The Marlin 39 Club

[greevestim]

four 39's

Well I got over to Longtown in Perry Co Missouri and did find all four to be as noted. It was a garage sale posted on the Panera Bread Company "for sale" board in Crystal. Elderly person selling out, (I am 70). The weapons were as I earlier mentioned. They were 90%, one of them had a small chip on the r-side of stock where the wood abuts the metal. They were clean with bright bores. Functioned well. They were family firearms. I told the gentleman that they were worth more than he was asking, showed him blue book, and showed him current gunbroker asking prices. He said "this is what I am asking" so I got them for average of 275.00 each.
Check one of my posts from Novemeber 2012 where in I was at Gander Mountain retail store in Savage Mn. At that store some grandson had sold grandpaps 39's. There were at least five or six 39's in very good to shape.
So what I am saying, is that these things are out there if you take the time to look around.
This week I was in a shop in Park Hills Mo and saw a long magazine Marlin in 38/40. Again this stuff is around. I know I am not telling you anything new, you just have to look around a weebit.

 

[Orion8472]

Hate is building up in me........

 

[AStone]

you just have to look around a weebit.

Or for a lifetime.

Dude, you hit the motherlode with this one.

No "bit" involved.

 

[Orion8472]

Today, I took my 39a out to the range to test it out. I place my target at 25 yards for the test. With CCI Minimags, I was able to get a 5 shot group that could be covered by a penny [that was benched, of course]. So, at least in that aspect, the rifle is very good. Now, I have to decide if I'm going to end the gunbroker auction and keep it, . . . or use that information to [hopefully] gain some bidders.

If I keep it, I'll have to get a new finger lever, and have the other imperfections addressed before I would be happy with it, . . . which means more money, of course. And at $600 in in already, . . . not sure if that's the best idea.

 

[Orion8472]

What would you do, in my case, considering my post [#4075] just above this one? Is that grouping considered good, average, or what?

 

[kimberkid]

If its just going to be a shooter I'd probably spend the money and fix it up ... why loose money on it and then get another that doesn't shoot as well?

 

[Orion8472]

I thought about that. I could get one that looks better outside, but shoot horribly. Might end the auction on it and just spend the money to get it fixed how I would like it.

 

[Fast Frank]

Is that grouping considered good, average, or what?

We had a long discussion about just what is supposed to be "Good" for a model 39, way back when mine wasn't making me happy.

The general consensus around here was that a model 39 should be able to do one inch at 50 yards.

That's what the group calls an "Average Shooter".

If the rifle is right, and the sights are right, and the shooter is right, and the stars are lined up just so...

Some of our rifles have done better than one inch at 50 yards.

Here's one of the better 50 yard groups from my rifle. I usually shoot a few like this when it goes to the range.



That rifle has a 3-9X40 Leupold on it. My iron sighted 39 can almost do as well, but not quite.

If your rifle is shooting 1/2" five shot groups at 25 yards, it's probably O.K.

 

[AStone]

Here's one of the better 50 yard groups from my rifle.
I usually shoot a few like this when it goes to the range.

Squirrels do NOT like Frank.

 

[Orion8472]

Here are a few pics of it, BTW:

 

[AStone]

Orion, maybe it's just me, but I was expecting a rifle in MUCH worse condition than that. I actually don't think that's bad looking at all. Just well used, showing some signs of age with a few scratches and blemishes - but then, so am I - but still beautiful (but then, so am I ). If it shoots, then hell - I'd love it!

ETA: PS: If it's pre-Remlin, count yourself lucky even with scars.

 

[Orion8472]

It was made in 1957.

I may just keep it and have my gunsmith do the $75 "break down, clean, and putting something on the bare metal look so it looks more blue-ish". If I had paid $400 or so for it, I would be happy. But the way it is, I don't think it was worth $570 [before shipping and transfer fee]. I could be wrong. But I have seen nearly new looking old 39a rifles go for about what I gave for this one.

Anyway, as you can see, the finger lever is very pitted. The pic that shows the left side of the receiver, . . . that is shallow pitting as well.

One other thing. The tube magazine doesn't hold in place with much tension. It easily can move to the slot to remove it. Is something missing from it?

 

[AStone]

Let me put it this way. I spent 10X that much (easily) on my last girl friend,
including a move across the continent to be with her before getting dumped just off the bus.
(And, my 39 is still in storage on the other coast 2.5 years later as a result. It's been a rough couple of years.)

Your rifle looks better than she does, and probably shoots better, too.

I'd say you got little to complain about.

 

[Orion8472]

Wow! Put in perspective, your situation sucks much more. I hope you can get it back to you soon!

Thanks for you input, sir!

 

[CB900F]

Orion;

I'll say that I'd like you to post the info on the guy you bought that from. Louse is probably the kindest thing I can say about him on this forum. No, it's not real bad, but it's sure as hell not a $570.00 model 39.

I'd still like to talk you out of the wood, with compensation of course.

900F

 

[Orion8472]

That won't do much good. He only had two rifles, and they're both sold. Plus, he DID start the auction at $400. He just wasn't truthful as per the actual condition, nor did he post good pictures. But I think I'm just going to have to keep it and try to have someone fix up the metal.

 

[AStone]

You've done good for the historical preservation of this fine rifle, rescuing it from an abuser.

The metal can be reblued. Another rifle like that cannot be forged as easily.

 

[Orion8472]

I hear ya. I will just come to peace with the fact that, after all is said and done, I will have more money in it than anyone else would pay for it. And that's just the way it will be. If my gunsmith can smooth out the imperfections and reblue it, it should be an excellent example of a timeless rifle.

 

[Fast Frank]

A little encouragement...

I got this rifle from a friend.

The story was that it was in a house that burned.

It was pretty rusted. (But it shot great)





So I GENTLY rubbed at it with a very mild abrasive polishing cloth called "Classic Cloth".

That took the rust off without harming the existing blue.

Then, I used some plain old Cold Blue from Birchwood Casey.

The end results were quite satisfactory for the ten bucks or so I spent on the job.





That rifle was made in 1951, and it shows some character.

It's also ultra reliable and very accurate. I will not part with it.



When I look at your rifle, I see another one that will clean up nicely.

New? No, it won't be new. But it can be a great shooter and that rifle will make you smile every time you handle it.

Hang in there man.

 

[Fast Frank]

Here it is with my other rifle.

There is 50 years difference in their ages, but it's obvious they are sisters.

 

[Orion8472]

Thanks for the encouragement. And good job on cleaning it up! Looks good!

Hard to drop as much as I did when more needs to be done to get it to where I thought it was going to be already. But I really should keep it, since it DID shoot [out of the 5 shot group] 1 ragged 4 shot group and one round right above it.

What about the lack of tension on the magazine tube? Is that just the way they are or is a piece missing?

 

[AStone]

Frank has one success story there - and a great one that makes my heart sing.

Orion has another one in the making. I like the way your thinking is evolving about this rifle, Orion. My sense is, that's a fine keeper you've got, and a couple of years down the road, you'll have forgotten about the $ invested and be glad you own it. It may not be the most beautiful 39 on Earth, but it's going to be a shooter and have a LOT of character. And some kid someday decades from now will love it when you pass it along.

Assuming of course that .22 ammo is still available then. :banghead:

Personally, I think we should all invest in a rimfire ammo manufacturing plant and take back control of the ammo from the powers that be and make sure that an equitable distribution of it is possible. From the stories I'm reading here and elsewhere, seems to me that somebody be hoarding .22.

 

[Orion8472]

Yeah, there is some hording going on, . . . . and 22lr is so scares that I didn't even shoot the two rifles I took [on Saturday]. Spent less than an hour. Just enough time to check the old rifle out [to see if it was worth saving] and a new XT22-TR with a scope to sight in, which didn't take long, . . . and of course, discovered that it liked CCI Minimags the best, . . . but still did okay with bulk.

But yeah, something is up when [before all this] you could find boxes of bulk 22lr in every store in town. Today, . . . nothing.

BTW, . . . lastnight, I put my 1958 Ruger Single Six next to the Marlin and they looked good together. The Ruger is basically like new, so if I can get the Marlin close to that, I will be happy.

 

[texasred777]

Not BAD!

I'd say that your rifle is really decent as is. AND, with a little 'touch-up' it can be much better. I have bought several rifles (and a couple of shotguns) that needed a LOT more work than yours. I try to do it myself and I believe that I've done a lot of good, even though I haven't been able to get them like I want them. Yes, the Burchwood Casey cold blue is excellent. I have some spots on my guns that it just doesn't seem to cover as well as I would like it; but not too bad. (Especially for a 70 yo.) I really enjoy working with the guns. I'm re-doing an old Crosman pump pellet/bb rifle that I bought in 1974. It's not worth a tenth of the time and expense that I'm putting into it; but it's MINE and want it to look better. My son-in-law is always telling me that I should take my guns to a gun show and see what they would sell for. I told that I didn't really want to know. They're MY guns and as long as I'm alive, I'll keep them. After I'm gone----whatever--I won't know what they do with them!!!
Keep us posted about your 39. We're always interested in GUNS!

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

Note Fast Frank's post 4091. There is as fine an example as your going to get of the difference between the older "perch belly" forestock and the slimmer modern version. Personally, I like the older version better, and that's what I'd like to put on my '64 project gun if I can find it.

900F