Marlin 39 question

John in MS · Post by **John in MS** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:23 pm

Hi, folks,
Am looking at a very nice condition, mid-1950's Marlin 39 with Ballard rifling at a local shop. It appears to have been used relatively little.
One question I have is that, when it is cocked, the firing pin protrudes to the rear of the bolt, and is under significant friction, even though it's not spring-loaded. (This is not a "rebounding hammer" type rifle.)

Putting a little oil on it and working it back and forth seems to have loosened it up a little, but it still seems like it would slow down ignition
considerably and possibly make ignition less consistent. (I shoot rimfire competition and have found poor ignition to cause fliers with top quality match rifles.) I'm looking at this as a possible Cowboy Lever Action rimfire silhouette rifle.

Is it normal for the firing pin to be stuck to the rear when the rifle is cocked, and be held there by significant friction, or should it be more free-floating?

Any thoughts or ideas would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
John

Terry Murbach · Post by **Terry Murbach** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:30 pm

IT SHOULD NOT BE STICKY. THEY DO NOT FLOP BACK AND FORTH THOUGH. YOU SHOULD CLEAN THE GOO OUT OF IT FIRST SINCE IT HASN'T BEEN APART SINCE EISENHOWER WAS PRESIDENT.

Slick · Post by **Slick** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:32 pm

I'll tell ya straight up that I can't give you a 100% qualified answer (to what's safe) - but if you're happy with the rifle and the deal, buy it and do a thorough tear-down and re-lube the entire gun.

Some old guns I've bought had grease that was hard as wax and once cleaned and re-lubed worked like jewels. I say get the gun!

ceb · Post by **ceb** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:03 am

If I felt the price was good, I'd go for it. The 39 is very easy to take apart, and the firing pin to remove. The firing pin will protrude to the rear somewhat but should be rather free, as the others have said, a good cleaning will probably take care of any problems.

bobbyjack · Post by **bobbyjack** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 3:14 am

I've got one made in 1948 ,so I went and looked and when levered back the FP will stick out a good 1/4 inch.

But when bolt closed sometimes you see it sometimes not(but it will easily flick forward with a flick of your nail).

You know mine's an E series but when you cock back the hammer,you can see a B on it.

Bob

.45colt · Post by **.45colt** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 9:22 am

If the price is reasonable I would buy it. I bought a winchester model '64 several years ago when one of the members Here posted a link about it. it had fifty years of dried oil in the action.I picked up a can of gun-scrubber,took the butt-stock off and was amazed with the amount of gack that came out.it shoots like a new gun.Jim.

John in MS · Post by **John in MS** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 8:40 pm

Hi, folks,
Thanks for the good info! Glad to find out how the firing pin is REALLY supposed to work. Wasn't sure just how much play there was supposed to be. Looks like I may have some cleaning ahead of me!

John