The Marlin 39 Club

[JustsayMo]

I think the "Black Gold" on a 39 would go real well with these.



Those ain't mine but I do admire em.

[Irish Bird Dog]

two different Blackhawks there.................different at the rear sights....& maybe even the front sight blades....

[Walkalong]

I haven't checked the year it was made, but my father traded a shotgun for it in the 50's or 60's. I have the original rear sight tucked away safe. I paid $2.00 for the used Tasco many years ago.

[2 Wild Dueces]

I have not yet recieved my Skinner peep...but it's been shipped.

When installing my skinner peep sight, can I just remove the "elevation" wedge on my the standard rear sight? (I don't have the folding rear sight on my Century Ltd). Will doing such get the Marlin's sight low enough to use the peep....or should the original rear sight be removed?

I have a feeling that I should have bought one of those "barrel slot filler wedges" from skinner, in order to dress things up a tad.

[Irish Bird Dog]

double duece.....don't really know from experience BUT maybe you could get by with putting the "elevator" down to the lowest level..thus lowering the v-notch blade a bit,,,.& maybe "see" over it with the peep.....maybe....or even remove the "elevator" altogether for a tad more less height of the v-notch blade. Let us know how it goes. Be nice if you would post a pic of the new installation.

[2 Wild Dueces]

Yep. Will post a pic when I get the sights installed (later this week...I hope). From looking at some other pics, I'm quite sure one should remove the barrel sight in order to get a good "round" sight picture of the front sight. When I stop to think about it.....I gotta believe that NOT doing so would serve to skew the natural tendency of your eye to quickly and properly align the front sight.

And....these old eyes need all the help they can get.

I own quite a few guns.....but I've only owned one other gun with a peep sight (an old muzzle-loader) and that has been quite some years ago. Kinda like learning stuff all over again - fun!

I'm putting the skinner peeps on another gun I bought too. (A Rossi '92 SS with 20" bbl in 38/357.) I'm hoping I like these peeps. I think I will like the durability of these sights for use on our 4 wheelers and such. This gun will see considerable use as an all-purpose "ranch gun".

[mainmech48]

'Way late to this party. I've had my beloved 39M for well over thirty years now. Wouldn't trade it for diamonds.

It's worn a Williams Fool Proof receiver sight since the first payday after I bought it. Several years ago the front bead was swapped for a Firesight FO blade and open-top hood in deferrence to my now bifocal-clad eyes. The stock open rear is still in place, as with its leaf folded down it doesn't get in the way and I've always been kind of a "belt-and-suspenders" guy anyway. The only other departure from OEM was a set of Uncle Mike's QD swivels and a carry strap.

[2 Wild Dueces]

I ordered two sets of Skinner sights the other day. One set for my Marlin 39 and a ss barrel mounted sight for my Rossi 92 SS, in 357 mag.

The Rossi sight showed up first so I filed it a tad to fit the barrel's dovetail and visually aligned the sight as I drove it onto the barrel. I checked it with a laser bore sight and it looked good in the house.

Today. I took a quick stop at a makeshift range and fired the Rossi at 25 yards to check the sights. It was spot-on without further adjustments. I likely will sight it in for longer range...but time did not allow today. I liked the way the Skinner's worked for me (rapid target acquisition) and now I'm anxious to try the receiver mounted sight mounted closer to my eye....as in the arrangement on the Marlin. Seems like a perfect match.

I digress. Back to your regularly scheduled programming (Marlin 39 stuff).

[Kerry Wagner]

I love the older Model 39s - best 22 ever made in my opinion. I have a mint 39 Octagon and an old beatup model 39D.

Anyone know about the 39D? I never saw and manufactured numbers or years or any other info.

Don't see them anywhere to speak of and I haven't seen one for sale in stores, pawnshops, or shows for the last 15 years.

What's the deal? I guess anyone lucky enough to have a good one won't let go?

[dfariswheel]

These days you rarely see any Marlin 39 series rifle anywhere.

The 39-D was only produced from 1971 to 1973, so production was low.

[toysoldier]

There's 39's at every gun show I've attended. As "the greatest geneeration" passes, their guns are coming on the market. My other favorite .22, the Remington Model 12, has gone from "never seen" to "one in every rack" status over the last 10 years.

[2 Wild Dueces]

I've accumulated 3 Marlin 39's over the past few months. A current 39a, a Century Ltd, and I just bought 39 Mountie which is being shipped to me. I will get a pic up when everything is in one place. These little guns are addicting.

Any advice for a sling on the Mountie? Not sure if they are set up for 1" or 1 1/4" leather? Maybe I need to be patient (grin).

[Irish Bird Dog]

I have run across at least one M39 at various small guns shows here in N WI this past 3 months & sometimes more than one. Most of them were what I think of as newer versions....checkered stocks, hooded front sights...only one Mountie type and the rest "rifles"......and even one 39 rifle with a Custom "bent" butt stock made for a left eye shooter who was right handed..so shot from right shoulder but used his left eye...required to shoot that way by a physical problem. Nice stock work but not for average shooter.

[Huckelberry75]

I found an interesting piece of information over on Shooter's Forum for dating your Marlin Lever guns. If this thing holds true, my 39 is either a 1945 or 1949 model. The letter is so worn that I can't tell if it's a "C" or "G". I know it isn't a later model, b/c of the sights. Not too bad of a trade, I have $50 in the deal, $65 if you count the old style rear sight blade from Numrich Gun Parts. No wonder the new model folding rear leaf sight wouldn't adjust the POA correctly. Now she shoots like a dream.



"MARLIN Manufacturing DATE CODE.

(22 caliber bolt action & semi-autos were not serial numbered prior to 1969)
Firearm serial numbers were date coded by a prefix within the s/n, as signified below.
For example a Marlin model 39A with a serial number of N1255X would have been made in 1955
while a 1894 in 44 magnum with a serial number of 2510509X, would have equated to 1975
LEVER ACTIONS ALL FIREARMS
1945 = C 1957 = R 1968 = AD 1981 = 19 1993 = 7
1946 = D 1958 = S 1970 = 70 1982 = 18 1994 = 6
1947 = E 1959 = T 1971 = 71 1983 = 17 1995 = 5
1948 = F 1960 = U 1972 = 72 1984 = 16 1996 = 4
1949 = G 1961 = V 1973 = 73 & 27 1985 = 15 1997 = 3
1950 = H 1962 = W 1974 = 26 1986 = 14 1998 = 2
1951 = J 1963 = Y 1975 = 25 1987 = 13 1999 = 1
1952 = K 1964 = Z 1976 = 24 1988 = 12 2000 = 0
1953 = L 1965 = AA 1977 = 23 1989 = 11
1954 = M 1966 = AB 1978 = 22 1990 = 10
1955 = N 1967 = AC 1979 = 21 1991 = 9
1956 = P 1968 = AD 1980 = 20 1992 = 8"
__________________

[B23]

I recently found out about this particular thread. WOW! Never knew these 39A's were so popular.

My first ever purchase with my own money was a brand new 39A, from Sears if I recall, back in the early 80's. I put thousands of rounds thru it then sold in the late 80's.

I bought another one couple years back but didn't shoot it much till recently. It shoots great but it has a VERY heavy trigger pull and the action seems a bit roughish. It just seems kinda rough and draggy when you cycle rounds thru it.

Does anyone know of a really good Marlin 39A "smith" that can maybe lighten the trigger pull and polish and or smooth out the action? If this is the wrong place to ask, my apologizes.

Thank you for any and all help

Bryan

[JohnBT]

I think that date code list is a little off. My '63 Mountie has a W. This is part of the list from the Marlin Collectors Association.


1958-R
1959-S
1960 (August)-1961-U
1961 (August)-1962-V
1963-W
1964-Y,-Z
1965-AA
1966-AB

[2 Wild Dueces]

Originally Posted by B23

I recently found out about this particular thread. WOW! Never knew these 39A's were so popular.

My first ever purchase with my own money was a brand new 39A, from Sears if I recall, back in the early 80's. I put thousands of rounds thru it then sold in the late 80's.

I bought another one couple years back but didn't shoot it much till recently. It shoots great but it has a VERY heavy trigger pull and the action seems a bit roughish. It just seems kinda rough and draggy when you cycle rounds thru it.

Does anyone know of a really good Marlin 39A "smith" that can maybe lighten the trigger pull and polish and or smooth out the action? If this is the wrong place to ask, my apologizes.

Thank you for any and all help

Bryan

Your in the right place to ask questions on a 39. Ahlmans in Morristown MN is quite famous for repairs on most lever guns and is an authorized Marlin repair center. I'm told they slick up lots of cowboy action guns and such. I think they have about 6 smiths work there - maybe more. Marlin lists the authorized repair folks on their website (I think they only list 1/2 dozen or so). You may find one closer to your home.

[2 Wild Dueces]

Here's a pic of an '82Mountie I just bought.....but, it's still in transit. The prior owner had put a skinner peep and replaced the front sight too (still has the originals that go with the sale). I paid a bit much but it seems like a nice gun. Anxious to get my hands on it. Hope it's a shooter.

[JustsayMo]

Nice grab 2 Wild Dueces!

I'm sure any sting the price inflicted will dissipate rapidly once you get it to the range. I've had a number of rifles I felt for a short time I may have paid too much for only to discover that I wouldn't part with them for many times the price. I'm pretty sure too at the end of my days I'm not going to be too worried about those few extra dollars, instead I'll be glad for the memories I made with what they bought.

To answer and earlier question I like a leather sling. To me it looks "correct".

[Walkalong]

I've had a number of rifles I felt for a short time I may have paid too much for only to discover that I wouldn't part with them for many times the price. I'm pretty sure too at the end of my days I'm not going to be too worried about those few extra dollars, instead I'll be glad for the memories I made with what they bought.

Yup. A few guns that did not pan out, but plenty of gems. When you get a deal and a gem. Wahoo!

[actocs]

I I agree with Mo. Some may think I paid too much for this one. But I've never thought so.
Anyways, nobody could ever buy it from me for any amount of money.
-Scott.

P.S. I put about 6000 rounds through it in the last year. I took this picture of it yesterday.
I don't have it just to own it and look at it. I shoot it a lot!

[dewalt-2]

B23, You can easily do your own action work. Check out Marlin Owners, or Rimfire Central for all the info you need to tweak your rifle. If you read through all the post's in this thread, most of what you need is here as well.

[wrench]

actocs, that is a beautiful rifle!

[pump .22s]

Nematocyst,

I am a Johnny-come-lately to this fine thread, and this is my first post here...saw a reference to it over in Rimfire Central, so started reading the posts about the Marlin 39 - in my collection I do have a '92, a TDS, a Mountie, and the 1970 Century Limited - so I was interested in the comments and information. When I saw this comment from you in Post #92, I perked up:

"I'm a biologist teaching college-level classes in biology, including cell molecular stuff. I'm one of those teachers that you had to tolerate on your way to pharmacy school, you know, the ones that made you understand the citric acid cycle and chemiosmosis and write essay questions about them?"

As a retired Biology instructor of 40 years and still doing a little teaching in the local Junior college here, I am quiet familiar with chemiosmosis, citric acid cycle, etc. etc. I don't often meet a fellow gun enthusiast with a comparable occupational background.

I know this post is several years down the road, but if membership is still open in this club, sign me up. Meanwhile, I plan to read all the posts in this thread since its inception, but, as you see, I am just on page four. ):

[2 Wild Dueces]

Originally Posted by actocs

I I agree with Mo. Some may think I paid too much for this one. But I've never thought so.
Anyways, nobody could ever buy it from me for any amount of money.
-Scott.

P.S. I put about 6000 rounds through it in the last year. I took this picture of it yesterday.
I don't have it just to own it and look at it. I shoot it a lot!

Very good looking gun Scott. We have two things in common - both from the "country" in MN and both own 39's. Glad to see you shoot that piece....thats why I own 'em too.