Marlin 39A Questions

[wanderinwalker]

I was going to ask this on rimfirecentral, but they appear to be down currently.

At the local gunshop today I found a neat used Marlin 39A on the rack. It obviously spent some time as a knock-about rifle somewhere. The finish is full patina, all browned out, not really blued anywhere anymore, but not rusted. It had an aperture sight on it, though I'm not sure what brand. The action was tight and the takedown screw slot didn't even look buggered. The bore and crown looked good too. The rear sight on the barrel was a folding unit, but not the ladder type, just a leaf like on a Ruger 10/22 carbine. It was a round barrel and I swear the forearm was slim, not the thick style you get on a modern Marlin.

Now, my big question is how old this rifle might be. The SN was listed as 17XXX. I did not pick it up, as I am trying to do some research before the plunge. The asking price is $400.

Thoughts and input from the board appreciated! I am contemplating this as my Christmas/birthday present.

 

[hometheaterman]

Wow that's a lot for a rifle that sounds pretty rough. A friend bought one in like new condition for $200 a few months back. Now his is the newer one, and he did get one heck of a deal, but still I can't see paying double that for a beat up one. I see them all the time in the $300-350 range in great shape.

 

[jmr40]

Are there any letters prior to the numbers in the SN. If so go to www.armscollectors.com and scroll down to the Marlin section. Plug in the letters for the date of manufacture. If there are no letters the date is 1983. Just subtract the first 2 digits of the SN from 100 to get the date of manufacture.

If the gun is old enough to have letter prefixes, and if it is one of the straight grip Mounties $400 would be a good price. That might be a bit higher than I'd want to pay for a more modern 1983 model. But then I've not priced new ones lately. I also like the thinner forearm on the older models so that would be a consideration too.

 

[wanderinwalker]

Thanks guys!

I don't know if there were letters in the serial number, I was going off of the hanging tag and didn't check the rifle for the stamped SN. It was definitely NOT a 1983 or newer, it didn't have Micro-groove rifling.

This rifle here on Gunbroker is very similar, but has much better finish.

 

[Shear_stress]

Unless it turns out to be an early model (39 not 39A), four bills is way too much for that rifle in that condition.

 

[jmr40]

The rifle's SN on gunbroker started with AA. That works out to 1965 according to www.armscollectors.com. If the rifle you are looking at is similar in style, then somewhere around 1965 sounds reasonable.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

If it had Ballard rifling it is pre 1954. If memory serves me correctly, Marlin stopped using Ballard in the 39a around the time Micro Groove was introduced. Not 100% sure on that though.

 

[Flintknapper]

My "Moutie" is serial # AC18XXX and was made in 1967, so....1965 for that one sounds about right.

Mine is in near perfect condition though.

 

[wanderinwalker]

Thread resurrection: The rifle was still there last Sunday, and there is a character in front of the serial number under the lever. It was difficult to tell if it is supposed to be a C or an E, but it was definitely a factory mark.

 

[SwampWolf]

Given the condition as you describe, unless you are a collector and the rifle being considered is a bona fide collector's find (and, because it's a 39A instead of the older Model 39, I doubt that it is), the price seems to be $150.00 or so too high-at least in these parts.

 

[Finprof]

39a

Around here, and I live in an expensive part of the country, you can get a near-new 39a for $400. I paid $600 for a near-new 1897CB that had been set up for silhuette with a trigger job, Lyman 17a front and Marbles rear.