1956 Marlin 39A

Inusuit

Inusuit

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Local gun shop has a Model 39A. I The serial is N 14556, which the interweb tells me dates it to 1956. Allegedly came from a local estate. Looks dull from storage, would benefit from some work with an oily rag on the metal and clean/wax/buff on the wood. I'd say conservatively 98% blue on barrel (some minor missing blue at barrel end). No bluing loss on receiver. The wood has no nicks, dings, scrapes, just no maintenance/TLC, so maybe 98 on the wood also. Is $499 a good price? Completed sales on GB seem to running much higher for one in this condition.

Thanks for your input and opinions.
 
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Buy it. Last time I saw one that age in an LGS was two years ago, and it had a $600 tag on it.
 
Very good prices. I sold a 1951 Peanut model with about 99% bluing for $750.
 
A few years ago I was in a LGS and spotted a Marlin 39A M on the rack
for a very reasonable price. I knew it was an older one and in very nice
condition so I bought it. I was surprised to find out after I got home
with it that it was made in 1957, didn't think it was quite that old. It's
a high quality 22 rifle from a bygone era and it would take a lot more
than $499 to pry it out of my hands. Buy it!
 
GREAT DEAL! In 98% condition they are going for hundreds more than that now. Even though the Marlin 39A is still being made, they are no where even close to being the same quality Rifle as the one in your description.

I'd take an older one ANY DAY over a new one - even over one that Marlin produced in the 90's or 2000's!
 
I love Marlin 39s; I have four of them right now, including three short barrels. However, I'd say $499 is a good, not a great price. You won't go wrong, and the value will continue to rise on guns of that era. If you could talk them down to 400 or 450, then you'd be in the Great price range.
 
I picked one up from 1983. Only blemish was from the carpet in the safe it sat in rubbed the blue slightly when the safe shook while opening the door from time to time. $325
 
A superb, classic lever-action rifle, quality all the way. Snap that sucker up.

The new Marlins, since the Remington acquisition/merger/whatever, are nowhere near the same high quality by all accounts.
 
Run.. don't walk to that LGS. A Henry .22LR Lever gun runs around $350, and with all due respect to Henry's for what they are, and the price point they are made to be marketed at... the $150 higher price for the Marlin 39A is a better investment.
 
I just completed a long search for one, watching dozens of auctions, and happily paid over $600 for one. It's only when you're not looking that you can find a deal like that. That's fate speaking to you. Are you listening?
 
HOUSTON RICK said:
That is about 10% of what it would cost here. What is wrong with it?
Click to expand...

10%?

Actually, several things when I went back for a second look. First, it is Mountie length, not the longer rifle. Microgroove rifling, no gold trigger, which I never liked anyway so that's a plus.

The fore end has a bit of play and the the screws holding the fore end cap in place are both twisted off. You'd think when the busted the first one, they would have stopped. But no.

The shop gunsmith has ordered new screws but says it may be an issue to get the broken ones out. Who knows? But he would do it and replace them at the asking price.

Also, the Marlin trademark "Bullseye" in the bottom of the buttstock is missing leaving a hole in the stock. $2.50 plus shipping from Midway USA, but the smith didn't order that.

One of the screws in the left side of the receiver is buggered a bit.

There are some very light marks in the wood that I missed the first time. I'd still give it 95% overall except for the issues noted above.

The rifle is "on consignment" so they won't budge from the $499 price.

I'm still tempted, but it's not the smoking deal I first thought.
 
At that price.....Like a Duck on a June Bug ....Like a Duck on a June Bug.


Chuck
 
What you listed are all minor issues that you can correct over time if they bother you.
And I find the Mountie model to be a more classic look anyway...that made it an even better deal in my eyes.
Get it!
 
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