Ole man's Marlin 39-A....lot's of ?

[dsteck]

Common beginning...my ole man taught me to shoot with this Marlin back in the early 60's. He didn't tell me much about the rifle except for the unique coloring of the metal and that's about it.
The specifics: Marlin 39-A, Serial # B 3945, Manufactured: NEW HAVEN, CONN
and it takes short and long 22's.

How old is it.......how much is it worth and would restoration work reduce the value of this rifle?????

Any help would be appreciated!

David

 

[Geno]

Welcome to THR! Around these parts, you are going to hear a resounding "Do NOT restore it!", followed by full-grown men weeping and gnashing of teeth if you do restore it. Be sure to locate the Marlin 39 Club thread here and join it. Great posts there.

Here's "The Marlin 39 Club" thread: http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=261635

Geno

 

[earlthegoat2]

In the condition I see there it may fetch 300-350 but these will only appreciate in value as long as you DO NOT restore it in any way.

 

[CZguy]

My thinking is that model 39s are so well built, that I wouldn't dream of selling it. You grandchildren could enjoy that rifle, if it's cared for properly.

Clean it and shoot it.

 

[rcmodel]

and it takes short and long 22's.

Actually, it takes Short, Long, and Long Rifle .22's. It will feed all three.

Restoring it, unless done by a professional restorer like Doug Turnbull, will decrease it's value.

But I suspect you are not asking about restoring it.
I suspect you are asking about re-finishing it.
Two completely different things.

And refinishing it will definately not help it's value.

rc

 

[chevyforlife21]

it looks nice enough please dont

 

[dfariswheel]

You have a "Second Model" Marlin 39-A.
The "B" prefix was made in 1940 to 1945. Due to the war, production was likely very low.

Originally, your rifle had a color case hardened receiver, the last 39 series rifle to have it. After this, receivers were blued.
In those days, the barrel was still rifled with the original cut-type Ballard rifling in which each groove was individually cut by multiple passes of a rifling cutter.

These older rifles are worth bucks, with one in 80% original condition being worth at least $500 to $550 or more.

Any standard "restoring" will drop the value like a stone down a well.
Depending on the condition being in bad shape, a full Doug Turnbull level restoration would enhance value, but the cost is VERY high for this level of work.
Any cold bluing, wood refinishing, "polishing up" or other such work will destroy value.
A good, gentle cleaning with solvent to remove old dirt and fouling is as far as I'd go, and that very carefully.

 

[shenandoah]

Don't sell it, don't restore it, it's an heirloom, shoot it and pass it on to the kids.

 

[dsteck]

Thanks for your help.....I've decide to hold onto it.....I've got a daughter whose 13 and I think she's just about ready to learn to shoot.