The Marlin 39 Club

[HowardB]

Hey Guys, New on here today. I have a 39A that my dad gave me in the late 60's. The date code is V. I'm thinking it's a 1962? It's been in the gun safe since around the middle sixties because my uncle was cleaning it one of the action screws was lost. The rifle hasn't been fired since then. I plan to take it to a gunsmith and have it checked out and repaired if necessary. I'll post a few pics when I get a chance.

 

[GMAN26]

Welcome HB! I'm new here to. Your gonna enjoy this place. I eventually managed to read all 119 pages as well! I just picked up a 56 about a month ago. Still got the grin on my face too!

Good luck with your new (old) 39A.

 

[AStone]

Welcome to the new members. Great to have you.

I'm absent a lot these days. Just moved across the country, still not really settled.
Won't be for a while. Had to come w/o my 39. Will be without it for a while, but not forever.

Sitting in an upscale folk/blues pub restaurant in southern Maine drinking a brew, waiting for a burrito.

Life is an adventure. Live it.

Nem the nomad

 

[flusher]

Marlin 39 Hammer Spurs

Can anyone date when these different hammer spurs were used for the Marlin 39's

 

[GMAN26]

I'm interested in this as well. I'd like to put the appropriate one on my 56. As it stands now the hammer is directly under the scope. Kind of a pain but my old eyes need the scope.

 

[chicharrones]

I don't know the year those changed. I do know that my 1994 issue 39AS came with the envelope on the left.

 

[SfcArmy]

Marlin model 39

Sign me up for your club. I purchased my mdl 39 in 1964 for $35.00 while stationed in Alaska. It is not original as I had to replace the front sight and the feed tube. I refinished the stock as it was in sad shape. While working on it one night at work, I was a radar crew chief on a missile site, some joke bent the feed tube. About ten years ago while firing it, the bolt broke in two. I wrote Marlin for a replacement and was told that they could not replace the bolt as they were made for each rifle. It took me years to find another, and even then I had to have a gun smith fit it for me. I was told by Marlin that the old bolts were not made for the more powerful shells we have today. It shoots fine and does not jam at all. The sn; 11888

 

[GMAN26]

well I'll be the first to welcome you to the club! You know we're gonna want pictures right? there's a ton of info in this thread. I've managed to read every page. good luck!

 

[teetertotter]

I have been testing some ammo the past 4 months at 40, 60,77, and 100m to see if anything better than CCI Blazer. This was my second try. Tried Winch target and Wildcat, CCI HV mini mag, Fed Champ, Aquila Centurion,
Remington target and Golden which are not as good as CCI Blazer off sandbags. With cheap CCI Blazer, my accuracy: dime size 40m, nickle size 60m, qtr size 77m, and then jumps up to 1-1/2 in dia at 100mm. These were 5 shot groups tested 3 times per ammo type. I took the best of three. A friend at the club said not to bother with std/subsonic as a waste of time. Yes, I cleaned the barrel before testing each ammo. I didn't keep specific stats as just looking for what shoots best in my 3 year old 39a. I picked the ammo that was readily available at 2 local stores. There is an ammo store outside of town with high priced ammo that I might try next year. Right now, am happy with the cheap CCI Blazer @ current $20.00/brick. Until I can buy a more accurate rifle for intended purposes, my scores are not all that bad.
I just have to practice and practice as is the shooter.

 

[montrose]

Hi

I picked up a mdl 39 SN 18xxx The tang does have an "H S" on it but it's not but it's not real close to the SN so I'm not sure if it's part of the SN. It's in real good shape, got some wear but no rust. It has the octaganal barrel and shoots well. But it has a scope mounted on it. It's an old mdl 293 Weaver. The mount is tapped with thumb screws going into the case of the gun. It may have been put on by a gun smith.

My question is:

1 how old is this?
2 could this scope be a factory add on?
3 How bad would it affect the value having the scope and is it worth removing and repairing

Thanks for any input

 

[dfariswheel]

There seems to be a "hole' in Marlin serial numbers.
The online data bases cover the 1880's up to 1906, but then there's nothing until 1948 and later.

However, your Marlin was made sometime between 1932 and 1938. These later Model 39's with the "HS" prefix indicated that it was made to shoot modern high speed ammo.

The telescope is probably not a factory job, since these rifles were built with no provision for mounting a scope, telescope sights being rather rare in those days.

Removing the scope will not increase the value, and there's no way to "repair" the holes that won't lower the value even farther.
Best advice is to either leave the scope alone if you want to use it, or just remove it if you don't, but don't try filling the holes with anything but filler screws.

 

[montrose]

Thanks for the info. Just curious. The gun is in great shape and shoots well so I'm happy with it. It does have markings for short, long and long rifle. Guess I need to go out and really sight it in and see what she will really do after reading this love affair page here.

 

[Cookster]

Hi Everyone!

This is my first post here on THR!

I just picked up a 1978 39A Golden in great condition, and 'found' this site as I was looking around the net for information about the rifle. The rifle came with a sling, a 3-9x Weaver V22-A scope and appears to have been shot very little.

I look forward to shooting this rifle and learning about its history.

Best Regards,

Rob

P.S. - Please sign me up for the 'Marlin 39 Club'!

 

[AStone]

Howard, SFC, Montrose, Flusher, Cookster (who'd I miss?), welcome to the club.

Glad you've found something of value here.

And welcome to THR, best gun forum on the web.

 

[actocs]

Hi everyone! I'm joining your club. I should have some good things to add to your forum. I'm trying to attach a picture of my vintage 1957 39A "Mountie". I hope it works OK. Scott

 

[HOOfan_1]

I have a marlin 39A Golden Mountie, inherited from my grandfather



Above in my gunrack with my Mossberg Chuckster .22 WMR and Stevens 311C 20 Gauge.

 

[johnmcl]

Team M39A

Hi all,

There's a really good rimfire match up in this forum as a sticky that we might consider jumping in on.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=536320

Two targets for iron sights and optics, respectively shot at 50 yards. This seems like a great match to get in on.

Team M39A to the front!

 

[toysoldier]

Another new forum member. I purchsed my Marlin Golden 39A for $70 in 1969 when the local J.C. Penney store closed out its sporting goods section. It currently wears a Simmons scope.
I just won a Gunbroker auction for the front half of a 39. I'm hoping it will fit my gun without too much trouble. My plans are to cut the barrel to about 16"-17" and add a Skinner peep sight and a full-length forearm, also a Remington magazine tube latch. If this works out, I will be able to use my 39 as a scope-sighted 24"-barrelled hunting rifle capable of getting all the velocity out of Stingers or other hypervelocity rounds, or a short-barrelled carbine for plinking. Eventually, I suppose I'll have to make up a case for the set.

 

[dfariswheel]

Sorry, but I don't think this will work.
The Marlin receivers were hand fitted together and mated as a set.
Then, while the receivers were together, they were polished as a unit.
This means that if you even get the two together, one half of a receiver will usually be higher or lower than the other half, with an obvious "step" where they join.

Since the receivers were hand fitted, they're unique, and probable won't go together at all.
The danger in attempting to assemble non-matched receivers is that you may damage the edges where they join and then the original parts won't fit back together properly without gaps or edge damage.

I'd be be very leery of ruining the matched fit of your rifle even attempting to assemble the non-matching part.

 

[Cookster]

Scope For My 39A

Hello Again,

Upon hitting the range this weekend with my new-to-me 39A, I quickly came to realize that the Weaver V22-A scope that came with rifle did not work (neither cross-hairs moved when dialed).

I started to 'shop' around for a new scope, but as you know there are enough choices out there to make one's head spin, forwards and backwards.

So, if anyone has some suggestions, here are some of my parameters (in no particular order of priority):

1. Affordable - ~$100.00 or less (if possible), but would not be opposed to going a little higher for the 'right' scope though.

2. Magnification - 3-9X, or there-abouts.

3. 'Looks' - I would like to get something that has a vintage / tradition style to it.

4. Quality - Not sure if Affordable and Quality can be mentioned in the same sentence when specing a scope, but the scope would need to be functional in terms of a decently clear picture, holding zero, etc.

My primary use for this rifle is fair weather day-time range and plinking use, so I do not need to meet any mil-spec. Yes, and I do realize that you get what you pay for.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Many Thanks in Advance

Best Regards,

Rob

P.S. - The actual shooting portion of the range trip was a mixed bag - had many smooth cycling and repeating rounds, and experienced many double-feeds / jams as well. I have a Cartridge Cutoff on order from Marlin. I still really enjoyed shooting my Marlin 39A!

 

[CB900F]

Cookster;

As you very correctly stated, there are a helluva lotta choices out there. Might want to take a look at the Sightron 3-9X rimfire though. It would seem to meet your parameters. I have one myself, though not on a 39. I believe that they can be had for around $120.00 delivered these days, and are very traditional looking. I've had mine for some few years, and although it hasn't gotten hard use, I've not had a problem with it at all.

900F

 

[Cookster]

CB900F,

I actually had not come across this brand as of yet. The 14 reviews over at Midway give it a solid 4.5 / 5.0 stars.

It very much seems to be along the lines of what I am looking for. I also like the 32 mm diameter which will allow it to 'sit' closer to the barrel.

Thanks.

Keep the suggestions coming.

Regards,

Rob

 

[teetertotter]

IMO, for the price range you are looking at and application, you might want to consider Simmons scopes in the 44 mag model. Have descent optics and suggest visit midwayusa.com. I have an older 44 mag 6.5-20 X 44 on my 39a with millet rings 1" high.

I have a Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14X40 that I bought in May of 09. Used for one month, no scratches or markings, in original box with manual w end caps. Has BDC Reticle. $175.00. I have low profile Millet rings to throw in. If interested, send me an email.

 

[Mudinyeri]

Took the 39A Golden out yesterday evening, along with my 10 year-old and his Marlin 795. The 39 with the original 30 year-old scope was driving tacks at 50 yards. I put six shots out of ten in a 1" circle at 50 yards on a breezy day! Not bad when the cross-hairs literally obliterate the 1" circle at 50 yards. Maybe one of these days I'll upgrade the scope ... nah, probably not. The old school look is too cool.

My son did pretty well with the 795 too. He beat me in a game of tic-tac-toe at 50 yards. LOL

 

[lewn41]

Brand new member. I am attempting to buy my first Marlin 39 Mountie. I got to use one over 55 years ago as a young boy. It belonged to a classmate. I have lusted for one since. I have been reading a lot on the internet for the last week.

Question: what are the differences between the Golden 39A Mountie and the Golden 39M Mountie?

Great list!