I've been looking for a while for a good one, at half decent price and found what looks to be a 85-90% overall, 24" barrel, no checkering, white spacers on butt and grip cap, $398, and dealer says is 1971 dom. (from my experience dealers are often wrong about this) My question: Are there years when Marlin, like Savage and Winchester, made better rifles? And most I've seen had checkering, are they available without checkering? And would a 1971 production be a "good" gun? Thanks.
Marlin 39A
- Thread starter Norm99
- Start date
madtrapper143
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Steep Rock Lake NWO
Unlike Winchester, Marlin never made any quality cuts in how they made their rifles. The model 39A was and still is of excellent quality. I would prefer the one you speak of as it will not be equipped with a cross bolt safety. 398.00 is a little high but in the ball park. I would buy it and enjoy it.
cheers Darryl
cheers Darryl
Thanks for the advice, Darryl. It really is a nice looking gun, with a very good reputation, and I'm a sucker for levers,so, I guess I'll take it. They don't seem to be that plentiful, always someone looking on EE, and this one is in pretty good conditon.
I have one about that vintage (72?) that I got as a present from my dad. The fit was, and still is superb. It is actually difficult to break/take the gun down because the 2 halves of the receiver fit so well.
The only complaint is the trigger could be better, but that can be fixed.
The only complaint is the trigger could be better, but that can be fixed.
waynewjw
CGN Regular
I Have One
My 39A doesn't have any checkering on the stock. I phoned Marlin and they told me it was manufactured in 1968. It has a Lyman 66A peep sight, I have only shot it twice, and although my eye sight is getting on like my years, I was impressed with the accuracy. I'm shooting nice tight groups at 50 yards, and this weekend, I'm taking the 39A and my Winchester 9422 with a new Williams peep sight on it and I'm going to see what both these rifles are capable of at 100 yards. It should be a fun Saturday.
Definately a gun I would recommend, especially if you have a soft spot for levers. If you have the serial number, just call Marlin customer service and they will tell you the year of manufacture. Western Gun Parts in Edmonton is Marlin's part dealer for Canada if you need some new bits and pieces.
My 39A doesn't have any checkering on the stock. I phoned Marlin and they told me it was manufactured in 1968. It has a Lyman 66A peep sight, I have only shot it twice, and although my eye sight is getting on like my years, I was impressed with the accuracy. I'm shooting nice tight groups at 50 yards, and this weekend, I'm taking the 39A and my Winchester 9422 with a new Williams peep sight on it and I'm going to see what both these rifles are capable of at 100 yards. It should be a fun Saturday.
Definately a gun I would recommend, especially if you have a soft spot for levers. If you have the serial number, just call Marlin customer service and they will tell you the year of manufacture. Western Gun Parts in Edmonton is Marlin's part dealer for Canada if you need some new bits and pieces.
Doc Sharptail
Regular
- Location
- Winnipeg, Manitoba
My '54 39-A with Banner 4-12X 40mm A/O... It's deserving of powerful glass and good mounts- Burris Zee rings atop a modern factory Marlin base. It's a pre-Micro-groove bbl, and is incredibly accurate. The only .22 I have that will out-shoot it is my Win 52 Repro, and that's not by a whole lot. Picked this one up at SIR when long gun registration came into effect. It cost me 275 bucks OTD. Had to iron out the mag tube, and replace the tube ring. One of my favourite rifles. All I need is an 1893, or a Model 36, and I'll have a matched set
Regards,
Doc Sharptail
Regards,
Doc Sharptail
sillymike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The only thing I don't like about the "new" 39 vs the "older" ones is the extractor. Used to be a machined part, on the new one they are bent sheat metal.
If that's the gun you are thinking of buying, it looks in pretty good shape!
If that's the gun you are thinking of buying, it looks in pretty good shape!
I recently posted an ad for a lever 22-either a Browning BL22 OR a Marlin 39a. I never got a hit on the Marlin and had several on the Browning. Not a word in over 2 weeks. Sounds like nobody wants to sell them eh? I have a BL22 on the way to me now. Still if I came across one....
The Mountie is actually marked "Marlin Golden 39A Mountie" on the barrel, barrel length is between 24" and the TDS (16"), I think 20". And they only came with the straight stock and were not made for many years. So they are somewhat sought after.
