Marlin/Revelation .22 ?

[IfYouOnlyKnew]

I am restoring a Western Auto Revelation Model 120, no serial #, date stamp JH, which I understand is an old type Marlin 99 or 60. Possibly manufactured in 1964. Cleaned it well and lightly oiled it and refinished the stock. The charging handle feeds and ejects rounds when I operate it manually. I have not fired it yet. I am waiting for a replacement front trigger guard screw and nut from Brownells. It does not have the last shot bolt open feature.

My question. The charging handle cannot be made to stay in the open position by pushing it in or pulling it out while in the rear postion. Is this normal or does it mean a malfunction? Also, the charging handle itself is a little loose in the reciver to the point that it rattles slightly if I shake the whole rifle.

I have looked at rimfirecentral but can't post there yet for some reason to ask there. Anybody familiar enough with these early Marlin Model 60 clones to let me know if the charging handle is supposed to lock in the rear position or is the inability to do so normal for this rifle? Thanks!

 

[sansone]

mine is a cheap one made for bargain stores, dated 1972 and it doesn't hold open on last shot but it does hold open by pushing IN on the charging handle
edit:1976 production model

 

[quatin]

My question. The charging handle cannot be made to stay in the open position by pushing it in or pulling it out while in the rear postion. Is this normal or does it mean a malfunction? Also, the charging handle itself is a little loose in the reciver to the point that it rattles slightly if I shake the whole rifle.

Marlin only put in the bolt hold open in the 80s I think. There's a little lever under the front of the trigger guard that operates the bolt hold open. 1964 versions definetly won't have them. The loose handle is fine, mine is loose as well. It's not securely fastened to the bolt, but has a large groove in it to catch the bolt when pulled.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

New Marlin M60s have a last shot-hold open device that
can be activated by a lever on the trigger guard.

Before that, the bolt handle could be pulled full to the
rear, then pressed in to hold the bolt open for
cleaning, inspection, etc. (Actually that feature is
also part of the new Model 60s.)

The very first Marlin 99 or 60 models did not have
any sort of bolt hold open device. I had a 99G.
The bolt handle is a little loose, but seperates from
the bolt only when the bolt is removed from the
receiver in a detailed stripping.

Revelation was the Western Auto Stores house brand
applied to guns made for them by several gun makers.
The examples of the Revelation .22 made by Marlin that
I have seen have all been the very early Marlin type.

 

[IfYouOnlyKnew]

Carl Brown, quatin, and sanson1. Thanks for your replies and information. I am pretty certain that this is an early version of the Marlin 99/60 without any hold bolt open feature as indicated by CNB. I will continue to try to absolutely confirm by speaking with Marlin but feel better about firing it when the trigger guard parts are installed. Very helpful message board all around.

 

[115grfmj]

I've got a 90's

vintage marlin 70, loose bolt handle is normal, and fine (they all have that).
If you want a manual bolt hold open, all you need is a ruler, a paint marker, and the proper size drill bit. Other than that, you can upgrade to the new bolt hold open feature, you will need a new marlin stock, and a new lower with the last shot feature, both of with marlin can provide you for about 80 bucks. Your action and barrel are the same as the modern stuff, so they will drop-in fit.