The Marlin 39 Club
- Thread starter AStone
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JustsayMo
Member
You mean they don't?!
Seems to me a patriotic Canadian should get a Mountie sometime after his first pair of skates but before he loses any of his adult front teeth playing hockey.
Freddie, the '47 is a restoration I did myself. A little history- My Dad bought a cache of rifles from the old gentleman that lived next door to us. The 39 was a varmint gun that stood in the corner of his garage, from the time it was new-that was before there were neighbors. It was rusty and pitted, finish was gone in places, magazine tube had been bent and straightened-only held 8 rounds. The rear sight was gone as it had been fitted with a Weaver scope and side mount(still have those, excellent condition).
Dad cleaned it up and put some varnish on the stock and gave to me on my 9th birthday in 1966. My first real rifle after my Daisey Win. lever bb gun. This rifle killed scores of squirrels, rabbits, ground hogs, frogs... anything a kid could shoot at. That was back when a kid could walk down the road with a rifle over his shoulder and nobody thought anything of it. Sad, those days are long gone.
Jump to the mid 80's, I got out of the Navy and was able to get back to the woods again, and decided to fix her up a little. Got a Marbels rear sight, used some cold blue, and re-did the wood with tru-oil. Was good enough for another 24 years.
This past summer I decided to give it a real try at home restoration. I stripped the wood..
Brought the metal to white...
Before...
After...
Then I used Brownell's Oxpho-Blue creme to re-blue, worked great.
The wood got Varathane dark walnut stain, and several coats of Formby's tung oil varnish. I buffed the finish to flat grain with 0000 steel wool. I then polished with Milsek lemon oil furniture polish, followed by a few coats of carnuba paste wax.
I am very pleased with how it turned out-and yes, it's still a shooter!
Dad cleaned it up and put some varnish on the stock and gave to me on my 9th birthday in 1966. My first real rifle after my Daisey Win. lever bb gun. This rifle killed scores of squirrels, rabbits, ground hogs, frogs... anything a kid could shoot at. That was back when a kid could walk down the road with a rifle over his shoulder and nobody thought anything of it. Sad, those days are long gone.
Jump to the mid 80's, I got out of the Navy and was able to get back to the woods again, and decided to fix her up a little. Got a Marbels rear sight, used some cold blue, and re-did the wood with tru-oil. Was good enough for another 24 years.
This past summer I decided to give it a real try at home restoration. I stripped the wood..
Brought the metal to white...
Before...
After...
Then I used Brownell's Oxpho-Blue creme to re-blue, worked great.
The wood got Varathane dark walnut stain, and several coats of Formby's tung oil varnish. I buffed the finish to flat grain with 0000 steel wool. I then polished with Milsek lemon oil furniture polish, followed by a few coats of carnuba paste wax.
I am very pleased with how it turned out-and yes, it's still a shooter!
AStone
Member
Wow, these photos of refurbished 39's are so wonderful. Thanks to all you craftpeople who are doing that work.
During hunting season, I'd walk down the main street with my shotgun (sweet 16) or .22 (Remington Nylon 66) to the railroad track, then up the tracks to the hunting woods.
By late morning, I'd walk back down the tracks to the main street, carrying a mess of squirrels or doves, usually, and walk up main street to home, gun on my shoulder (unloaded, but still).
People would often comment on the game - how we were going to cook it - but never questioned the guns.
Today, if a kid that age did it there, somebody would probably call the police.
It's a different world.
Now, I'm living in northern New England. There are small towns up here where it's probably still ok, but not around Memphis.
In the mid- to late-60s, I was a teen living in a small town on the outskirts of Memphis.
During hunting season, I'd walk down the main street with my shotgun (sweet 16) or .22 (Remington Nylon 66) to the railroad track, then up the tracks to the hunting woods.
By late morning, I'd walk back down the tracks to the main street, carrying a mess of squirrels or doves, usually, and walk up main street to home, gun on my shoulder (unloaded, but still).
People would often comment on the game - how we were going to cook it - but never questioned the guns.
Today, if a kid that age did it there, somebody would probably call the police.
It's a different world.
Now, I'm living in northern New England. There are small towns up here where it's probably still ok, but not around Memphis.
Yes, those were the days. I remember buying 50 rd boxes of Remington .22lr for 39 cents, 3 for a dollar at Gus's gas station/store. There was no limit on the number of squirrels, and if I recall correctly the season was year round.
I smiled when you mentioned the sweet 16, my Dad had one and sold it when the shells got scarce-wish he'd have kept it, it'd be mine now.
I smiled when you mentioned the sweet 16, my Dad had one and sold it when the shells got scarce-wish he'd have kept it, it'd be mine now.
fastfreddie
Member
dewalt2,
Thanks for sharing your story. What an amazing journey that 39 has had. It looks great and best of all has centimental value to you. The wood looks great. It's amazing how much abuse and refinishes these guns can handle when you start out with a quality piece of wood, some good metal, and a simple design that is rock solid.
What did you use to get the metal down to white before you reblued? I may try that Oxpho-Blue on an old pistol that was my grandfather's.
Thanks for sharing your story. What an amazing journey that 39 has had. It looks great and best of all has centimental value to you. The wood looks great. It's amazing how much abuse and refinishes these guns can handle when you start out with a quality piece of wood, some good metal, and a simple design that is rock solid.
What did you use to get the metal down to white before you reblued? I may try that Oxpho-Blue on an old pistol that was my grandfather's.
dewalt-2, Very nice work. Thanks for the great pictures and story. Thinking back on those good ol' days, me and my classmates carried our guns into school, and worked on them in High school shop class. Nobody ever thought anything of it. I even sold a 94 Winchester in school to one of my shop teachers. Scott.
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Freddie, I started with 600 sandpaper, then steel wool from coarse to fine. I gave it a thorough wash with mineral spirits, rinsed with water and dried with a hair dryer. Then I washed it again with isopropyl alcohol, then applied the Oxpho.
Before I did the 39A, I tried out the process on this '62 Ruger Standard that was a rust bucket when I got it.
I got the Oxpho Creme because the liquid had a high hazmat shipping fee.
Good luck with your project!
Before I did the 39A, I tried out the process on this '62 Ruger Standard that was a rust bucket when I got it.
I got the Oxpho Creme because the liquid had a high hazmat shipping fee.
Good luck with your project!
fastfreddie
Member
Thanks dewalt. I think I'll give it a try. I'll keep you posted. That Ruger is a beauty.
I finally got my 1947 39A out to the range this weekend. It was freezing! I shot some pretty decent groups at 25 yds, but nowhere close to the groups I can shoot with the iron sights on my Model 60 (which I can group well even at 50 yards.)
When I try to get a sight picture, I'm having to put the bead in the VERY bottom of the V in order to shoot low enough. Unfortunately the rear sight is already bottomed out on the elevation slide (unless I remove the slide all together). When putting the bead so low, my sight picture is pretty dark and blurry, thus accuracy is pretty much a bust.
Where do you guys center your front bead in the V??
Does my 39A just shoot high? Any suggestions? (other than get a tang or peep sight which I am working on, lol)
I finally got my 1947 39A out to the range this weekend. It was freezing! I shot some pretty decent groups at 25 yds, but nowhere close to the groups I can shoot with the iron sights on my Model 60 (which I can group well even at 50 yards.)
When I try to get a sight picture, I'm having to put the bead in the VERY bottom of the V in order to shoot low enough. Unfortunately the rear sight is already bottomed out on the elevation slide (unless I remove the slide all together). When putting the bead so low, my sight picture is pretty dark and blurry, thus accuracy is pretty much a bust.
Where do you guys center your front bead in the V??
Does my 39A just shoot high? Any suggestions? (other than get a tang or peep sight which I am working on, lol)
JustsayMo
Member
fastfreddie: Good report! A slightly taller front sight would solve the point of impact issue. Having to guesstimate definitely degrades accuracy and consistency. Those model 60's are impressively accurate with ammo they like and consistently better than any 10-22 I've owned (plus the stock sights are actually usable.
I'm betting those groups will tighten up with familiarity. I know that I shoot best when I'm using one firearm exclusively. Before hunting season or a match I try to get lots of repetitions with the same gun. Once the sub-conscience is dialed in I can pretty much count on meat or tipped over critters if I did my part. Since my 39/1897's are my most shot rifles it doesn't take long to get in tune and dialed in with it.
All of my 39's have had a 25 yard zero within the range of the stock sights with 1200-1300 fps ammo Might be yours was changed out some time in its 63 years.
As for sight pictures I use it sort of like half a peep. equal amount of space around the bead, point of impact right on the top edge at known distances. Most of my 39's would have enough sight for a right on hold out to 200.
Cataracts are making that more difficult these days. Thanks to science I'm counting on having better than issued eyeballs in the next year or two. Watch out silhouettes, I'm planning to post my first 35+ afterward.
I'm betting those groups will tighten up with familiarity. I know that I shoot best when I'm using one firearm exclusively. Before hunting season or a match I try to get lots of repetitions with the same gun. Once the sub-conscience is dialed in I can pretty much count on meat or tipped over critters if I did my part. Since my 39/1897's are my most shot rifles it doesn't take long to get in tune and dialed in with it.
All of my 39's have had a 25 yard zero within the range of the stock sights with 1200-1300 fps ammo Might be yours was changed out some time in its 63 years.
As for sight pictures I use it sort of like half a peep. equal amount of space around the bead, point of impact right on the top edge at known distances. Most of my 39's would have enough sight for a right on hold out to 200.
Cataracts are making that more difficult these days. Thanks to science I'm counting on having better than issued eyeballs in the next year or two. Watch out silhouettes, I'm planning to post my first 35+ afterward.
fastfreddie
Member
Thanks Justsaymo,
BTW, I watched some of the vids and read in the link in your signature yesterday. Awesome! It looks like some serious fun ringing those bells way out there like that! Looking forward to reading more.
I feel like this is the stock rear sight because it matches some other photos I have seen, but it stinks that the elevation is bottomed out. I may try to remove the slide. I was hooting Blazers and Fed Lightning 510b. I'll try some other ammo too.
Oh well, hopefully after Christmas I'll have a new peep sight anyway!
BTW, I watched some of the vids and read in the link in your signature yesterday. Awesome! It looks like some serious fun ringing those bells way out there like that! Looking forward to reading more.
I feel like this is the stock rear sight because it matches some other photos I have seen, but it stinks that the elevation is bottomed out. I may try to remove the slide. I was hooting Blazers and Fed Lightning 510b. I'll try some other ammo too.
Oh well, hopefully after Christmas I'll have a new peep sight anyway!
AStone
Member
Welcome to the newbies.
Nice looking Ruger, indeed, dewalt.
Mo (which is what we call JustSayMo),
is that a take off on the 60's tv show?
Nice looking Ruger, indeed, dewalt.
Mo said:
Mo (which is what we call JustSayMo),
is that a take off on the 60's tv show?
JustsayMo
Member
Nem, Bingo!
flusher
Member
1961 Mountie Ejector assy
Ejector Assembly
consisting of
Ejector................................................
Ejector Base With Rivet...................
Ejector Base Screws...Both...............
Ejector Spring
Is the ejector assy used in new guns the same as for a 1961 Mountie?
Is it difficult to replace?
Ejector Assembly
consisting of
Ejector................................................
Ejector Base With Rivet...................
Ejector Base Screws...Both...............
Ejector Spring
Is the ejector assy used in new guns the same as for a 1961 Mountie?
Is it difficult to replace?
JustsayMo
Member
Flusher,
Yes it will work and it is easy.
Yes it will work and it is easy.
The Mountie arrived a few days ago and looks real nice! It's missing the hood up front and the elevator piece for the rear sight but it came with a scope mount and hammer spur.
Here it is with last months 39A gunshop score!
They appear to be of the same vintage with similar wood color and they both have slimmed down fore ends which feel a little more winchester.
Here it is with last months 39A gunshop score!
They appear to be of the same vintage with similar wood color and they both have slimmed down fore ends which feel a little more winchester.
fastfreddie
Member
Very nice Leadhead! You are a lucky guy! Both guns look to be in great shape with beautiful wood.
Where did the Mountie come from? Sounds like you ordered it? Gun Broker?
I've got to get my hands on one of these.
Where did the Mountie come from? Sounds like you ordered it? Gun Broker?
I've got to get my hands on one of these.
Thanks Freddie, they do make a nice pair!
I picked it up from a fellow Canadian on www.canadiangunnutz.com
It's a great forum with an equipment exchange and I bought the mountie for $420 shipped Canadian.
Does anyone know the history behind the thinner fore end wood on some of the Marlin 39's?
I picked it up from a fellow Canadian on www.canadiangunnutz.com
It's a great forum with an equipment exchange and I bought the mountie for $420 shipped Canadian.
Does anyone know the history behind the thinner fore end wood on some of the Marlin 39's?
JustsayMo
Member
My 1960 - 1970 vintage Marlins (336, 39) all have the slimmer fore stocks. Not sure why that vintage era was different. The more recent Cowboy offerings (1897, 336, 1894, 1895) have the skinny wood too.
flusher
Member
1961 Mountie
NGa.MtnHunter
Member
........1947 39A.
........1964 39A
........1964 39A
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