Ok so I love Marlin 39's and happened across an L prefix Marlin 39a with a 20" barrel and straight stock and round lever, but not marked Mountie. It has a vintage weaver scope, were these drilled and tapped by the factory? It's in about 80% condition but bore is bright shiny. No real bad pitting, nothing some fine wool couldn't handle. No I'm not buying this for collector, but for a shooter. Also the stock has some of the prettiest grain I have seen. The seller is firm at $425. Is this a reasonable price for a good shooter?

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Sounds like a good buy to me.

I'd say more than reasonable. Some people seem to put a premium on the older guns, so I'd expect that package to go over $600 on an auction site.

I would rip my pockets off to pay that amount for the Mod. 39 that you have described!

Well after talking it over with the boss I mean wife and a lot of promises of honey do's I got the approval to get it. So first thing tomorrow I will be purchasing it. It's not the best shape but I want a decent shooter for myself, and I think this will do it. I don't think it will go down in value. Plus now both of my girls will get a Mountie and a S&W 63-4 with the 5" barrel. Perfect for small hands.

If it is a round lever and 1954 I believe these were factory D&T'd... That is a very early non-Mountie as I think that was the first or second year for them.

Is the scope base steel and just for 3/8" dovetail .22 rings?

Have had about 10 39s over the years. Only one I have left is a 1964 Carbine...

Bob

I'm not an expert, but somebody over on a Marlin forum says that, while Marlin did not start drilling and tapping their regular 39A until 1955, they did that for Sears several years prior. Does anybody here know if Sears sold the 39A under the Marlin name, or did they market them under the Ted Williams brand? I know the Winchester 94 was sold as the Ted Williams model 100.

Pics when you get it!

Here's a link to a letter from Marlin's service division dated 5/4/55 saying that some of their 39A Mounties were drilled and tapped as of that time. Letter proving Marlin D&T'd 39A BARRELS - Marlin Firearms Collectors Association

Well after looking the rifle over Sunday and not getting the dealer to come down anymore I walked away. Then today my wife comes home at lunch and tells me happy birthday honey and hands me the little Mountie. And after a little cleaning she don't look half bad. The internals are clean with no rust or pitting including the barrel. I think the rifle was placed in a case and forgotten about for 30 years. Either way I am tickled to death over it. I think my wife did ok with it being $452 after taxes and transfer. I can't wait to shoot it. It will be going with me the next time I go to the range.

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