The Marlin 39 Club

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AStone

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Aug 5, 2005
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Far N, E coast
Welcome! :)

This is a "club" thread dedicated to the venerable and historic Marlin 39A (.22 LR) and related models.

Membership in this club is open to any one - owner or not - who has an interest in any model 39:
39A, 39AS, mountie...), and their ancestors (1891, 1892, 1897...)

I purchased my 39A recently. So far, I've only had two sessions with it at the range.
It's going to be my small game hunting rifle (especially squirrels & rabbits). I already love this rifle!

I want to learn as much about it as possible through reading and interaction with others
who own one (and those who don't but are interested anyway).

The goals of this club are to explore every aspect about this rifle:
its history, sights, stocks, slings, ammo, shooting tips,
upgrades, modifications (e.g., barrel shortening), repair issues, images, etc.

I plan to post some short essays here about those topics with relevant links to pages on THR and other web sites. I hope others will do likewise. This is a place to share information about 39s, learn, and have fun.

I'm reasonably sure there will be a few images posted herein, as well. :rolleyes:

Here's a link to an image of my current gun "toolkit", one of which is my 39A.
(Context is important, I think. I'm attempting to gather a functional,
even if minimal toolkit that will meet all my needs.
I plan to add either a 617 or a K-22 to that kit,
and perhaps a K-frame at some point.)

(Suggestion (not a requirement):
Please consider posting thumbnails only instead of embedding images into your post
in addition to thumbnails. That will significantly increase page loading times.
If you need any help understanding how to do that, just ask or send a PM. Thanks. :eek: )

OK, ready or not, here we go ... :cool:

Nem
 
This is one of my favorite guns, I have a real nice 39M that has a Lyman 66 receiver sight on it, I need to get a nice small gold bead for the front or maybe a nice Lyman 17 globe front sight.
Here is my daughter shooting it.
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Yes I already have been told about "no eyes"
 
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PM inbound.

sd.

Wish I'd known that Mr Williams. I swaped my Lyman 17 AHB for something that I could see. My sight preferences with the Marlin kinda travel along the same path as my visual acuity.

Now I'm tryiong to put it back to where it was in '66. Still have the Lyman 66 mc rear peep, but there is now a folding rear in the dovetail where a slot blank was a decade or so ago.

sd.
 
Goody, another club to which I belong.

My 39A wears XS ghost ring sights, just like my 336. Especially fun is loading the tube up with a fist full of Aguila Colibris and bouncing aluminum cans hearing nothing more than the fall of the hammer and the ping of lead hitting the can.
 
Great Gun! My only regret is that we only have one, and it belongs to my wife.
Come to think of it....she has a 1897 Texan too! Life ain't fair!!!

NailGun
 
Does this one qualify me?

Marlin 39D that I've had since 1970. The scope is a Weatherby 4x. Both have been long since discontinued. The 39D is basically the same as the 39M but with a pistol grip. My late uncle had a Marlin 1891, but I have no idea whatever became of it. I have a feeling that my cousin had no idea what it would be worth today. Oh well, stuff happens I guess.
 

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Hey Nem
When I look at your photo it's almost like looking at my collection. I have everything there except the 686. My picture would have a GP 100 in its place and there would be another 336 in .35 Rem. also. You have some great weapons and I'm sure they're all enjoyed. I would be pleased to be a member of this club. I probably shoot the 39A more than any of the others anyway. I can even shoot in my backyard with CB Longs, which are so quiet my neighbors think I'm playing with an air rifle.

Sistema1927
How difficult was it to install your Ghost Ring? I just removed a scope from my 39A because I didn't like the way it looked. I was pondering going to an XS Ghost Ring system instead. Did you order the 336 version and just install it on the 39A, or was it made specifically for the 39A?
 
Well, N-870; another club to be in. I was going to do a range report on my new 336 when this thread caught my eye.

We took the 39a that I inherited from Grandad to plink with while the 336 cooled. Had alot of fun this afternoon shooting both.

Does anybody have a link to dating Marlin's? I'll check their website. From the trim details at the pistol grip and butt, it looks older. The Win 94 he head was built in the 40's. I don't remember him getting any new guns while I was growing up.....

Sure shoots nice. We were lobbing them in at the 100 yrd berm and having a ball.

Jim
 
Well I posted the introductory post, then walked downtown on a fine early spring evening.
{It's down right balmy here for so early in March; hot and humid.}
Stopped off for a burrito and a beer (OK, two :rolleyes: ),
and came back to find a good start on club activity.

Good to see there's interest. Glad you're all here.

Below are links to a few THR threads that I've either read, participated in, or put up recently
that helped me form an opinion of the 39A, and that may provide some fodder for discussion.

This thread was one of the first to get me interested in a 39A.

This one on the "general opinion about the 39A has also helped me understand its value.

Here's an interesting thread for me since I just sold my beautiful little CZ-452 Style to a friend (and fellow high roader) after buying a 39A. (The CZ was my first bolt action rifle ever. Turns out I just wasn't a bolt action guy.
My motto these days is, "Levers, pumps and wheels".)

On my second trip to the range, I had several FTFs with my 39A. I think it's resolved now after a thorough cleaning, but I won't know for sure until I get back to the range, hopefully this week sometime.

Even though I love the rifle's action, stock, history, etc, I'm not satisfied with its barrel length. It just feels too long and front heavy for me. So, I'm going to commit heresy :evil: and cut it down. Here's a thread that I started to explore that option, even before I bought the gun. This thread has some discussion relevant to that issue.

Here's a useful current thread about sights for the 39A. It's too early to see any trends in preferences,
but I'm going to follow that one with great interest. We'll publish their results in the club.

And finally - for now - here's an interesting thread that I participated in a while back about
"which variant of the 39A Marlin should make".

OK, off to bed. More on another day.

Nem
 
Nem,

Add me to the list here too. Bought mine used about 15 years ago, when a friend and I were regularly collecting frog legs around the irrigation ponds in our community. Couldn't gig 'em, couldn't get close enough. .22 pistols didn't have the oomph to anchor a big ol' bullfrog with a less than perfect hit, so short handy .22 rifles were settled upon as the necessary tool for the job. He got one of the little Taurus copies of the old Winchester gallery pump design, and I happened across the 39 Carbine at my favorite FFL's used rack.

Yummm- frog legs...

lpl/nc
 
Ahhh, my first rifle...Pappa bought it for me when I was 8 or 9

I'm gonna try and dig up a picture of little me shooting it.:D

That sucker is still accurate as H***
 
I always wanted one, but thought it was ridiculous they went for $300 or more.

Finally found one for $200, and pounced.

marlin39.jpg

Well worth it, ate two bricks in the first three days.
 
Sistema1927
How difficult was it to install your Ghost Ring? I just removed a scope from my 39A because I didn't like the way it looked. I was pondering going to an XS Ghost Ring system instead. Did you order the 336 version and just install it on the 39A, or was it made specifically for the 39A?

Easy, very easy to install. You just need the proper sized screwdriver. They have these sights specifically for the 39, see here.

I can't remember whether it was the 336 or the 39, but one of my sets had too short of a front sight. A call to XS took care of it, they sent me a new front sight for free.
 
Check out the Skinner Sights for the 39 (and 336,1896, 1894...). $45 shipped.

http://www.skinnersights.com/

I've tired the Williams. It was OK but I think the Skinner Sights look better than the others I've seen. Initial reports I've read are favorable and the guy who makes them is responsive and knows his product.
 
The sights on my Marlin kinda reflects the changes in my eyesight.

The original sights were good.

After I started using a sling and started to play, just for fun small bore competition games, I changed the sights and started using a sling. Lyman 66mc rear and 17 ahb front. Tried lots of apperatures...had lots of fun with the Marlin with targets at known dstance range or knocking pine cones around. Dry fire practice was with firing pin removed and a leather 'tab' placed behind the bolt. Even had a 'trigger job' done.

Fast forward a decade or two..

Then a 'blank' was placed in the housing of the 66mc, the 'blank' that was in the dovetail that once held the original rear sight has been removed and replaced with a fold down rear.

Screw on ramp that held the original front sight removed and a dovetail cut for a front sight that was a easier to see.

Fast forward another ten years..

I would have been better served by leaving the original sights as they were, and using a 'scope for range use with the sling and the original sights for woods plinking.

Just a suggestion, but the original sights are/were just dandy. No substitute for that shiny brass bead on the front..if the brass bead is in a shadow, slide the front sight housing off.

For precision shooting with a sling and prone position, use an inexpensive 'scope and QD sling swivels/mounts...For plinking fun, leave the OEM sights as they are.

I haven't eaten tree rodents in lots of years, but either option will put 'em in the skillet. Use lots of onions.

salty.
 
Another member checking in. I got my Mountie in '63 and finally gave up on the sights and put a little Weaver rimfire scope on it a couple of years ago.

I'm still thinking about replacing the leather sling, but it's one of those things I never get around to.

Anybody got an original front sight hood to spare? :)

John
 
I'm in the process of restoring a 1950 Marlin 39-A.
I've already posted instructions on how to give the wood a durable oil finish
that looks like the finish done on old British and American double guns...
Dfaris, this is good.

However, I don't see an image in that thread.

Can you post an image here, por favor?

Nem
 
No substitute for that shiny brass bead on the front...
Salty, I can understand and resonate with your story. But somewhere along the way, my eyes quit working as well, and that brass bead was replaced by a white dot on a skinny post under a hood that causes shadows. It just didn't work well for me, so I put a scope on it. :)

Mo, do those Skinners come with a new front post?
 
Roll call ... so far ...

The following have posted to this club since its inception,
and are hereby nominated as charter members.

Each user name is followed by the version of the name
that I would likely use to address them to save keystrokes.
(Feel free to specify your preference.)

Membership in The 39A Club does not require owning a 39,
only an interest in the concept and some participation.
(E.g., those not posting for several months
may be dropped from the official roster,
though not unsubscribed.)

Non-39'ers are welcome,
with the understanding that ...

... the topic here is 39.


;)
________

Aka108 (Aka)
Bazooka Joe71 (Joe)
borrowedtime69 (Time)
Brassman (Brass)
Brian Williams (Brian)
Buckinbroncobaby (Buck)
CrackerJim (CJ)
Dfariswheel (Dfaris)
Fast Frank (Frank)
F4t9r (F4)
JohnBT (John)
JustsayMo (Mo)
Laloremus (Lalo)
Lee Lapin (Lee)
NailGun (Nail)
Nematocyst-870 (Nem)
Saltydog452 (Salty)
Sistema1927 (S'tema)
Skeeter1 (Skeet)
Shrinkmd (Shrink)
SwampWolf (S'Wolf)
Vaarok (Vaarok)
 
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This is the rifle I learned to shoot with, a Marlin Golden 39A Mountie with a hand rubbed finish my dad bought while in Alaska. He recalls it was 'almost a month's pay' which according to the reciept in 64 or so (maybe it was 65) was 60-some dollars.

I have no idea how many zillion of rounds have been fired through this rifle but it still shoots better than I do most days. Mountains of tin cans and a truck bed full of small game fell to this rifle before may dad somehow managed to swipe a Leupold 4X Gold Ring from me (he says it was a loan) and mount it for a rim-fire only prarie dog hunt. As I recall, he zapped a good dozen or more that day, making a number of shots past 100 yards.

This rifle was promised to my brother years ago, but we hope dad keeps enjoying it for many more years to come.

And that's the main reason I recommend Marlin rifles to this day.
 

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Count me in! I haven't been to the range with it yet, but I can't wait. I'm sick and tired of my jammomatic 10/22, and at present, life is too busy to figure out what is wrong with it. So I'm hoping the lever action answers my prayers.

I am considering scoping it vs putting on a reciever or tang peep sight. I was thinking a peep would be fun, sight it in at 100 yds and have fun while the Mosin cools...
 
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