Got 2 39s, one has the old Ballard rifling and the other has the micro groove rifling. Both shoot good and can't see much difference in accuracy between the 2. I think the micro groove rifling makes the rifles shoot on par with most any other rifle, bolt action or SS. My old 39 had some idiot grind a large area on the left side of receiver to maybe install some kind of receiver sight or just wanted to booger up a rifle. Can't find left side receiver but still looking.

My dad bought me a Marlin 39A when I was 8 years old in the early 50s. It had a 6 power scope on it, and I dispatched many squirrels with it. When I was 16, I wanted a Browning 22 auto, so the the 39A was regretfully traded on the Browning. I love the Browning, and I took lots of squirrels with it as well. I still have the Browning, and won't get ride of it. But I also wish I still had the 39A. Can't afford one now, though.

When I saw this post I though the rifle shown looked familiar. Checking my own M39 I confirmed that it is also an "E" made in 1948. In my case the rifle was purchased at a LGS, and it had apparently been mis-identified because smeone had installed a white spacer under the butt plate, making it appear to be a newer gun. Because of that,it was listed at a lower price than it should have been.

This cutie has won many frozen turkeys at a local shoot we hold each October.

Serial number is 167XX.

And Ballard rifling!

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There are some nice newer long guns too, it's just that the older ones were put together with more love than the new guns! I guess they had better standards, workers took a little more pride in what they put together. Another reason they have become more valuable is that my rifle, for example, is 73 years old and is still in great shape, just like all these other ones, because they were taken care of. As time goes on, they become rarer, and we will pay more money for them. Kinda like a '66 GTO, tri-power 389 cu. inch that was babied!

Post WW2 Marlins and some late pre-ww2 mfg ,,it's visible on the bbl near the breech and not under the wood.
But earlier it's on the bottom of the bbl.
I should have made the distinction in era of mfg.,,my fault.

Some of those early bottom of the bbl proofed guns will have an additional proof mark on top if they went back for any work later on that required a re-proof and the stamping was then being done above line.

Nice collection.!


..added..

Here's a pic of the bottom of the bbl/under the wood line early JM in an oval proof mark.
This one on a refinished carbine bbl in 25-36M for a Mod 1893.
About 2" ahead of the breech and just around to the left side of the shallow clearance cut for the magazine tube in the breech end of the bbl.




Also,,the Bullseye placed in the toe-line of the stock was a Registered Trademark of the then 'new' Marlin Firearms 'Corporation' under John Marlin.
This was in 1922.
The new Corp used the Trademark on everything from mailing envelopes and office paper to tools and other items they made.

I think the use of the plastic Bullseye in the stock started around 1926. At lest that's when the factory made note of it in adv about the customers being able to easily ID a Marlin product on the shelf.

Marlin always used AmWal for their stocks. Early high grades got imported walnut.
Glenfield and other house brands (Ranger..)never got the Bullseye treatment.

Seems like the old Marlin levers hold their value a lot better than other rifles be it bolt, semi, pump from other manufacturers I noticed. Sounds like Marlin 336 and 1894 sell quickly on the used gun market. The Savage 99 is another quality rifle to look for.

Both my 39A and 39 Century LTD have the JM mark on the barrel, but only the LTD has the bullseye.

My dad bought the LTD when they first came out. He never fired it, after he gave it to me it's stayed the same. Unfired unless they fire them at the factory.

I have had mine since new, in the early 50’s. Never been thrown in the back of a pickup or any other vehicle. Nonetheless, it has a few scrapes and bruises from being carried afield many, many times. It wasn’t collectible in say 1960. It was a tool. It still is. I have considered a cosmetic makeover before I hand it down to one of my nephews. Maybe I will, but I probably won’t. The gun has served me well for a long time. I too, have nicks, scratches, and light surface rust in spots. Maybe we go together.

The Century models came out in 1970 (1870-1970).

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WAR EAGLE!

I'd guess 1970.

I have one that’s just a few years older than yours. Early 50’s. It has a 24”’barrel and the sights look identical to yours as best I can tell from the pictures. You are missing the hood off the front sight. Nice find.

Your sight ramp looks just like mine, at least in cell phone size pictures. If the ramp has a horizontal slot on each side, that’s what the hood slides onto. I like the hood because is provides a sort of peep sight sight picture. Hoods should be easy to find and not real expensive.

Hope this fits in here, I do not mean to hijack the thread!
I've always been a fan of nice wood, regardless of the brand. I've been looking closely at some of the beauty on display here, and it brought back something I was told many years ago, by the shop smith at the old Piscatelli's in New Haven.
Some stocks have darkened areas crossing the natural walnut grain, which, while ornate, seem to be unnatural. I was told that was a "trick of the trade", done by caressing the wood with a blowtorch to burn a stripe on the wood. After the initial burn, the wood was very lightly scrubbed, just enough to smooth the burn, but not enough to remove the scar. The man said it raised the desirability of the stock. I've always accepted his statement, but right now, at this moment with so many knowledgeable gun guys on this thread, I'd sure appreciate your thoughts. I've had some very nice walnut, but none with the dark cross grain stripes.
Thanks for all input, and regards to all.
Bob

Those 39A's are awesome shooters, long barrel and long sight radius.
I was just never into the white spacers, the way too fat fore arm wood, or pistol grips.
I had a few 39A's when I was younger, but what I really lusted after was the 39M.
Found this 1958 model (with notched comb stock) a few years ago.
It goes well with my Colt new Frontier .22.

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U. S. Army Veteran

I had a childhood friend who had a Mountie. I always sort of liked them. Thought one day I’d probably get one. Of all the dozens and dozens of guns I’ve bought over the last five or six decades, I have never bought a .22 rifle of any description. I’ve had the 39 since childhood and never needed anything else.

Those darker areas are usually natural in american walnut. They get somewhat darker once the wood is finished especially with the earlier common used 'In The Wood' finishes. Linseed Oil based being the most common from the factorys and and follow up applications of plain linseed over that by owners.

Linseed oxidizes and darkens as it cures and makes thoses areas even darker as time goes on.

In the 70's, mostly due to EPA regs, factorys started to use more friendly and quicker to apply finishes that were top coatings. Any staining was usually a water base or a toner mixed right into that applied finish.
Auto spray finishing became more common as did electro-static charge spray.

This change results in a lessening of the long term oxidation and patina of the darker grain in most wood. You don't see that down in the wood streaking much anymore with an 'in the wood' finish unless it's a special order application.

Enhancing the grain to mimic that look has long been done with a flame.
Usually the area is first coated with ,,once again Linseed oil.
The oil this time to prevent scorching the wood with the flame though some do without the oil just fine.

The trick using the oil is to allow it to penetrate the wood a bit.
Then wiping excess off the stock, use the flame of a torch (propane torch works fine) and wave the flame quickly over that oiled area.
The oil will heat up and that will actually boil and smoke a bit to impart the brown and near black,,or true black color (if you want that deep of a color) to the area.
With some practice, the colored area can be made to look like a mineral streak in the wood or other natural occurance.
Like everything else, over done or without some practice, it can look terrible!
One good thing the oil in the wood helps prevent is scorching and charring the surface which is Very easy to do when attempting this w/o it.
An instant too long and you go from the perfect color to a layer of char.

Yes that area can be scraped and sanded back down, but it will generally show as a flat or low area in your once perfect stock.

A very light touch with some color coming up is a good way to start.
It was for a time in the 60's quite popular to use on lighter colored stock woods in place of any liquid stains. At that time, making gunstocks of most anything but Walnut seemed to be in vogue.
Seems to have fallen from favor as a whole stock coloring thing.
But for small occasional accents, it's definetly useful tool as they say.

Have all JM :
39A , .22 Texan , 45/70 Cowboy, and Stainless 45/70 SDT tricked out with Wild West parts. All JM.

Just added this one golden 39a Pre safety. Mechanicaly it’s excellent the stock has a couple chip outs at the receiver. Missing the bullseye and the front sight hood. Skinner peep sight on it. Made in 1967. Paid $560

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'58 just picked it up yesterday from original owner

... it needs a lever spring and screw if anybody has an extra

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no paperwork on the 39.
thats what i get for nice low rd Marlin 336 30/30s $6-650.
just got this one in ..

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A 95%+ Pre safety 336 is well worth $600.00 to me. Have no usage for anything new... QA issues abound.

The 39A is the first gun I ever got, new in 1963. The 39M I found shortly after I retired in 2005. It was from 1969 and used very little. The 39A has an original Redfield receiver sight. The 39M now has a Williams FP receiver sight.

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Tom

My first gun was a Marlin 1897 lever action 22 my pappy bought me for my 5th birthday back in 55’. I still have it and have had several assorted 39s.
Have one I bought new in 70s, a 39m. The 39 is the best lever 22 that has been made.Thats why it was made for so long. The other levers are not really traditional designs. Win made the 73 in 22 but have never seen one in nice condition or ever shot one. It is said it was a good rifle but cost to much at the time.

I saw a post the other day on .22 rifles but can't find it now so I'll add here. Took my Marlin 39-A Golden with a Weaver 3-6X to the range today. 100 yards was hitting high but grouped tight. So much fun to shoot. Misfire? cock the hammer and try again. Bang.

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I bought my M39 to use as a cas practice rifle along with a Ruger.22 Vaquero. Used it for years but never liked the thick clunky buttstock and forend. I contacted Marlin about doing an octagon barrel swap as they were selling the 1897 commemorative rifles then. Sent them my gun and when I got it back I reshaped the fat wood into a slim 1897.

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I have my Dad’s 39A from the early 50’s. It’s the one year with the brass crescent on the pistol grip. I haven’t taken it out an shot it in about 40-50 years. I’m going to fix that issue in the next few days.

Aauugh! You're hurting my ears! Good condition Model 39's with the "s" pistol grip are hard to find. These rifles were often well used.

Best selling .22 ever. Yours (1957) must have a booger somewhere, but it's not the design.

Here are some case colored 39's, 39A's and an 1897. I have blued variations as well but no pictures handy.



Rainbow row.

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I've picked up two more 39As since I posted the pic of my 1958 earlier in the thread.
All of mine are Mounties, I much prefer the straight stock & lever, shorter barrel and slimmer wood.
First one is a K prefix made in 1953.
1953 was the first year of the Mountie, and only 4335 were made that first year. Those first Mounties had the straight stock and lever but had a 24" barrel. After 1953 the barrels were shortened to 20" and were that length every since.
Previous owners had taken my 1953 to a gunsmith who shortened the barrel to 19 inches and inlaid the diamonds in the stock. I got this at a show for $500, and it is a good shooter.
The Mountie next to an SA-22 and a 1906 Winchester:

Last summer I found this 1956 Mountie, Except for the wood being pretty bare it was pristine. I oiled the wood and put a Skinner on it.
The 1953 had Ballard rifling, the 1956 has Microgroove, and the Microgroove seems to have a slight edge in accuracy.

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U. S. Army Veteran

A beautiful collection of case Marlins sjbrdn. Wasn’t trying to hurt your ears. My 39 was banged up and I couldn’t afford an 1897 so I built one. The reshaping of the stock got rid of the dings and excessive wood.

Just messin' with you Ed. I know there's a place for firearms as tools. Bringing a heavily used one back to life is a good thing.

I'm just a collector and purist at heart. I can't help it. Even my shooters are in above average condition and you can't tell I use them.

Marlin 39's were made to be shot and most of them were. The unused, closeted rifles are scarce-what we would call a "safe queen" today.

I grew up shooting squirrels and rabbits with a gold trigger 39A from the early 60's. My dad still takes squirrels with it today.

I went rabbit hunting with it years ago with two buddies. One man would cover the "escape route" while the other two were the hound dogs and stomped around in the cover (a fence line) to flush the rabbits out. Both of my buddies had S/A .22's and both missed their rabbits after multiple fired shots at each. I rolled two rabbits with two shots with my L/A 39A--I wasn't allowed any more turns at shooting! It was a good morning and a good memory.

Just as a reminder Marlin also made some very excellent low priced over/under shotguns under their name and also under the Sears J.C. Higgings name. They were twin trigger, no rib, no auto ejectors and very nicely balanced. A great solid gun that I wish I had kept.

Mine is from 1973, pre safety, and is my favorite 22. Scary accurate, but I have the most fun with 22 Shorts. You can just keep shooting, and shooting, and shooting, and... 🙂

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I've got a few hundred shorts, I'll have to try some next time out.

I had the '56 out today and fired it and a .22 revolver.
Mine shoots Remington Goldens better than anything.
I had along today:
CCI Mini-Mag HP
RWS HVHP (like Mini-Mags but greasy lube).
RWS Subsonic HP ( big HP cavity, and yes, greasy lube).
Norma Rifle Match
Remington Golden HP

The Mountie does not like anything RWS or the Norma match. Bad groups, and the same results with the 5 inch revolver I was shooting.
Maybe if I shot enough to get the bore used to the heavy lube, they'd do better.

In most other rimfires I have, the Goldens would throw a flyer or two and open up what would have been a nice group.
With the Mountie, those Goldens hold a nice round cluster, I didn't notice any flyers today either.
My Nylon 66 is the same way. Goldens for it too.

I have several big ammo cans of Mini-Mags and RWS Field Grade in reserve, but for plinking the Goldens suit me fine.

This is a Chiappa Marlin copy. Not a true copy, but I guess it has the look and feel.
It takes down via the big thumbscrew like a 39, but the gap between the receiver halves is wide enough for a cockroach to crawl through.
The case color finish is an intense blue but is a surface type finish, sprayed on maybe ? Not confident it would last.
The wood is the plainest you'll ever see, with a darker stain on it.
The bluing on the barrel and lever looked like black paint.

Internally, the Chiappa is pretty crude, there is a soft, pot metal "box" that acts as the cartridge feed and lifter.
I can't remember the proper name of the part, but the "box", in it's lower position, accepts a cartridge from the tube, then as the lever is being closed, the lever cams the 'box" up so the bolt can strip off the round and chamber it.
The Chiappa I tried that day did not feed very reliably, the top feed lips of the "box" looked a bit chewed up from the bolt riding over it, a bit soft, hence my pot metal comment.
The guy that owned it sent it back as he had two cases split near the rim that spewed particles back.
He moved up to Flagstaff so I'm not sure if he got it fixed or replaced.

This on the other hand, is a great lever .22 next to my Mountie, a Browning BL-22. It's a bit small for adults, more of a youth size, but my two Grandsons will like the Browning when they get old enough to shoot.
It too has a Skinner rear and taller Marbles front.

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U. S. Army Veteran

I am new to the Marlin 39 party, always a fan of the 9422 and bolt guns. However, I stumbled upon this 39AS a few days ago. Too nice to leave on the shelf, especially at $370. Runs like a champ!

50’ standing.

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