mikeB Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Hi. Is anyone out there using one of these ? MB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 I have two if them under my roof: One made in 1948 belonging to my college student son, and mine made in 1977. I am a true fan of the Marlin Model 39's. Do yo have one? or are you curious?? ~Andrew (The first repeating 22 LR rifle made, you know...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mack Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 My first .22 was a Model 39 and I have regretted selling it ever since. I bought it for a tenner second hand, it had a home made butt but boy could it shoot. It would jam some times if you didn't rack the action hard enough but it was easy enough to sort out due to the takedown screw. I had it for years until I traded up and immediately regretted it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarinePMI Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Mack, Ouch! A TDS (take down model) as well? Man, that hurts just thinking about it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 If you believe Marlin, all Model 39's are hand fitted; It is the only gun in their line-up that requires that amount of attention. For a "hammer gun" they are generally very accurate. I shoot a variety of .22 ammo from mine but my favorite is CCI .22 CB-Short. The 29 grain bullet does 700 ft/sec and the rifle holds 26 of them. A friend of mine has a pigeon problem out at his homestead and I go out and park by their roost and let them have it! The fact that the rifle will function with a variety of different length .22 cartridges (Short, Long, Long-rifle) is a testimony to the design. In 117 years the only mechanical changes have been the loading tube, a small mod on the breechblock to strengthen it for hi speed ammo, and of late, that awful push-button safety. It's a true classic.~Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest varmartin Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Interesting reading...I did not know what they looked like exactly so found a pic for others that may be interested.... Is this a faithful representation of the ones you guys have ?? Martin Marlin Mod. 39 Century Ltd. 100 Jahre Marlin 1870-1970, Kaliber 22 LR, Take Down, Preis Fr. 1380.- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 The Century Model had a shorter, 20" octagonal barrel. I have one of the barrels purchased NOS from a surplus house to use if I ever find a M-39 with a poor barrel. The current rifles have a 24 inch barrel. These are our two. The one on the left was made in 1948 and was restocked by me last Fall because the previous owner let his kid refinish the original wood several times over. Being made before 1953 means it has six-groove "Ballard Cut Rifling", opposed to "Micro Groove" rifling adopted for their .22's after that year. The gun on the right is my own, made in 1977. It is notably different in that the barrel is thicker than the 1948 gun -almost a semi bull barrel. It has a great heft for off hand shooting. The '48 has a receiver sight, as you can see. My gun still sports the original open sights. Both rifles are very accurate. ~Andrew PS: Until you shoot one of these, it's hard to imagine how fast you can get off a second shot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 I found this group in my files. It's CCI .22 "Long" cartridges at 25 yards. Ten shots with the 1948 rifle. ~Andrew <a href="http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/AMMOe_photos/?action=view¤t=OldModel39with25yardCCI22Lonmggroup.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/AMMOe_photos/OldModel39with25yardCCI22Lonmggroup.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest varmartin Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Both very nice looking rifles.. There is something about open or `iron` sights that I still like. It may have stemmed from when I was a kid and grew out of my first air rifle, which was an old `Diana 177`. A nice little air rifle with a plain stock..nothing fancy. Its the Gods honest truth that I have shot birds on the wing with that little gun. I used to spend all my pocket money on `Marksman` pellets..I even fired the rejects that found there way into the box. Well grow out of it I did, and I felt like I needed something with more `legs` Dad then let me carry his `BSA Sportman 15` in .22lr. when we went rough shooting with his 12 bore. Dad told me about how dangerous it was...`kill a man at a mile boy` he used to say..probably because thats what it said on the end of the box of ammo ! I remember my very first shot with it, at an old tin can...went right through..I was suitably impressed. My old `Diana`would only put a dent in one side.. I also remember shooting rabbits off hand at what seemed very long range, thinking back it was up to 60 yards max may be a bit more. There is no better feeling when your a boy and you bring home a bunny for the pot..Dad showed me how to clean it and mother cooked it ... Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 My dad bought me my first rifle on the day I was born: a used Model 68 Winchester. I still have it! I have gone the loop with my .22's, from that single shot to Hammerli Match rifles and now back to simpler guns. Can't beat them. This is the image I botched loading a minute ago... ~Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest varmartin Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Thats about as good as it gets with open sights.... Dad still has the BSA .22lr he got it for his 17th Birthday, he is over 70 now. I will have to try it again one day. Bet I have not shot it for 10 years. Not Dads ..but an image of, if you aren't familiar Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stag1933 Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 My first .22 rifle which I bought in 1951 was that model, BSA Sportsman 15 shot, tubular mag. Price was £9-10s , the 5 shot version was £8-5s and the single shot £6-15s. If my memory is correct for safety you turned the knob at the rear and there was certainly no provision for scope fitting. I paid for it many times over by shooting Bunnies which at that time fetched 3 shillings a brace if head shot. We also eat a lot of rabbits and I used to get a tanner [6 old pence for a head shot skin from the local rag and bone merchant.] Christ those were the days ! HWH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 They were indeed, a friend of mine used to take every local fox body he could get hold of, skined them right out, £10 for the skin and another £10 for the carcase from the local Kebab shop. This was in the 60s, decent money then but stinking of fox did not do his bird pulling ability any good at all in the Disco.. A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 They were indeed, a friend of mine used to take every local fox body he could get hold of, skined them right out, £10 for the skin and another £10 for the carcase from the local Kebab shop. This was in the 60s, decent money then but stinking of fox did not do his bird pulling ability any good at all in the Disco.. A ~Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeB Posted January 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2008 They were indeed, a friend of mine used to take every local fox body he could get hold of, skined them right out, £10 for the skin and another £10 for the carcase from the local Kebab shop. This was in the 60s, decent money then but stinking of fox did not do his bird pulling ability any good at all in the Disco.. A hi andrew and all u other guys out there, thanks 4 all the info on the marlin, i also have a marlin 39A, 1978 mod, i use it mainly 4 bunny blasting, i use ely.22 LR MB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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