Pawnshop Rescue, Marlin 100year commemorative model 39

[HighVelocity]

Stopped by my friendly neighborhood pawn shop this morning to see if there was any treasure to be had and boy was there!
It's been a while since I went into this place but I've found good things there in the past. Today was no different.
I look over the counter at the rifles on the wall and I spy a 100 year commemorative Marlin model 39 22 lever action with octagon barrel and it was screaming for help.
It was filthy and a little rusty too.
I looked down the bore and it was hard to tell if it was pitted or just dirty but I decided to take a chance and bought it (real cheap).

Headed to the corner ACE hardware and picked up some 0000 steel wool and raced home.
I took it apart and cleaned it like a man possessed. How could anyone let this happen to such a fine little rifle?

After a couple of hours labor she was ready for reassembly. Turned out VERY nice with only a few pits on the top edge of the receiver. The rest of the rust came off without any pits or staining. The bore cleaned up like brand new. I plan to surprise on my 9 year old son next trip to the range. It'll be his first experience with a lever action.
I am a happy camper.

before and after:

 

[Lonestar.45]

Wow, nice find!!! It's amazing what a little TLC will to for the right rifle. I'm not so lucky though, every time I go to a pawn shop, all I spy are Enfields, Mausers, etc. "sporterized" by Bubba, and maybe a Hi-Point pistol now and then.

 

[DMK]

Wow! Really nice!

Marlin 39As are nice guns in any flavor, but with the beautiful wood, straight stock and octagon barrel, that's one is especially pretty even if it wasn't a commemorative. Very pretty indeed.

What's the barrel length on it?

 

[Can'thavenuthingood]

Such luck, I too always look in the corners of nowhere but never come up with a find like this. It'd be like winning the lottery, grins all the way home. KooKoo for cocoa puffs dancing silliness.
By the way, looks like you better get that messed cleaned up before your wife gets home and gives you a good whuppin. Thats gotta be the dinner table you got all shopped up there.


Vick

 

[HighVelocity]

Thanks y'all. Yeah, I got pretty lucky today. I can barely stand not shooting it but I won't get to the range for a least a few days yet.
DMK, the barrel is 20" breechface to muzzle according to my .50 tape measure.
Oh and Can'thavenuthingood, the wife came home right in the middle of the rescue operation and she didn't even blink when she saw the mess. She knows whatever mess I make, I clean up immediately. All she said was, is that a .22? (and) That barrel is cool!

 

[orangeninja]

Highvel.........um...which pawnshop is that again?

 

[chris in va]

How cheap are we talking here?

 

[HighVelocity]

How cheap are we talking here?

Less than a fancy dinner out with the wife.

 

[johnmcl]

Better Luck Than I

Hi all,

I'm happy for you! My luck is very different in pawn shops in northern VA. The pawn shops I've stopped in have had nothing but the poorest selection and quality of guns. I rarely stop in any more...

John

 

[HighVelocity]

Hi all,

I'm happy for you! My luck is very different in pawn shops in northern VA. The pawn shops I've stopped in have had nothing but the poorest selection and quality of guns. I rarely stop in any more...

John

Sounds like a good excuse to move south.