Its nice getting a gun older than yourself....

[cal50]

or my "new to me" Marlin 39A has a birth date of 1951 and mine is in 62.
I have been on the prowl for a nice .22 lever gun. I long ago sold a Winnie 9422 that was simply amazing for accuracy. I was looking at Henry Golden boys but really wanted to try a Marlin 39. I found the Marlin first and its sweet. Its not new but in excellent (to me) condition. Minor bumps and some minor blue wear but a like new barrel. I have added some Williams receiver peep sights and heading to the range tomorrow.

[s&wchad]

Nice gun. I don't think I've seen that grip cap before, does it hold spare cartridges?

[Viss]

Nice find i've been looking for one myself. Hope I can find one as clean as you'rs.

[revho]

I have a Marlin 39A Golden with an old Bausch and Lomb scope on it. Boy howdy is it accurate. A real joy to shoot. My next .22 rifle on the list is a 9422 oddly enough.

Enjoy your Marlin.

Kevin

[rags]

NICE catch!!

rags

[ACP230]

I have a Marlin 39 on hold at a local gun emporium.
Should be able to pick it up before small game season starts September 15.
It has XS peep sights already installed and sling swivels. So I shouldn't have to do anything but find out what kind of .22s it likes.

[Onomea]

Nice! I need to get a Marlin. Got a coupla Winnies but no Marlin.

What's the big screw on the right side of the receiver? Reminds me of the screw on my Remington 12C takedown, but your Marlin doesn't look like a takedown.... Hmm. Is it? I have an M86 takedown but no screw like that...

Nice lookin' rifle you got there.

[cal50]

Originally Posted by s&wchad

Nice gun. I don't think I've seen that grip cap before, does it hold spare cartridges?

Nope.
Its a brass initial tag that Marlin only offered in 1951. Supposedly you could send the tag in and Marlin would engrave your initials and you would then replace it in the stock.

[cal50]

Originally Posted by Onomea

Nice! I need to get a Marlin. Got a coupla Winnies but no Marlin.

What's the big screw on the right side of the receiver? Reminds me of the screw on my Remington 12C takedown, but your Marlin doesn't look like a takedown.... Hmm. Is it? I have an M86 takedown but no screw like that...

Nice lookin' rifle you got there.

The big screw makes it a take down. A few turns and the two sections split apart easily.

[CajunBass]

Yes, the Marlin is a takedown. The fit is almost as tight as a Smith & Wesson sideplate.

I bought this one NIB in 1982 I believe.

[rburg]

Ugh. Finding one older than me? Who wants a flintlock?

[cal50]

Originally Posted by CajunBass

Yes, the Marlin is a takedown. The fit is almost as tight as a Smith & Wesson sideplate.

I bought this one NIB in 1982 I believe.

Empty bird feeder and rifle near by......coincidence???
(Nice rifle BTW)

[calapooia]

Cal 50 did you find a web site that gives the year of birth for the serial #'s. I have a 39a that looks identical to yours except the grip cap.

[cal50]

Marlin Year of Manufacture

Marlin year of manufacture maybe determined from the following list of letter/numeral prefixs to the serial number; this coding only applies to serialized rifles:

1946-C
1947-D
1948-E
1949-F
1950-G
1951-H
1952-J
1953-K
1954-L
1955-M
1956-N
1957-P
1958-R
1959-S
1960 (August)-1961-U
1961 (August)-1962-V
1963-W
1964-Y,-Z
1965-AA
1966-AB
1967-AC
1968-AD, -68
1969-69
1970-70
1971-71
1972-72

Starting in 1973, the year of manufacture maybe determined by subtracting the first two digits of the serial number from 100:
Example: SN 2512345 would have been made in 1975 [100 - 25 = 75] and SN 94365295 would have been made in 2006 [ 100 - 94 = 06 (2006) ].

For Marlin Rimfire Rifles [non-serialized]:

From 1962 thru 1968 Marlins rimfire rifles (other than the 39 series lever actions) used a two letter date code that was stamped on the barrel. This date code is different than the one already listed, as Marlin rimfire rifles (other than the model 39 series) did not have a serial numbers until required to by Law after 1968. The first letter of the date code represented the month of manufacture while the second letter indicated the year. This date code was usually stamped on the left side of the barrel just in front of the receiver. The first letter of the date code is as follows:

A = Jan.
B = Feb.
C = Mar.
D = Apr.
E = May
F = June
G = July
H = Aug.
I = Sep.
J = Oct.
K = Nov.
L = Dec.

The second letter of the date code is as follows:

F = 1962
G = 1963
H = 1964
I = 1965
J = 1966
K = 1967
L = 1968

So a date code of "JK" would indicate that rifle was made in October of 1967.

[CajunBass]

Originally Posted by cal50

Empty bird feeder and rifle near by......coincidence???
(Nice rifle BTW)

<lol> EVERYBODY comments on the bird feeder. I didn't even notice it when I took the picture, but the squirrels love it.

[Stainz]

For some of us, we are happy to have percussion cap operated firearms that are younger than we are!

Seriously, I have five revolvers that have hatch-dates preceding mine. They all look like this:



They, 1895 Nagants, date from the 30's & early 40's, while I'll be 63 next Saturday. My oldest S&W is a 625-6 MG in .45 Colt from 1996. I have underwear that is older than that!

Stainz

[frbeall]

I've been looking at some Winchesters, model 94. Just passed on one mfg. in 1954, my year of birth. The thing was in perfect shape except it was drilled for the scope.