39 year identification

[39A 1947]

My first attempt at this, newbee.
I have just gained ownership to octagon barrel Marlin 39. It is pretty rough and I would like to clean it all up, remove rust & reblue, refinish wood etc. but I can't seem to find the Mfgr year for sure. Do not want to degrade anything if it is in any way collectable. There is a number on the tang under lever, "12247". I did find one site and punched in this number and it came back with a year mfgr of 1886??.. could that be possible. The tang behind hammer has Marlin with MOD 39 stamped under it. The left side of barrel just behind sight has 22 S-L & L-R with an arrow stamped facing right & left on it. My other Marlin 39A has a "D712" stamped on it and was easy to determine the year as "1946" but this guy has me stuck. All comments will be greatly accepted and needed.
Thanks guys

 

[Art Eatman]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlin_Model_Golden_39A

 

[jmr40]

Or it could be a 1988 made rifle that is just in rough shape. Pics would help! According to Art's link they were in production in 1886, but weren't called 39's until 1921. If it says model 39 or 39A on it then I think it more likely that another marking is there that may be obscured by rust. If not specifically marked as a 39, it may well have been made in 1886.

 

[jr45]

Not sure if you tried the sites below.

http://armscollectors.com/sn/marlinlookup.php
http://www.marlinowners.com/

 

[39A 1947]

Thanks much for input. Will try to get some pic's up to help identify. There is a six pointed star stamped on the hammer side tang where "Marlin MOD 39" is stamped.

 

[39A 1947]

Thank you

 

[CB900F]

39A 1947;

If it doesn't clearly say 39A, then don't shoot modern high-speed ammo in it until you're sure it can safely do so. Before the 39A, early 39's were designed for black-powder .22 rimfire cartridges. There are some transitional 39's marked HS, for high-speed smokeless powder cartridges. All 39A's can handle smokeless, but smokeless .22's can break the bolt of the earlier guns.

900F

 

[39A 1947]

Thanks for the safe info, have learned to listen good sense experience.

 

[CB900F]

39A 1947;

As a suggestion, do a search on this forum for the model 39 club. There's about 200 pages to go through, but also a world of information. I should have mentioned that in my first reply to you also, sorry.

900

 

[39A 1947]

Thank you CB900