The Marlin 39 Club

[JTHunter]

The first long gun I bought myself was a Golden 39A with the curved lever and half-cock safety in the early 70s.
About 15 years later, thanks to an incompetent attorney and lying cop, it was taken from me.
If that "female dog" of an attorney had bothered to explain the exemptions to what the cop had charged me with, the case would have been thrown out.
If the cop hadn't told me to bring the gun out to his cruiser then arrested me for complying, it wouldn't have even gone to trial.
As the saying goes, "Don't talk to cops!"

 

[Tentwing]

Two of my 39’s ……… up top is my 1952 tapered barrel light weight squirrel getter. It has Ballard rifling and prefers round nosed lead bullets . ( no copper washing) Below is a 2002 heavy barrel target gun with micro groove rifling. Both are far more accurate than their owner.

 

[Bazoo]

Here she is with a browning sling my mom bought me for my birthday a few years back. My favorite knife, a buck 192, and an edge brand 426.

 

[johnmcl]

Is not this one of the best threads on THR? Here's a rear end shot of my 39M, circa 1966, and a superb Skinner rear sight.

 

[Bazoo]

Ouch.

Just took my rifle apart to clean it. Ran the bronze brush through the bore, tight fit...when the brush cleared the muzzle the rod slipped forward and I ran my finger into the exposed, sharp edge of the receiver. Deep, bloody cut.

I think it was her way of saying "Don't feed me any more Winchester Wildcat, jerk!"

Be careful folks.

One of the first things I did when I got mine was take a plug out of my finger. It hurts like sin! I bet everyone that's ever cleaned a 39 has done it too.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

One of the first things I did when I got mine was take a plug out of my finger. It hurts like sin! I bet everyone that's ever cleaned a 39 has done it too.

Even if not *everyone*..... I'm certainly one of the wounded.

Todd.

 

[Boxhead]

I bought my first a few years ago. As best I can tell a 50's rifle in really nice condition. A couple of months funning on the 'net I found this piece at J&G sales. NIB with shipper at a bargain price.

 

[Bazoo]

Boxhead, that's a thing of beauty. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Bazoo]

The other day I went back to my range I have on the farm, fired about 20 rounds and just generally had a good commune with my 39AS. I was thinking about making my way back to the woods to see about a spring squirrel or two when the wife unit came to inform me I had been summonsed.

The church I attend has a pond, and some less than repentant person dumped some garbage there. I had offered to help clean up the mess, and just so happens the other gent that was involved was in the notion.

Just as well, because just a short time later the garbage was bagged and it started to rain. Glad I wasn't caught out with my 39 in a rain. That would have meant wd40 and a thorough cleaning!

 

[Tentwing]

Williams Firesight aperture has made shooting for groups much easier on old eyes

 

[Bazoo]

I've been sorting out a scope and mount for my rifle. So far I've got the weaver 90 base, Nikon a series rings, and a weaver k2.5 mocked up. I say mocked as it's all snugged down but not torqued or loctited. I was just checking it all out before committing.

I dont care for the weaver base. It is springy. I'm figuring on drilling and tapping the front and installing a nylon tipped screw. I'll likely shoot it first though to get an assessment of how it performs. My concern is, should I knock the gun over, or fall with it.

Also, I'm not planning on scoping it perminately. I figure two things. First, get the mount and rings and all figured out now before I need a scope. Second, mount the scope for accuracy testing. I prefer irons and I'm still good with them, but better with a scope from a rest.

 

[Doug444]

39-A, bought used for $275 a LONG time ago. Love it.

 

[Bazoo]

Williams Firesight aperture has made shooting for groups much easier on old eyes View attachment 1002738

Does that sight mount at either hole or just at the from of the receiver?

 

[.45Coltguy]

39a, 1957. Got it in a garage sale when that was still possible. The guy who had it before me removed the semi buckhorn and installed a Williams adjustable sight.
Looks good and works. Really like that 39a.

 

[Tentwing]

Does that sight mount at either hole or just at the from of the receiver?

Bazoo, It will mount at either point. If you mount it at the rear it makes sight acquisition a little quickr/easier, but if you mount further from your eye/cheek weld it makes the sight in a little finer=smaller groups. Just be aware that if you mount it at the front of the receiver not to accidentally dismantle the cartridge guide spring on the inside of the receiver.

 

[mnrivrat]

I've been sorting out a scope and mount for my rifle. So far I've got the weaver 90 base, Nikon a series rings, and a weaver k2.5 mocked up. I say mocked as it's all snugged down but not torqued or loctited. I was just checking it all out before committing.

I dont care for the weaver base. It is springy. I'm figuring on drilling and tapping the front and installing a nylon tipped screw. I'll likely shoot it first though to get an assessment of how it performs. My concern is, should I knock the gun over, or fall with it.

Also, I'm not planning on scoping it perminately. I figure two things. First, get the mount and rings and all figured out now before I need a scope. Second, mount the scope for accuracy testing. I prefer irons and I'm still good with them, but better with a scope from a rest.

I see a real need for a second M39 here. It's only $ and you can't take it with you. You can always sell one when you come to needing a scope. For now using both seems practical. Tell the wife I said so !

 

[Bazoo]

I went shooting the other day and had my 39as lock the lever again (only once). After about 200 rounds since I thought I remedied the problem.

I gave it some more inspection and thought, and still feel the firing pin is the culprit. I think it's binding on the firing pin retaining stud. I think it moves the bolt just a hair forward, and that causes the bolt to thrust rearward and then lock the bolt/lender together.

I removed the firing pin and keeper and seen that the slot for the keeper, as well as the underneighth of the keeper was pretty rough with machine marks. I removed them and left it with a nice polish. No chance it will grab. I've yet to test fire it other than a few rounds.

Has anyone else ever had experiences of the bolt locking like this on a 39as? Couple pages back I linked to my page I castboolits about this if anyone is interested.

I broke my extractor. When I went to test fire it, it wouldn't extract. Well I be t the extractor a bit and it broke. Then I remembered trying to use a no-go headspace gage and it must have bent my extractor out. I could t get it to slip under the extractor, and tried forcing it gently. I had previously used it but with the bolt stripped. Live and learn.

So I have a new extractor, of the old style, coming.

 

[mnrivrat]

To give you the correct fix to your issue usually means the poster is acclaimed a genius . T give the wrong answer, usually puts them in a "stupid" club. With your fun in my hands, I little doubt doubt I could find and fix the issue. Doing that sight unseen, and gun unhanded is simply a crap shoot. I have learned to avoid internet gunsmithing for the most part. Sorry, but good luck. My advise is to find a reputable gun smith in your area and let them repair the gun. Give them the most detailed description, of the problem and what has been done thus far.

 

[stucat]

Hey Bazoo,
I just joined as well. I have been reading many of the threads on here and learning alot about my new to me gun.
I have a Model 39 with an S5xx serial number. It has some light rust on the barrel. A beautifully figured walnut stock. But the burl has split a bit on the right side.
Can anyone tell me if the rear sight came with a ramp under the rear sight. Mine is missing.
All in all it is in pretty good shape. Getting the 39 bug!!

 

[Tentwing]

Hey Bazoo,
I just joined as well. I have been reading many of the threads on here and learning alot about my new to me gun.
I have a Model 39 with an S5xx serial number. It has some light rust on the barrel. A beautifully figured walnut stock. But the burl has split a bit on the right side.
Can anyone tell me if the rear sight came with a ramp under the rear sight. Mine is missing.
All in all it is in pretty good shape. Getting the 39 bug!!

Welcome to the 39a addiction …… yes your rifle came with a ramp under the rear sight. I think that your. “S”prefix would put your rifle around 1961 year of production? … (might wanna double check that with the Marlin gurus over a the Marlin Owners Forum) . Marlin made some slight changes throughout the years, but the rear sight ramp remained pretty much the same until closer to the end of the last century . I have noticed them for sell on eBay recently as well as gunbroker. The final product should look something like this …… hope this helps………Tentwing

 

[snaffle]

Pardon my ignorance, but when was the last Marlin Golden 39A manufactured? I did a search of the site and could not find any info. Not interested in Remlins, just a JM rifle. I live in Connecticut and purchased a 39A in 2007 thinking that was going to be about it for Marlin. Put a Skinner sight on mine, Wolff reduced power hammer spring (3# trigger pull) and I really think that it is a fun gun. I mourn the passing of Connecticut's firearms industry, Remington being a part of that as well.

 

[tubeshooter]

I think the last of the "JM" stuff would be 2010 (2011?) or earlier.


Remington made their offerings soon thereafter, but many considered them subpar until around 2015 with reports of the REP guns "getting it together" by then. They ceased production in 2020.