The Marlin 39 Club

[Nematocyst]

Mr. T, welcome in.
We be rockin'.

FFrank!
Welcome back.
Where you been, bud?!

Rhetorical question. No response necessary.
I've been mostly away, also. Long story.

But ... we still be rockin'.

[Fast Frank]

I've been around, Nemo... And doing fine.

Still have both my model 39s. You get yours cut down yet?

Here's the story about the dead crow, if anybody is interested.

http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/ri...rlin-39-a.html

[Nematocyst]

Nice shot! You're a fine story teller, Frank.

Mine? No, still in storage on the west coast where I left it in June, 2010. It's been a rough 2 years; things didn't work out at all like I'd planned. I'd hoped to have it - and my others (336, 65, 642) - shipped here in less than a year.

Oh, well, life is what happens when you're making plans.

Things are looking up, though. I hope to see it before year's end.

[casecolor]

Well my 39m that I bought off gunbroker a couple weeks ago arived at the shop a few days ago, and the stock is broke in two, so I wrote to the seller and he said he will coved the cost of a replacement stock, ( must have broke while being shipped ) so that was darn nice of him, and make's me feel better about the deal. Still I kind of wanted it to all be original wood to the rifle but thats how it gose sometomes.

So when I pick it up from the shop with the new stock I will get some pictures up, wonder if the stock will match the forearm? guess will see.
FastFrank,cool story about shooting the longrange crow!

[Nematocyst]

Case, you're lucky the seller is so kind - wow, that's impressive. But I can understand your disappointment. Original furniture is valued.

I'd be concerned also with the stock matching the fore end.

[habbiefun]

thanks for the info guys

[CB900F]

Casecolor;

Please ask your seller where they're planning on obtaining the replacement original wood. I'm also looking for, at the very lease, an original replacement buttstock. Although I'd rather have a matched set with the perchbelly forend.

900F

[casecolor]

Hi CB900F, yes I will ask the gunshop where they got the replacement stock from, I wont be able to pick it up for a couple more week's, work schedual right now pretty much taking up all my time, but cant wait to see it agin!

[Nematocyst]

Although I'd rather have a matched set with the perchbelly forend.

CB, "perchbelly" is a new word for me.

Is that really what they're called, or did you make it up?

Either is fine - not being critical at all - just curious.

Trying to picture what that looks like. I kinda see it (I used to fish for bream.)

Pic?

[CB900F]

Nematocyst;

I've heard it called that, on this thread too I think. Pity is, I can find all kinds of places that want to sell me custom stocks for my 39 that needs one, but either original replacements or made to original specs are dammed hard to find. I'd like to get a fairly plain straight-grained walnut set in the just post WWII style. You know, no white line spacers, no bullseyes, and the larger forend. You wouldn't think it'd be too hard. Hah!

I'd found a 1964 that had been abused as a child, and have been bringing it back to good condition. However, it has obviously mis-matched wood & the buttstock doesn't fit at all well, it's equally obviously off another gun. Therefore the desire to rectify the situation & do it in just post war style I like.

900F

[bergmen]

Originally Posted by CB900F

Nematocyst;

I've heard it called that, on this thread too I think. Pity is, I can find all kinds of places that want to sell me custom stocks for my 39 that needs one, but either original replacements or made to original specs are dammed hard to find. I'd like to get a fairly plain straight-grained walnut set in the just post WWII style. You know, no white line spacers, no bullseyes, and the larger forend. You wouldn't think it'd be too hard. Hah!

I'd found a 1964 that had been abused as a child, and have been bringing it back to good condition. However, it has obviously mis-matched wood & the buttstock doesn't fit at all well, it's equally obviously off another gun. Therefore the desire to rectify the situation & do it in just post war style I like.

900F

The stock I show on mine (post #3886) is a Marlin stock my gunsmith found and fitted to my rifle. I don't know where he found it but it really dresses the rifle up.

Dan

[kimberkid]

Numrich is your friend ... they have a couple walnut stock listed.

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/...aspx?catid=639

I picked up an 1949 39A at a garage sale for $50 that needed a barrel, found a 20" Century Limited model on eBay, cut down the feed tube and installed it but the forend wouldn't fit. I found a Century limited forend on Numrich and was able to complete the project ... I stripped the stock and they came out pretty close, its my favorite 39

It's pictured a few pages back but here it is again;

[trished]

I'm new to the club hope I don't make a mistake. Here goes. MY father-in-law gave me the captioned rifle in 1973. It is new, never been fired. In doing some research I found a picture of the rifle which had a brass plate on the stock saying "39 Century Ltd. 100 marlin years". He had purchased it from an employee of Marlin. Can anyone offer an opinion as to why my rifle is missing this plate and how may it effect its value. I was also told that the serial number was 75. Can anyone help.

[dfariswheel]

The rifle may have been one sold to a Marlin employee, either because it had a cosmetic defect that they didn't want to sell, or because they simply gave employees the option to buy rifles.
Possibly the commemorative plate was never put on to start with because the rifle was not to be sold to the public.

The serial number should be stamped on the top of the receiver tang.
If it's stamped just "75" then that's the serial number.

Whether all this would make the rifle more or less valuable is hard to say.
It might be more valuable because it was an employee sales rifle, but in order for that, you'd need documentation stating that it was. The lack of the plate and the low serial number might be a wash per value.

So, without some provenance listing it as a rifle sold by a Marlin employee, value is uncertain.

[trished]

I found the serial #0075 on the receiver tang as you suggested. Thanks. I also have the document signed by the President of Marlin to the employee presenting the matched pair serial #75 Commeratives but not the 39 Century Limited.

[Anacostia-Tin-Knocker]

Hi, I'm new to this sort of thing (computer talking), so please be gentle with me. I have the opportunity to acquire a Model 39 serial # HS 403. I have been able to determine that this model was made between 1932 (it has a steel bead on the front sight as opposed to ivory) and 1936 (the advent of the model 39 A)
Would appreciate it if someone could help me to place a fair value on it so that I can make an offer. As found condition, I,m not looking to sell or make a profit off of this rifle, as it will remain in my collection. Any help?
Thanks

[dfariswheel]

Value is assigned by the amount of original factory finish remaining, and on it being in original factory configuration.
These rifles originally had color case hardened receivers and blued barrel and parts

Note that the HS serial number prefix indicates the rifle was made to fire modern High Speed ammo, but I wouldn't shoot the hot "Stinger" types.

The Blue Book will be low due to publisher lead time, and lagging estimates of market prices, so these prices will be on the low side.
The front chapters of the Blue Book have an excellent tutorial on how to grade a firearm. This is available at most better book sellers in the gun books section. It's a massive paperback:

60%--$1,600
70%--$2,200
80%--$2,750
90%--$3,250
95%--$4,500

[jherk]

guys,
I had these guns for awhile now and noticed the golden 39 carbine in the box has a hammer spur and sling swivels, the standard 39 carbine has none. both have the 3/4 mag tube and tapered barrel,AA prefix man. in 1965
Any help is appreciated
Thanks, John

PS The box for the "golden" end label is marked "golden modle 39 carbine"

[dfariswheel]

The Golden Model 39 Carbine was made from 1963 to 1967.
It had a 3/4 magazine tube and a light barrel.
Otherwise it was similar to the 39M.

Marlin made 9,695 of them.

[bergmen]

Originally Posted by bergmen

I just got my 39A back from my local gunny after having him do a complete makeover. I bought this rifle back in the 70's when Best in Cupertino, California had a sale on them ($120.00). I had to go through three or four rifles before I picked one out that I could live with. Even though these were the norm for the day, several had sticky actions that I found unacceptable.

The rifle came stock with an uncheckered maple (I think) stock. Somewhat plain, in my opinion.

Here is what I had the gunsmith do:

1) Hand fit a select, checkered walnut stock and hand rub to a gloss finish.
2) Complete the edge rounding on the finger lever that I had started years ago. The trigger was rounded by me at that time and gold plated.
3) Send the metal parts out for a mirror finish polish and deep, dark blue.

Here is what I received after three months of work:







close-up of the reciever showing the reflections of my camera and the insulation on the inside of the roof over the firing line:



I had previously slicked up the action myself over the years. When I got it back, it was a bit dry so I disassembled the gun, cleaned up all the parts and oiled and adjusted everything to perfection. I removed the brass magazine tube and polished it to a high mirror finish.

I just got back from the range today to sight it back in and I have to tell you this is an indescribably outstanding example of the 39A. Slick, pin-point accurate and a great joy to shoot.

My grandkids are going to be happy with this rifle someday.

Dan

My original post apparently was too old to edit out the Webshots links.

Dan

[rdefabri]

Hi all - new here. Getting back in the game after about a 15 year layoff (kids, work, etc). Have bought and sold a few guns over the years, but kept the .22 rifle my Dad taught me to shoot on.

Turns out it's a Marlin Golden 39A. Never thought much of it, but as I'm in NJ, having the tube magazine is really nice.

What's vexing me is the serial number - it's a 1961 model - the U is clearly stamped under the lever, but the number is "259", which seems like a low number compared to some of the other serial numbers I've seen.

The gun is in very good shape, but I'm thinking of selling as I'm not a fan of lever action. From what I can tell, it's probably worth $300-500 - any thoughts?

[Fast Frank]

Thoughts?

Yeah. Selling the gun your dad gave you to learn to shoot with would be a big mistake.

It can never be replaced.

Oh yeah, you can buy one just like it, but it's not the same.

Keep it. Some day, you can give it to your kids and tell them about how your dad gave it to you.

Besides, it's a Marlin 39.

It's a great little rifle and fun to shoot.

The three or five hundred dollars that the rifle is worth is nothing when compared to a lifetime of memories.

Look at the second post on page two of this thread, and you will see where I'm coming from.

And welcome to the 39 club.

[rdefabri]

Thanks - appreciate the welcome! I did read your post, it's awesome that you want to pass on the memories you had with your father to your grand kids.

My father and I have always been a little less attached to guns - we're not collectors by any stretch, and we do have other non-firearms related pursuits we share (vintage cars, sports memorabilia, etc). Now, if we were talking his .38 S&W snubbie, that would be different. I have very fond memories of shooting that, and I am hoping to make a deal to get it from him!

The nice thing about the 39a is the tubular magazine. NJ has some pretty draconian laws, but this thing can hold a good number of rounds, which makes it particularly desirable in that regard.

The apparent quality of the weapon can't be ignored, but as I have young daughters, the heft and size would be too much for them to learn on. Was thinking of getting something like the M&P15-22 for that purpose, hence why I considered selling.

I didn't realize the passion people have for this rifle - it warrants a trip to the range to put it through its paces. Hasn't been used in 30 years, so a nice cleaning is in order. Otherwise, it's in fantastic condition - hardly used.

Was I wrong about the serial number? Does U259 sound right? That's definitely what it's showing...

[dfariswheel]

U" shows as...... "The year of manufacture for U = 1960 (August)-1961".

Keep the Marlin, you own the finest lever action .22 ever made. It's like owning a Rolls Royce, it doesn't get any better, and yours was made when quality was very high.

[CB900F]

Rdefabri;

I recognize that you and your father are not deeply invested in the firearms culture & do have other mutual interests. But. What about your children? It's entirely possible that a child of yours would absolutely cherish having a third generation gun passed from grandfather, to father, to them.

900F