Marlin 39A price??

Last one I saw in a pawn shop was some over 500.
Have to ask. Why, you can get NIB Henry as low as 290?

3yrs ago, at a LGS, I ran across a Marlin 39D for $179!!!
It had several dings, and missing front and rear sights.
I bought a sight set, and a Williams Sourdough reciever Sight.
Current value is over $500.
It ISN’T fo sale!
The “D” Model is a 20” bbl with plain wood (walnut), and barrel band. Sold by K-Mart circa 1971-72...
I steamed and stained the exposed grain. Looks original, as it mostly is... touched up take down screw, too.
Most fun to shoot .22 rifle I own... (several!!!).

Do agree the 39A super gun. Have one myself. Problem is finding one now that would be worth that money. For me it would have to be 100% and preferably in the box. But thats not going to happen. I lucked out, the guy I got mine from thought it was broken. It wouldn't eject. He took 40 for it and all I did was unlock the ejector rod from its cleaning position. Pure luck.
I've been watching an Ithica M40 at a pawn shop. Going to check and see if it is the M40R. Reading on it shows it is a short duration manufacture prelude to the 72. Issues typical ups and downs. Seems in the hands of knowledgeable person it's good. It looks brand new. Checkered stock. Really nice looking. They have it at 225. Waiting for drop. If they drop to 2oo I can probably get it for 175. Kind of hope they don't because I need it like a hole in my head but have problems passing on a good deal.

The 39A has reached an almost "cult status", and for good reason. I bought mine new in the early 1960s and still have it and it's not for sale. I can't imagine a finer built American lever rifle in .22LR.

In recent years up until the point where the 39A stopped being a standard production rifle, the going rate was about $550 or so brand new.

Right now, the 39A is a limited production item. Possibly for the foreseeable future as well.

That has affected the going rate on these rifles.
Is $750 too much? Not to some buyers - but only you can decide.


I bought a Henry lever .22 recently and I like it quite a bit.
One may serve your needs perfectly fine.
I would recommend to handle one and give them some consideration.

Got a 39a golden mountie , sweet little rifle. Bought it from my uncle when I was 12, almost 40 years ago. Wouldn't sell it for 750 but that's just because I've had it so long & it was in the family since new.

I recently saw a mint looking late 70's- early 80's priced at $500. I thought it was a very fair price.

IMO you should be able to get one at a gunshow for about $450-$550. That would be in VG condition and after haggling a bit.

My 39A cost $25, the first rifle I ever shot. My father picked it up in '47. Last time I had it out I killed a coyote--four legged, I assure you. People get chastised when they mention popping two-legged coyotes in these forums.

I paid right at $600 for my 39A and I forget what I paid for my 39TDS, but it was a good bit more than the 39A. I have not regretted either purchase. In my neck of the woods $750 is pretty dang steep for a 39A.

Even if the condition (the main factor, along with scarcity, to consider when determining the value of a used firearm) is great, I think anything much over five hundred bucks is a bit too much. If it was Annie Oakley's rifle, well...

SwampWolf said:

Even if the condition (the main factor, along with scarcity, to consider when determining the value of a used firearm) is great, I think anything much over five hundred bucks is a bit too much. If it was Annie Oakley's rifle, well...

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Depends on where you are. You will not find a decent condition 39 in my neck of the woods for $500. I don’t remember the last 39 I saw that was under $600. Might find a beater for less than $500, but nothing I would want.

Get a Marlin 39 or Winchester 94 pay once you wont cry ever.
The Winchester 9422 are scarce an pricey, I had a coworker that told about a pawn shop where he sold his gun,
just for talking asked did you see any Winchester and said yes, call them and 9422 was ready to be inspected.
I recall leaving early on my shift, you wont regret ever buying one.

I forget what I paid for my 39A, but I wouldn't sell it for $750. The one improvement I did with mine was to install XS Ghost Ring sights, same as I have on my 336.

I just saw one in a Georgia classified bnib "JM" stamped that still has the tags on it for $850.

just another 39A

I think I paid around 450 for my golden 39a a few years ago.

marksman13 said:

Depends on where you are. You will not find a decent condition 39 in my neck of the woods for $500. I don’t remember the last 39 I saw that was under $600. Might find a beater for less than $500, but nothing I would want.

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It's the same for me, $600-750 seems to be the going rate in my area.

I lucked out, picked up a S&W 19-7 from a pawn shop for $500 last year. A few months later a guy on Armslist had a nice JM 39a that he wanted to trade for a .357. It was a tough decision, but the deal seemed worth it for me. I learned to shoot on a 39a, but Dad ended up giving that gun to my little brother and I've wanted one of my own for a while now.

I doubt that prices on 39As are going to go down unless Marlin starts up production again. What seems like a ridiculous price now may sound very reasonable in a few years. I have a 39A made in 1979 that I paid $500 for in a private sale about 5 years ago. The metal is very nice, the action is tight but the finish on the stock does have some wear on the pistol grip area but nothing bad. Even then I felt I got it for a good price for the area where I lived. Too many times I've passed up things I really wanted because I thought it was too expensive but then later when I decided I would get it, the prices had gone even higher.
I shoot metallic silhouette and because of the shortage and price for a Marlin 39A a lot of shooters are buying the Henry Frontier with the 24" barrel. The rifles functions well and are as accurate as the 39A and sell for a reasonable price so you will be well served if you buy one. I was willing to pay more for the Marlin.
As far as the prices for 39As now, it is what it is! The market decides what something is worth, not what some people think it should sell for.

Paid $400 for mine at an estate sale a few months ago. About 80% condition but missing the front sight hood. It's an early 1980s gun.

I think mine (post # 18) is a early 1960's gun. I'll have to look it up again. It originally had the white spacers on the stock. They were cracked, falling apart, etc., so I took them out.