Need help with unusual old .22 rifle

[Firehand]

An acquaintance turned up with something I've never seen before. It's a semi-auto .22, box magazine, marked 'Ranger .22 Long Rifle Model 34A'.

The really unusual thing: it fires from an open bolt. Safety is on the left side of the receiver, push-pull fore & aft type.

I've never seen one like it. Anyone have any information? Searched Rimfire Central and did some web-searching, no luck.

 

[Onmilo]

I remember one of those rifles coming through the shop I work for many years ago.
Don't quote me on this but I seem to remember the rifle as being made by Savage or Stevens and I think you might find some information listed in a Blue Book of Modern Gun Values of which I do not have a copy handy.

 

[Chawbaccer]

My cross reference has two different Ranger 34A's, it is either a Marlin 50-50E or a Marlin 80 or 780

Checking Numerich the 50 is a semi.

 

[Sistema1927]

Weren't these made by Marlin for either Western Auto or Montgomery Wards?

 

[Firehand]

Looking at the Numrich catalog, looks like the Marlin 50.

It was in wonderful condition, a really nice rifle. I'd never seen a .22 that fired from an open bolt before.

Thanks for the help.

 

[SaxonPig]

The ATF put the kybosch on any open-bolt semis a few decades ago because they were too easy to convert to full auto. It would be interesting to have such a gun now but of course precise accuracy is a problem with an open bolt.

 

[Firehand]

Folks on Rimfire Central came through with a lot of information:
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147394

Interesting old piece, it is.