Dunno, Jim, I've never had a 39M in hand , but especially next to a Chiappa to compare them. It probably wouldn't be too big of a deal to whittle out a stock out of walnut, if you're handy with wood.
From what I can gather, the insides of the LA-322 are more modular than anything else, nothing much like a Marlin inside. I'm tempted to buy one, just to find out.
