Marlin 39A Golden

[CH47gunner]

I've been on the lookout for one of these for quite some time.
Pretty decent shape, good metal, so so wood, & manufactured 1977 w/ no cross-bolt safety.
I'll either refinish the wood or replace it thru Midway or Brownells. I'm also thinking of going with an after market receiver sight of some type.
Never thought I'd say that I had enough .22's but, this may be it, except for "one more" - still looking for that primo Stevens Favorite.

Bruce

Marlin 39A Golden

 

[feralmerril]

Looks like one I owned as a teenager. You will like it.

 

[armorer951]

One of my favorite rifles.....I have a Golden and a Mountie. Very accurate and trouble free for the most part.

 

[chief38]

The Marlin 39A (older style like you have) is a FANTASTIC gun and getting more expensive by the day.

From your pictures the wood does not look all that bad; certainly not bad enough to replace. Restoring the existing stock on that gun is pretty easy - I did one from 1946 only a short while ago and it came out quite good! After steaming out a few dings, stripping what was left of the original finish and a light sanding, I used Hope's 100% Tung Oil with a light steel wooling in between coats. A total of 7 coats were applied.

The gun looks GREAT and since it belonged to my Dad it really means a lot to me. It's got a Marble's sight on it now although I still have a Lyman Peep Sight and the original one as well.

Enjoy!!

Chief38

 

[Fishslayer]

Looks pretty nice as is. Not sure if I would be molesting it at all. I think it's kinda beautiful, actually.

 

[DGNY]

Congratulations on getting this fine rifle. They are classics and hold their value tenaciously!

The stock job can be fun - g00gle for stock refinishing and you can read up on the subject. Lots of methods and m-a-n-y opinions.

After careful preparation and dust removal, I like Formby's low gloss [actually more of a gloss] tung oil finish. Have also used lots of Tru-Oil. If you get T-O, work from a fresh container and thin a bit with paint thinner, esp at first, to reduce build up and 'heavy' look. If you are careful, you can even do a partial refinish that will look good, preserve a little patina and last well.

Best of luck and again - Congratulations!

Regards,

Dyson

 

[chief38]

DGNY :

Regarding 100% Tung Oil there is no shelf life - it will last indefinitely. Other than the T/O in the can there are no other ingredients to go bad. Tung oil BLENDS (like Formby's) is NOT pure T/O and yes it does have a shelf life. Just wanted to let other s know there is no reason to discard an opened can of 100% T/O. The can of Hopes T/O I have is 33 years old and still as good as the day I bought it.

Chief38

 

[2152hq]

Looks fine just the way it is to me!
It's factory drilled & tapped for a Lyman (IIRC) receiver sight.

Factory stock finish was a spray laquer finish at that time,,early 70's and on.
The Glenfield and other 'Store brand' stocks of birch, ect got a coating of stain beforehand. But the Marlin walnut stocks were generally finished w/o any staining. The finish itself sometimes had a bit of toner/color added.

Applied by an automated process with the wood and the spray material being opposite electrical charges. Quite something for the time,,rather normal in spray finish operations now I'd guess.
They still did a hand spray work area for touchup when needed but that wasn't often.

 

[CH47gunner]

Thanks guys,

The varnish is bubbled & seperated from the wood in random places. This on both the forearm & buttstock.
I've only done/refinished one stock before and used all the Birchwood/Casey products. Walnut stain & eight coats of the Tru-Oil finish. This was on a little bolt rifle a couple of years back. I do remember that stripping off the old finish & prepping for the new was the hardest part.
Before anything tho, I better take her out & shoot her.

ps - she also came with the Marlin scope mount & Bushnell 4x scope - so I'll need to order filler screws when I figure out which reciever/tang sight I'm going with.

Bruce

 

[Rule3]

If you do end up refinishing the Tru Oil is way better than straight Linseed or Tung Oil. It dies much faster, does not get sticky.

JMO but 8 coats is overkill.

Kleen strip remover works great/fast followed by a acetone wipe or mineral spirits.

Wal Mart or where ever toxic chemicals are sold

Klean-Strip®

 

[redlevel]

Can't go wrong with Skinner Sights.
About Us

 

[CH47gunner]

Can't go wrong with Skinner Sights.
About Us

Ooooh, those are really nice! I'm liking the black/gold one.
Simple too. I believe the rear sight may be resolved.

Thanks redlevel -

Bruce

Not a great pictures but, useful for comparison -
I bought two of these Serbian (Zastava) made .22's - really nice metalwork but, a really poor mud oil wood finish. I've refinished mine but Wifey wants hers left alone (?).

Charles Daly (Zastava) Superior II

 

[K Frame Keith]

I bought mine used in 1978 and it was old then. It is my favorite .22 rifle, accurate, classic...one of the original high capacity rifles!

 

[Tam 3]

It is already set up for Lyman. It doesn't get much better for $80-$90.

Regards,

Tam 3

 

[Garland]

I have a Skinner peep on mine. I love shooting the 22 shorts with it-doesn't make hardly any noise at all!

 

[chief38]

I concur that Linseed Oil takes forever to dry and quite honestly that's why I do not use it anymore.

Tung Oil (100% pure) dries fully in a few hours and is not sticky (like the Linseed) at all. Really good stuff! The great part about using it is if in few years you want to add a few coats, simply lightly steel wool it with 0000 and add a few more coats. A ten minute job. If you want a satin finish lightly buff the final coat with 0000. If you like glossy, let it dry and your're done.

Chief38