I've owned this 4 digit ( 1923 ) Marlin 39 for many years. The case hardening is outstanding. The lacquer is still on it although it's starting to show scratches and flaking.
Bill

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Very, very nice.

I thought everyone liked Marlin 39's and 39 A's!

B.T.W; yours looks great!

Ivan

B-utifull long gun!!

I do now!
I have a model 39a made about 1981 and I love it.
Have never seen one like this with the beautiful case hardening. Actually, didn't know there was such a thing. What a beautiful gun!

Yes the pre war's are superb. I have had 3 like yours with the case hardening. I broke bolts on all three before I listened to people smarter than me and explained these were designed before hi-speed ammo. They informed me that the bolts were not strong enough for this new ammo and that shooting this stuff the bolt would break into. I informed them this was advise issued too late. I was able to find 2 replacement bolts 40 years ago but not a third and I sold the gun for parts. Too dumb for too long. Standard velocity ammo only.

The bolt or the locking lug broke? Just making sure because I always thought the single locking lug was the weak point in Marlin actions.
It's a beautiful gun, btw.

My bolts all broke about 1/2" from the forward edge. The bolts literally broke into 2 pieces. The lug did not break. Marlin beefed up the bolt on newer guns and if you take bolts from each gun you can see the improved design of the newer bolts. The older guns are masterpieces and built with hand fitting and finishing that the later guns do not have. They were built before the new ammo arrived about 1936. Stunning guns and there are no flies on standard velocity ammo especially since CCI starting making hollow point ammo in standard velocity.

Don't have a 39, but I do have a 39A made prior to the Golden model. My father bought it in the early '50's. It was the first gun I ever shot. It is a 1year model that has a crescent shaped brass plate on the grip cap. I haven't shot, or cleaned it in about 40 years. I need to dig it out and give it some love. The action is smooth as butter, and the trigger light and crisp. One of the finest .22 sporters ever made.

Beautiful gun. Stunning color casing. Rare to see it in such nice condition.

I have a 39 from the 1930s, identical to yours except for condition. It, too, was made prior to Marlin beefing up the bolt for high speed ammo. I only use target and subsonics in it for that reason. Unfortunately, the color casing is fading and is not vivid, though it is still there. Worse, there is some nasty pitting on the barrel in spots, and I doubt draw filing will bring it out. So I keep it oiled and shoot it as-is. It's a shooter grade, not collector grade.

Beautiful rifle,,casecolor and condition just outstanding.

The early 39 bolt uses the same bolt as the Model 97 did before it.
Early production Mod 39 used up some of the other parts from the discontinued Mod 97 also.
The 97's can only take Standard Vel too or you'll end up w/a busted bolt.

On the later 39 bolt, the sharp angle where the locking abutment meets the bolt body was given a small, gentle radius to avoid the cracking problem from stress of the HV ammo fired in them. Probably beefed up the locking abutment too over time as they did lots of other small changes inside.
Great rifles.

I have a couple 97's and shoot them w/ stand/vel .
Original bolts would be a tough find I'd imagine if you needed to replace one now..the early style pull tube magazines are tough enough and expensive to find replacements as it is.

Wow...that's gorgeous!
One of these early case hardened 39's or a 1897/97 are on my list of "wants".

Maybe the best I've seen! AWESOME!!!

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