The Marlin 39 Club

OK, I picked up the "House Fire" .22 today.

It's a sweet little rifle that needs some TLC.

It's a "G" serial number, so that makes it a 1950 model. Amazing.

It's obviously been through hell, but it's 100 percent functional and if the trigger is any indication of how it shoots it's probably going to spank my 2002 version.

We'll see about that when it goes to the range this weekend.

I need to do some more cleanup and repair to this rifle. I'm a little scared to address the lumber for fear of removing some of this rifle's obvious character.

The rust and the damaged blue, however, has got to go.

Last time around I pretty much rubbed at it and removed the gunked up nastiness. I scrubbed at the red rusty spots until they stopped making my eyes hurt.

This time, I think I will get some super fine steel wool and dig a little deeper.

Then, I think I'm going to attempt to patch up the blue a little bit.

My camera hasn't got any batteries in it right now, but I'll get some pics of it before it goes back to it's owner.

This is going to be fun... This rifle will let me shoot four entries in the Valentine's Day Postal Match, and I get to do the whole project thing with it too.

What a deal!

Here's what it looked before I did anything to it last time it was here. These are the "Before" pics.

OK, I got my camera to do one pic before the batteries croaked completly.

Here's what it looks like tonight.

Frank--
That is a fine rifle; I have a similar one, and it is by far my favorite for offhand shooting. The slimmer barrel makes it a joy to hold. Also nice having the tang drilled for a peep sight if you care to go that route. I haven't been around for awhile, so excuse me if it was covered in a previous post, but what is wrong with the wood? It looks pretty good to me..

Cheers,
Todd

The pics don't show it too well, but on the right side of the rifle, just behind the receiver, right about where your hand goes, the finish is bubbled up and dark.

You can sorta see it in the last pic, just behind the take down knob. See how the grain stands out?

I believe it was just a little too close to the fire...

On the left side of the rear stock, starting at the pistol grip and running down to the butt plate are two streaks of very dark, almost black stain.

I believe this is a stain caused from the fireman's water running off of the burning house onto the rifle.

Like I said, I'm not going to try to do anything with the wood because this rifle did survive the fire and it deserves to keep it's character.

And I agree with you... it's a great little rifle just the way it is...

I REALLY appreciate getting a chance to clean and shoot and fondle this rifle.

I just picked up a 39A that was manufactured in 1955.
I know these come apart but mine is real tight and I dont want to force it or should I just leave it alone.

After you have unscrewed the takedown screw tap the barrel against a padded object to seperate the halves.

With the older models I do it like this;

-Make sure it's unloaded (reminder)
-cock the hammer back
-unscrew the take down screw, it doesn't come out
-open the lever slightly, but not enough to move the bolt back more than a smidge
-firmly tap the buttstock on my hip while holding the forend with my left hand and normally gripping the buttstock with my right.
-Careful not to drop the bolt. Usually it stays in the barrel half. In the pre-safety models the firing pin is not retained and can fall out of the groove.

Who makes a nice takedown rifle case? Maybe something along the lines of the Marlin Papoose case.

Nemo-

No, it's just fine inside.

I hope to shoot it this weekend and maybe get some decent pics.

carry case

Hi michael aos
I think something like what is on the page in Sportsman Guide might help.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=408036.
TaKe CaRe
Ted

The Marlin Model 39TDS came with a case very similar to the Papoose case. it was slightly larger if I recall correctly (I've had both).

Perhaps a handi rifle versa pack would work
http://www.hr1871.com/store/default.aspx

Fella's;

Speaking of cases, does anyone know a source of the TDS case & plastic bolt keeper?

900F

I went to the range today with the two 39s.

Didn't shoot "The Great Saint Valentines Day 3x5 Masacree", but I did get to adjust the sights on the house fire rife. It was hitting a little to the left.

I also realized something I already knew, but just wasn't remembering for some reason.

In the past, I had been shooting my 3-9 variable on nine power and complaining about how it worked at 50 yards.

Today, I turned it down to 3 power. MUCH BETTER!

And I shot some pretty nice groups. One five shot 50 yard group was about 3/4" (Bench rested).

All things considered, I'm pretty happy with both of these rifles.

The older one has definitely got a better trigger, and the lighter barrel points easier when I shoot it off hand.

But I have a REAL hard time making those iron sights work.

If the weather holds out, I'm going to kill some 3X5 cards next week.

Here's a better pic of the damaged finish on the stock of that rifle.

It almost looks like a piece of antique furniture.



And the black streak...

The "Ashes and water ran down the stock" idea isn't working for me.

The line is straight as an arrow. Water would follow the curves of the wood as it ran down.

This looks more like a Magic Marker to me.



It's going to stay, whatever it is, because nothing short of a total refinish would help this wood.

I agree, Nemo. That pic does make a statement.

Both of those 39s out shot those "Evil" rifles by a huge margin, too

I think that it's a response to a single incident.

They also won't allow a gun case anywhere on the range.

Apparently, someone went down range only to find that his rifle had been carried away while he was not looking.

I can't imagine it happening. I talk to the people around me at the range, and somebody is always around. I don't see one guy that I let shoot my rifle standing there and saying nothing while another dude walks off with it.

I do that, by the way(Let strangers at the range shoot my guns).

Today, for instance, there was a guy trying to teach his wife to shoot his 336.

I volunteered my 39 for a few shots.

Why not? the 39 is ideal for teaching a small-statured person how to shoot and it won't scare them like a 30-30 might.

Now they aren't strangers any more, and will wave and speak to me next time I see them at the range.

You guys are killin' me. It's 6 degrees as I write this. Snowed all day yesterday. Power was out for two hours last night. Last day of hunting season yesterday so my son and I went out after church.

I have only one window of opportunity to shoot my rifle for the unmagnified side of the match. That will be Monday one week from today. Unless conditions moderate it's going to be tough.

Here are a couple of pictures from yesterday. If you scroll back up the page to the pictures I posted at the range you can see how conditions have changed since Friday when it was just cold.

DJR

Just wanted to share a picture of my 39A and its brother a 336sc The picture was taken with my cell phone so please excuse the quality.

Late to the party

Pics of my 1897 and its grandkid 1894 Cowboy Limited

Rocco: Nothing wrong with that pair. Are you shooting the 39 club postal match? http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=333022

number6jr:Nice 1897 collection you have goin' there. How old is the 1897? How does it shoot?

I will be trying the postal match. Forgot to mention my 39a is a 1972, looks good for its age.

DJR, it's kinda hard to tell under the snow, but is that a '96 Tacoma you are driving?