years since I had a 24" barreled Marlin rimfire rifle. Normally (read ALWAYS) the Mountie or the Century Ltd goes with me to the cabin for plinking and Grouse hunting duty. I was impressed by how well the longer Marlin did. It balances so perfectly that the length was not noticed. When I did shoot it my eyes appreciated that extra 4".

A day in the field with a Marlin 39/1897 is always good for happy memory. I hope to make MANY more with this rifle.

 

[towboat_er]

That sure looks like a lot of fun. I wish there was a place like that, close to me.
Great looking rifle. I'll be keeping an eye out for one.

 

[Dainbramage]

Back to the stainless steel firing pin. Yesterday I heat treated a piece of 440c stainless steel to 60 Rockwell C. Any discussion on how this material would hold up as a firing pin? I may make one just to test it out.

Mark