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.
Marlin Model 39
- Thread starter bamabiker
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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.
A question here
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
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
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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.
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.
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.
eveled
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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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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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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.
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.
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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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Baltimoreed11754
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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.
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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Baltimoreed11754
Member
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.
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