model 39a help

[fordwannabe]

Well I came across a trade lastnight I just had to do...and I hope I did the right thing. I had a ishapore enfield that is in pretty nice shape and he had a marlin 39a from 1957(according to the P prefix) it is whooped, rode hard put away wet, and was unassembled when he showed it to me(I mean he took it apart and can't get it back together,bolt out ect, not broken down at the joint which it was also). I need to know what the front sight should look like and does anybody have an old stock for this, he had a pistol grip stock on it and it is very apparent it should be a straight grip. How hard is it to replace the mag tube on these it seems to wiggle a little..ok more than a little. So you don't feel to bad for me I also got a set of 351 cleveland cylinder heads that I wanted in the trade. Thanks this is my first 39A so help me out if you can. Tom

[nemhed]

I think you did all right on the trade especially with the heads thrown in. My first question is how long is the barrel. A straight grip Mountie model will have a 20" barrel and the standard pistol grip 39a (or Golden 39a) will have a 24" barrel. Was someone trying to convert this rifle to a Mountie? Hopefully you've got all the parts. I've got an Ishapore Enfield and I feel just about any 39a would be worth trading it for. Of course, I've already got a 39a so I don't have to worry about that.

not broken down at the joint which it was also

I don't quite understand what you mean here. I've seen some home gunsmith types do a lot of head scratching trying to get a 39 broken down.
Good luck with your project and post some pictures when you get a chance!

[Pete44ru]

A Model 336 stock will fit, but a PG stock can easily be altered to straight grip instead.

The issue front sight blade is a Lyman-type gold bead, available directly, or from Numrich Arms/MidwayUSA/Brownell's.

I don't know exactly what you mean by "loose mag tube", but if the outer tube is loose in the forward hanger, the crosspin may be missing.
If the hanger/dovertail is loose & shifting side-to-side, it's most likely been replaced with the wrong era hanger, that has a different-sized dovetail than the rifle's - a shim in the dovetail slot will tighten it.

Pics would be nice.

.

[fordwannabe]

Thanks for the reply guys. What I was trying to say in that statement was, not only was it taken down into the two halves, but he had removed parts for cleaning or whatever and I had to put parts back in(Bolt, firing pin,ejector were in a plastic baggie) before I could put the two halves back together. I did that last night don't know how it was so hard for him but whatever. I will measure barrel tonight but either the lever was changed or the stock was changed(which I suspect) because the end of the lever goes about a 1/3 of an inch into the pistolgrip. Feels pretty wierd to have the lever inside the stock and the lever is a straight one not curved at all. The mag tube holder feels pretty solid but I can turn the mag tubeat least 90 degrees in the holder, I will look at the pin, but the mag tube is pretty beat up anyway. I have to say though any new part on this gun will stick out like a skunk at a family reunion. I will look at gunparts and see what they have available. Thanks again. Tom

[jdad]

Straight lever is a Mountie. Try your luck & patience, with Numnuts for the stock or give www.dickwilliamsgunshop.com a call.

[fordwannabe]

20 inch barrel measured just now. Keep the info coming I love knowing what is what. Thanks Guys

[Tycer]

Wow, you have a '57 Mountie! And a pair of Cleveland heads. Now all you need is a buttstock and a solid 400 with flat top 351 pistons!
Two of my favorite combos!

[dieselguy624]

I'm in the other end of the same boat. I acquired a 1964 Golden 39A & I suspect the stock may have been cut down. My question is can anyone give me a rough length measurement from the reciever to the end of the wood? The rifle has some sort of home made 1/4" aluminum spacer/buttplate.

Appreciate any help fellas!

[fordwannabe]

Well I went shooting yesterday with my 39A(mountie I guess). I put some antique restorer(I know what is in it and it is a professional grade used by museums and historical societies) on the wood and rubbed the metal with Hoppes and a nice oil. It is still missing most of the blueing but is much more pleasing to the eye. The front sight was broken front to back at the bead, so I filed the broken part flat and blued all the shiny filed surfaces but the circle. It looks like the regular sight picture but the sight is only about half of the original thickness front to back above the dovetail. A good bath helped the action smooth up quite a bit and the roll pin that holds the mag tube was bent pretty badly so I straightened it and am looking through my old drill bits for an exact match to make a new pin(only probem with a drill doctor is my supply of old drill bits is way down), but mag tube is much tighter with just straightening the old pin for now. Ok it shot pretty well(under 2 inches at 25 yards and it was winnnnddddyyy) under the circumstances but I will try a few more brands of 22 ammo before I pass final judgement but a squirrel ain't safe at 25 yards. that's it for now on the saga of the whooped 39A. Question the trigger is very smooth and it looks like it was never blued maybe gold like my 1894 was this correct? thanks Guys. Tom

[nemhed]

Make sure you post some pictures of your treasure! Depending on its level of abuse/neglect that Marlin might really benefit in the accuracy department with a very thorough bore scrubbing.

[fordwannabe]

Forgot to mention I started that process too, but it will take more than one application of lead out. I may even use my foul out this weekend on it. thanks for the heads up though. Tom

[bcp]

A 20 inch barrel and pistol grip stock sounds like a39D.

A good photo on this thread:
http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/inde ... ic=32540.0

Bruce