ColdSpring
Member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2020
- Messages
- 68
Got bitten by the lever bug a few years back, but had yet to pick up one in .22. Wanted an older 39A from the start but, well... $$$. Just looking for a mechanically sound shooter, nothing mint. The few I'd seen around were priced crazy high. Can't really say "overpriced" because they did sell fast.
Did my monthly check at a local fun store that specializes in things you won't find at a big box store (or most gun shops period); racks full of walnut & steel long guns, & cases full of classic autoloaders, revolvers & Contenders. Love to browse there, but have only bought from them a few times- they're fairly proud of their wares. Not a knock on them, most of what's there isn't being made anymore, and the market is what it is. The business model has kept them around as lots of other smaller gun shops went the way of the dodo.
See this one tucked away in the least visible spot on the racks (maybe why it was still there???), & take a closer look. It has cosmetic issues to be sure, but seems in good working condition. Serial number dates it to 1956 (no "space age" materials in this pre-Sputnik rifle ). Slip in a drywall anchor for a snap cap to test the trigger & to my surprise, it's fantastic. Crisp like a tater that spent all day in the deep fryer, and measured at 1lb 14oz when I got it home. Bore is excellent.
And best of all, price is what you'd expect for a base 10/22 with a low end scope. Yes, please.
Certainly some reasons for the (relatively) low price. Stock has plenty of dings, a few scratches on the receiver, some buggered screws. Front sight hood & the Marlin bullseye insert are missing. Barrel has a patina all around (actually, I really dig that). Four little filler screws on the left side of the barrel just forward of the receiver- this may actually be factory, apparently some 39A's were factory drilled & tapped in that location for some sort of scope mount, only from 1954-1956 & only for rifles that were sold through Sears. Those rifles also allegedly shipped without sling studs as well, & this one doesn't have them. Not well versed enough in Marlin history to judge whether or not this is all 100% accurate, but the holes are well done whether by the factory, a smith, or a previous owner. Regardless, I do think their presence played a role in the pricing.
The weirdest (to me) things are the hammer, lever, bolt & fore end cap. At first I thought they'd lost or been stripped of their blue, but now pretty sure they've been nickeled or chromed. Not a nickel/chrome guy, but in this case it isn't even close to a deal breaker.
Took everything apart to clean when I got home, and the innards are in good shape. Almost certain the trigger has been smithed to be that good, but it was well done & the rifle is bump safe. Took a little while to clean the action out, but it was mostly old lubricant, very little else. Greased everything that rubs, and headed to the range.
No time today for a real accuracy test, though I shot it well enough offhand to think it's going to be pretty good. Functioned perfectly through a decade old box of CCI Blazers and a dozen CCI SV, feeding & extraction were flawless, & it spits out empties with vigor. Pin strikes nice & deep.
I now get why those who have them love them. What a joy to shoot!
Did my monthly check at a local fun store that specializes in things you won't find at a big box store (or most gun shops period); racks full of walnut & steel long guns, & cases full of classic autoloaders, revolvers & Contenders. Love to browse there, but have only bought from them a few times- they're fairly proud of their wares. Not a knock on them, most of what's there isn't being made anymore, and the market is what it is. The business model has kept them around as lots of other smaller gun shops went the way of the dodo.
See this one tucked away in the least visible spot on the racks (maybe why it was still there???), & take a closer look. It has cosmetic issues to be sure, but seems in good working condition. Serial number dates it to 1956 (no "space age" materials in this pre-Sputnik rifle ). Slip in a drywall anchor for a snap cap to test the trigger & to my surprise, it's fantastic. Crisp like a tater that spent all day in the deep fryer, and measured at 1lb 14oz when I got it home. Bore is excellent.
And best of all, price is what you'd expect for a base 10/22 with a low end scope. Yes, please.
Certainly some reasons for the (relatively) low price. Stock has plenty of dings, a few scratches on the receiver, some buggered screws. Front sight hood & the Marlin bullseye insert are missing. Barrel has a patina all around (actually, I really dig that). Four little filler screws on the left side of the barrel just forward of the receiver- this may actually be factory, apparently some 39A's were factory drilled & tapped in that location for some sort of scope mount, only from 1954-1956 & only for rifles that were sold through Sears. Those rifles also allegedly shipped without sling studs as well, & this one doesn't have them. Not well versed enough in Marlin history to judge whether or not this is all 100% accurate, but the holes are well done whether by the factory, a smith, or a previous owner. Regardless, I do think their presence played a role in the pricing.
The weirdest (to me) things are the hammer, lever, bolt & fore end cap. At first I thought they'd lost or been stripped of their blue, but now pretty sure they've been nickeled or chromed. Not a nickel/chrome guy, but in this case it isn't even close to a deal breaker.
Took everything apart to clean when I got home, and the innards are in good shape. Almost certain the trigger has been smithed to be that good, but it was well done & the rifle is bump safe. Took a little while to clean the action out, but it was mostly old lubricant, very little else. Greased everything that rubs, and headed to the range.
No time today for a real accuracy test, though I shot it well enough offhand to think it's going to be pretty good. Functioned perfectly through a decade old box of CCI Blazers and a dozen CCI SV, feeding & extraction were flawless, & it spits out empties with vigor. Pin strikes nice & deep.
I now get why those who have them love them. What a joy to shoot!