The Marlin 39 Club

[wabo100]

Here is a picture of the 39D I picked up

[tubeshooter]

Nice to see the clubhouse still up and running!


Special thanks to dfariswheel for his knowledge and continued willingness to answer questions. Thank you, sir.

[sgray1489]

I need help identifying a rifle I just received from my father. On the top of the rifle barrel I see this: "MARLIN FIRE-ARMS. NEW-HAVEN,CT.U.S.A." on one line, and below that, "PAT'D NOV.19,1878.APRIL, 2,1889.AUG.12,1890,MARCH 1,1892". The serial number on the bottom of the gun is 412119. Here are some photos of the gun:

[dfariswheel]

You have a Marlin Model 1897 rifle.
"Model '97" will be stamped on the top tang, under the tang sight.

These were made from 1897 to 1922., when it was replaced by the Model 39.
My serial number references don't show when that serial number was made, but I'd suspect sometime after WWI.

It's fitted with a tang sight, which if a factory option would up the value.
The 1897 was originally finished with a color case hardened receiver, which ages and wears off as is yours.

Value would depend entirely on actual condition, which is based on a working rifle in original configuration and on the amount of original finish remaining.
Assuming yours is in 40% it would be worth about $650. These days, the prices are often higher than that.
If the tang sight is original add at least $100.

WARNING: These rifles were made for lower powered .22 ammo. DO NOT fire modern High Velocity ammo or the bolt will break.
Shoot it with ONLY Standard Velocity ammo.

[sgray1489]

Thanks for this information...especially about the type of bullets to use. My son is interested in firing this rifle. The tang sight is marked, "M.S.A.CO GLADSTON,MICH" on one side and "PATENT APPLIED FOR" on the other side.

[jgray]

Hi dfariswheel,
Sorry for the late reply. No the pin is not loose in the tube. The pin is not very snug, but loose in the key way in the outer steel tube.

Thanks,

jgray

[jgray]

Hi dfariswheel,
Sorry for the late reply. No the pin is not loose in the tube. The pin is not very snug, but loose in the key way in the outer steel tube.

Thanks,

jgray

[dfariswheel]

Most of these are a little loose, that's to make it easier to use.

Choices are to gently close the end of the outer tube or to replace the inner tube pin with a larger pin.
I'd go with closing the outer tube in the key-way area, but not too much.

If you're having problems with the inner tube staying put, you can very carefully use a round needle file to deepen the slot for the pin to give it more a of a lock.
You file the slot for the pin toward the muzzle just a little.

[Leadhead]

Hi dfariswheel,
Sorry for the late reply. No the pin is not loose in the tube. The pin is not very snug, but loose in the key way in the outer steel tube.

Thanks,

jgray

Like I said earlier I think I know what you are describing and I've solved the loose lock issue with a small o ring to put a little forward tension on the plunger.....if you have some random o rings like I did just try one and see if it fits otherwise you might have to spend a buck or so on some o rings.

[jgray]

Thanks dfariswheel & leadhead! Appreciate the info.

Thanks,

jgray

[Badlander]

Picked this one up yesterday. A 1979 Golden 39 A Mountie.

[Leadhead]

That's a beauty Badlander! Lovin that wood and it looks to be in mint shape too....

[ultramag44]

My LGS took this 1960 model in last spring. I made a scope base.

[philbert]

Hello club. I'm a new member of THR like so many others because of this thread. I've been reading the pages for months now and I'm convinced the 39 is the way to go.

I'd been visiting various emporiums for quite some time looking for another 22 with nothing in particular in mind. I found a 336A 2001 vintage that had been rarely put to use, very clean and tight, and got out the door for less than Franklin X 3. In this neck of the woods, I could have been charged with some degree of theft. I was so impressed that I began looking into what Marlin might offer in 22. My 1957 Mossberg may have to get used to a lever gun roommate.

Well, long story boring, 39's of any variety/age/condition just don't seem to exist here. So I went through page after page reading how people just got a (place variable here) and were thrilled. Sometimes they paid too much and everyone worked hard to cure their buyer's remorse. Sometimes they paid too little and everyone celebrated their good fortune or cursed their own ineptitude. Success stories abound about friends who need space for new toys, garage sales, pawnshops, used racks in major outlets. I considered pulling what little hair I have left and then, there she was ... at a fun show. But wait! The takedown screw was missing and there was a step between A and B that, if it existed in a Chevy cylinder, would have required turning a 283 into a 327.

A man's got to know his limitations and I couldn't have fixed her any more than I could bore and stroke a short block Chevy. Back to the search.

I got an e-mail Friday that made me get out the camera and plug in the battery to juice it up. I told the Mrs. that we have to be ready for our granddaughter's costume and the dear girl believed me. The truth is that the e-mail was an invoice from an antique and auction house informing me that I have moved from unrequited enthusiast to collector in one fell swoop. They had a Mountie, a 1985 39A and a 1989 AS with 900 other lots at auction and since I prefer the full size I put a bid in on both the A and the AS hoping to get either of them. At this juncture, I have no strong feelings about the safety so either was fine with me.

I think it was Mo who said he felt personally responsible for keeping up the price of Marlins. He's got an ally in that regard now. The invoice is for a RANSOM because I didn't get either ... I got both. Why didn't I see that coming?

So, according to the mathematics I've seen here ... 1 = 0 and 2 = 1 and "it" may have to be his and hers. It may be two weeks for the shipment to arrive at my pusher. At least the camera will still be charged up and ready to go. If it is true that the only thing better than a 39 is two of 'em, I'll be in hog heaven.

This all excited me so that I've lost my place in reading back pages. Somewhere was the beginning of discussion about measuring the rim of ammo to determine if differences could account for variations in accuracy. I think using a spent .223 case was brilliant and I want to read on ... facinating. No spoilers please, just tell me where the heck I was. The idea of rim thickness variables seems plausible and I have some 35-year old or more Peters that group so tight that I may have to see if they were made with tighter or more consistant specifications than the stuff is today.

[DJR]

Philbert-

Excellent first post, welcome. Only way it could have been better is if you'd gone for the trifecta and got all three!

DJR

[philbert]

Thanks DJR.

Yes, well, the Mossberg may not like this as it is. Three would have been intolerable ... to the bank acct also. Something would have had to go and since my mrs. was introducing me at our reception as "her first husband" I'm pretty sure...

[JSNAPS]

new mountie coming in soon! cant wait!

[Nematocyst]

Well, I haven't been here in forever. Long story about why. Never mind. Sometimes, life is just well beyond hard and you have to deal with it. (I've been without my 39 for 1.5 years; in storage on the other coast. Sucks, but so does reality some times.)

Just checking in for a minute to say "hi". Glad to see this thread ticking.

Keep on keepin' on. Maybe one day, I'll be back again.

[JustsayMo]

Philbert: Welcome aboard! You'll have gotten off cheap if'n those are the only two Marlin 39s you end up with after hanging around with this here bunch. These fellers have spurred my enthusiasm for these fine rifles beyond what I could have imagined . Ain't met a 39 yet I didn't want to buy.

Luckily the wife is an understanding woman with a high tolerance for my character defects.

We do like pictures so post em if you can when you take possession. I'll also be eagerly looking forward to the range reports.

Nem! Great to see you back. I was thinkin' we might need to send a posse after ya. Very glad to see ya show up again fireside.

You ain't had a vacation in a decade (maybe longer) so how bout fetchin' yer 39 and doing some Grouse hunting with me. It's been a good year here in yer ol' stompin grounds. I still need to get one with the 1897 Cowboy but the Single Six seems to be the one I have when I the opportunity presents itself this year.

[vaupet]

boy o boy,
went in to the lgs last friday for some ammo, but I was very pressed for time.
On the way out I greeted one of my shooting club friends.

That evening at the range he said: look what I picked up today: a like new 1989 39a mountie, 16" barrel, straight stock, smooth rifle.

Grapes were sour when I congratulated him on a very nice find

(they are extremely rare over here)

[JustsayMo]

Vaupet: On the bright side, at least there are some and you know where at least one of them is.

A friend of mine just sent one of his 336 Cowboys over to a pard in New Zealand. It was expensive by our standards but I guess it was a comparatively good deal for our Kiwi friend due to their scarcity and value.

[CB900F]

Vaupet;

If that gun really had a 16" barrel & was a 1989, then it's very possible that it wasn't a Mountie, it was a TDS. Which means that it's a lot scarcer item than a Mountie. Was there a take-down carry case with it? How about the extremely rare "Blue Plastic Action Keeper", which kept the disassembled action parts from flopping around in the case?

900F

[vaupet]

txs, this really made me feel better

at least I will be on the lookout for him at the range.

[bones9]

does anyone have a 39 in nickel

[CaliCoastie]

question on the finish on a marlin 1960 mountie, was it a realy rich/shinny bluing job?