A really old Marlin 39A

[Bull Elk]

[Batman]

Suggestions?

I'd suggest you make her an offer! Tell her you really admire the gun, point out the case hardening and the scope. And then tell her that you're not sure you can afford such a beautiful gun. At that point one of two things will happen.

1. She'll throw out a price. At that point, either tell her you'll take it, tell her you were right, that as beautiful as it is, it's simply out of your budget, or tell her she's pricing it too low and offer her more.
2. She'll ask you to throw out a number. She'll either accept it if it's what she values it at, laugh at you for offering such a low amount, or get mad and grab the gun out of your hands for insulting her. At that point, though, you told her you may not be able to afford it.

[200Apples]

She may have no idea of what some examples of this wonderful Marlin may fetch, say, on GB.

If that's the case, an uttered value of over $300 may startle her.

A price fair to the both of you would be in the neighborhood of $600 - 700.

That said, offer $500, and, good luck!

[AR22]

If it is a early 39A as said and is really in remarkable condition..It could be worth easily 1500.00 plus..That of course barring any refinish work if that turns out to be the case..If even refinished and done right, correct blueing and case colors..Probably still 1000.00 atleast..

You can hardly touch a newer 39A in nice condition for under 1000.00 anymore..

Let us know if you get it, or have Her give me a call if you do not,LOL

[pennstater]

Following this one.

MLC

[bigbossman]

Run of the mill ones easily sell for $800 and I sold one last year for $900. So, a rifle such as you describe is easily worth more..... like in the $1,200+ range. Here's the only caveat, that may or may not figure into it. The scope, and how it was attached. A collector might view that as a deal breaker if it has non-original drilled and tapped holes, and/or if the wood line on the hand-guard was disturbed or carved out in any way. Any of that can and will hurt the value of the gun.

Other than that, it is worth a bit and I hope you snatch it up so we can see pictures!

[AR22]

I missed the scope part..Yes that would drop it quite a bit if anything was drilled and tap..And I would say it almost gad to have been done to mount it.That would be a sad deal if it was..But who know back then how much they would turn out to be worth..

[bigbossman]

I missed the scope part..Yes that would drop it quite a bit if anything was drilled and tap..And I would say it almost gad to have been done to mount it.That would be a sad deal if it was..But who know back then how much they would turn out to be worth..

Yes, I bought one from a fellow over the internet, and when it showed up it had the wood line on the hand-guard relieved and screw holes in the barrels shank. It was not disclosed, and not visible in the pictures sent. I believed that he had made an honest mistake about missing that detail - but I could not live with it, so I sold it off cheap (but a bit more than I paid!).

I can't see how a scope could be mounted any other way on these rifles, but maybe?

[AR22]

I do not even think the early 39A would have even been drilled on top the reciver foe the Hepburn sight anymore..I did have a 1954 Mountie at one time that was factory drilled on the Barrel for a Weaver mount..But those were the exception they made some for Sears and they requested it be done..Other than the 4 factory holes in the barrel..They were marked identical to the regular Marlins..No Sears markings were ever put on.

You could also send your Marlin in way back..And the factory would drill and tap for scope mounts as a service for the Weaver N4 mount I think it was... But I have never heard or seen of a early 39A having ever been drilled and tapped from the time of manufacture..

You can tell a factory original later 39A one drilled at the time of manufacture by looking if the screw holes are blued inside or not..I they were not drilled and tapped prior to being blued at the time it left the factory, the holes would be bare inside because of the removal of the metal of course at a later date.....

Maybe more than anyone wants to hear..But bored today..LOL

[Bull Elk]

I’m still waiting to hear from her. I’ll check the rifle to see how the scope is mounted.

[Bladewurk]

my 1954 Marlin 39a is factory D&T

[AR22]

Your 1954 was likely one of the ones made for Sears by Marlin then..Or it could have been sent back and done at the factory if it was not one of the original Sears models..But there were also Smiths that had the Weaver drilling jigs too..So as I said earlier, the tell tale is usually are the threaded holes blued down inside or not..Is there any evidence of raised edges around the holes? That would maybe indicate drilled and tapped after the fact too.

I could tell you first hole Factory spacing distance from the front of the receiver to the first hole..But I can no longer remember it,LOL

[Bladewurk]

upload image

[AR22]

Oh, sorry I thought yours was drilled and tapped on the barrel for the Weaver Mount..

Yes I think 1955 would have been the year they started factory drilling the top of the receiver..I own two 1954s..Neither is tapped at all..And I have never encountered a pre 1955 that was..Not saying it could not have happened maybe late in 1954..I just have never seen one..But again it could have been maybe special ordered in 1954.. Someone very well could also send a 1954 and earlier in to the Factory and have it done also..

I own a Model 56 Levermatic, and yes they were all drilled and tapped from the get go as far as I know..

I did own a 1954 Mounty a year or so back, that was both drilled and tapped on the barrel and the Receiver top..But only the four in the barrel were original to the Rifle..The Receiver ones were drilled later after it left the Factory..Sad it was done to the reciever, so it went away..

[mattt]

I had a real nice 1923 39a that I traded to Kendog that looked incredible I wish I had pics of it. Case color looked like new as did gun think at some point maybe was redone dont know ?