Home Forums Lever Action Central Rimfire Levers Marlin 39a (early) Factory options/extras?

Do any of you know if Marlin shipped any 39a's in the first few years of production with either factory engraving or upgraded wood? Thanks for any replies!

They did. The receiver is engraved on one side with a squirell
and a rabbit on the other. Also avail with different grades of wood. Just looked at several on Rimfire Central site in the Marlin/ NEF forum.

uncle joe, Thanks for posting; I looked over at RFC/Marlin and could only find a couple of standard/doctored pieces...since starting this thread here's what I've found out so far: In early 39A production (1939-1940), Marlin did not have a custom shop so the question I'm asking here is a little more complex and relates to 2 39A's I've seen over 30+ Years and about 20 Years apart from one another. Both were case color recievers correct for this period as the blued reciever started after the war in the 3rd variation. Both, however had truly SPECTACULAR wood, and both had the correct "bullseye" in the buttstock. Not aftermarket I'm 99% sure due to the apparent age of wood and varnish as well as factory perfect shape. If you were ording this wood today on a custom rifle, you would have to check the 4X Extra Fancy box...The only wood I've ever seen that would rival it for both color and feather came from Winchester on Special Order Deluxe 1886 models from this model's introduction to around 1930's. So, how about it Marlin Experts? Did a few special order 39A's slip through anyway? Were any special models shipped to well known vendors of the time like Abercrombie-Fitch in NYC? Maybe special instructions or wood hand carried to a craftsman for a special customer? It has been suggested to me by a Marlin Collector that, now and then, a really nice piece of wood would show up and just be used like any other. Could be I guess... both rifles (again seen 20years apart) had unusual sights. The first, Lyman micrometer tang, Lyman folding leaf barrel and combo globe/ivory front sight in the dovetail. The second, Lyman combo tang, blank insert in the barrel and a globe front in the dovetail marked "Watson." Special target models??? How about it Marlin Experts---What do you think??? Lookout.

I have a 39a ( 1954 vintage , first year micro-groove ) I know it isn't " deemed " collectable compared to pre - micro groove , but this is the smoothest rim fire lever I have ever cycled . Not to mention the fact that this rifle is in 95 % condition . My question is this - was the reciever drilled and tapped for scope provisions from the factory ?

I just checked my original 1954 Marlin Catalog , and it states : "drilled and tapped for reciever sights" ..............so do they mean scopes ?

Marlin is referring to the side mounted aperture (peep) sight. Something like a Lyman 66 or Williams Fool Proof. On the left upper rear side of the receiver there are two tapped holes for mounting a receiver/peep sight.

Gotcha ......so it wasn't drilled and tapped for a scope from the factory ? Bummer . The rifle is in 95 - 97 % . It has a Weaver V-22 A on top ( ElPaso made I believe )

Beautiful rifle you have there! I have one made in 1972 and it's a sweetheart. Easily one of my favorite firearms.

My first rifle was a Marlin 39A in 1962. It is drilled for scope mounts as well as a receiver sight. My most recent .22 is a Marlin 39M made in 1969. The 39M doesn�t seem to have been shot much and is very accurate. My old 39A has had many thousands of rounds through it and probably needs a new barrel.

Replace the barrel ?????? ......... What makes you think that ? You can't ruin a barrel from shooting a 22LR " too much " . More 22's are " worn out " due to taking the rifle apart too much , rather than having a barrel " shot out " .

Unless the rifle hasn't been cleaned / scrubbed / oiled since the Nixon administration .......it's probably fine . <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

+1 for gd'40EG...

Actually you can ruin the barrel by extensive shooting. The people who notice this most are target shooters who shoot thousands of rounds a year. The barrel develops a ring slightly in front of the chamber. That ring starts about 25% of the circumference of the bore and gradually increases to 100%. It manifests itself by inaccuracy after the barrel has been cleaned. With wax coated match ammo, the wax fills in the ring after enough rounds. It starts off requiring about 5 rds. to ready the barrel, and works itself to requiring up to 50 rds. The non-wax coated high speed stuff never fills in the ring and accuracy suffers continuously.

Most people would'nt notice the drop in accuracy from these lever actions . You couldn't see the " ring " unless you use a good borescope .

Unless you shoot in competition with a $4000 rimfire bolt gun with a hand lapped barrel and match chambers , you are not going to see it ( accuracy drop off ) .

Would I concider the barrel " ruined " because competition shooters notice the accuracy suffering ? ( a .100 group rather than a .030 group ) ..... I think not .

" Ruined " for their application , yes ..... it still will be a squirrel slayer in my eyes .

that looks different than mine and I thought mine was a 1954 model.

What is the letter on your serial number?
I'm trying to figure out what year mine is or even it I have the right model.