Marlin 39a problem

[slopoke]

Just got my Marlin 39a back after trigger work. Gun will not fire rounds, no fireing pin mark on case. Apparently guy did not follow Marlins recommendations not to move lever after take-down. I don't think this was purposely done, the guy was just clueless. My problem now is I don't want to take it back to him. Any suggestions what I should do?

 

[Jim K]

I can only think of a couple of reasons a Marlin 39A wouldn't fire. Since trigger work was done, the most obvious is that the trigger pull is too light and the hammer is being stopped by the half cock notch. If this is the case, you may need a new hammer and/or trigger; the bill for both parts would be around $30. It is also possible that he weakened the hammer spring (mainspring) to reduce the trigger pull. You should be able to check both possibilities quite easily.

Another possibility is a missing or broken firing pin. You should be able to see if the firing pin is in place in the back of the bolt. If it is, you can easily check to see if it broken, since the 39 is one of the easiest guns to disassemble to that extent. Just unscrew the big knurled screw on the right side and the receiver splits apart. Just make sure you don't lose the ejector which sits in the left receiver wall.

Jim

 

[standingbear]

....does the hammer fall all the way forward when you depress the trigger?can you put the hammer at half cock?
I'm sitting here looking at mine and curious what was actually done to your marlin.the firing pin should stick out a eighth-a sixteenth an inch when you work the lever with the hammer back at its farthest point,pulling back on the lever-ready to fire.I think the firing pin is free floating but it should still fire as long as it hasnt been shortened or damaged.
I would let him know that after he worked on it,it now wont fire.An honorable smith would correct this, he should have test fired it after working on it ...it depends on how much damage has been done to it by the guy "adjusting" the trigger but I would still notify him of the problem and go from there.

 

[standingbear]

oops..sl;ow internet..sorry double post

 

[slopoke]

Thanks Jim and Bear. No half cock and I cannot see fireing pin protruding from bolt. This guy is a reputable gunsmith, has buit many fine 1000yd. guns and has always done right by me in the past. Probably will go back to him. Thanks again.

 

[Jim K]

It sounds like he has your firing pin lying around some place. I wonder about a gunsmith who doesn't test fire after finishing his work; I know I always did.

Jim

 

[standingbear]

No half cock and I cannot see fireing pin protruding from bolt.

no half cock on the hammer?did the newer 39s not have a halfcock...I dunno,Im stumped now too.
when you first work the lever forward..stop. the flat piece that encloses the right side goes back,you should see the firing pin amongst the chunk of steel coming back.it'll look like a thin square rod about an eighth around,poking out of that stuff that just moved back.its just off center.
anyhow,it should be plainly visable from the top with the lever pulled forward and the "chunk" moved back.if theres a gap ..then its missing.
I dunno what to say about the half cock,I have an older 39A and its got it..course the newer ones now have a button safety which mine doesnt,so I dunno.At half cock,the hammer on mine stops just a tiny amount from the firing pin sticking out...then the hammer's pulled back and ready to fire.

let us know how it worked out or if it didnt,theres some good people here that may just fix it for you too.