Cleaned up Nice! (Marlin 39A)

[KRC]

Picked up a new (OLD!) rifle yesterday at Vigilant Tactical (<Kudos!). This 1979 Marlin Golden 39A rifle had apparently been stored wrapped in a blanket for what was obviously a LONG time, until the owner died and the rifle was found by his wife, who did not know there was a firearm in the home. Looked like several generations of critters had lived in the bore and there was lots of surface rust. This model is pre-cross bolt safety and the barrel is "JM" stamped. It cleaned up very nicely, especially the bore.

This is my first lever gun. I'm impressed with how solid and well-made this rifle is. Do they still make them like this?
Plan is to add an aperture sight and shoot it in NRA Silhouette.

 

[44man]

She’s beautiful!

 

[engineerbrian]

Looks good! Skinner sights would be perfect on that rifle

Marlin peep sights

adjustable peep sights for marlin lever action rifles

skinnersights.com

 

[Threeband]

I put a Lyman receiver sight on mine many decades ago. It's already drilled and tapped for the sight: those are dummy screws filling the holes in the receiver.

The dummy screws on top are for the weaver scope mount base, which you need if you want to mount a scope.

When you break it down for cleaning, you'll find the ejector gets in the way of the breech. You can lock the ejector down out of the way by pressing it down with a screwdriver while you turn that screw you see about a quarter turn. That gets it out of the way so you can clean from the breech.

Of course, .22s don't need 1/10 as much cleaning as many people think, but that's a discussion for another thread.

Also, take your trigger finger out of the trigger guard while you crank that lever. I learned that lesson after I got a nasty blood blister on my finger while rapid firing out by my friend's barn after school one day.

Great rifle! Enjoy it!

lyman receiver sight marlin 39 at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

 

[rseymorejr]

I just bought one his spring, have been wanting one for years. It came with a nice scope mounted on it.
First thing I did was ditch the scope and put a Skinner sight on it. The scope just didn't look/seem right to me.
I like the Skinner so much better.

 

[blazing lead]

That's a sweet looking shooter you got yourself there. I'm glad it was resurrected from it's forgotten fate.
I remember one of my friends father's had one of those when I was a kid. We made alot of tin cans dance, fun times for sure.

 

[mauser58]

Very nice. Sure is Perty

 

[89P13]

whoa!! She’s the belle of the ball! Reminds me of my grandfathers.

 

[Fushigi Ojisan]

I mentioned this in another thread, Marbles makes a tang sight that works

Marble's Tang Peep Sight Marlin 30, 336, 444, 1895 Steel Blue

Machined steel rear sight is fully adjustable for windage and elevation, with each positive click equaling approximately 4/10" movement at 100...

www.midwayusa.com

Marble's Improved Tang Peep Sight Screw Set #15 Blue

Screw set is for mounting a Marble's Standard or Improved Tang Peep Sight to a specific rifle. Some gunsmithing may be required.

www.midwayusa.com

It was meant for other Marlins but it works on the Golden 39A. Undo the four small screws that separate the base from the sight, remove the original tang screw, put the base where you want it (it has two holes, you only use one). Put in the replacement/longer tang sight screw, re-attach the sight to he base, and there you go.

 

[Fushigi Ojisan]

Also, you know the hydrogen peroxide trick to clean the white line buttplate, yes?

Sent from my SM-T733 using Tapatalk

 

[28Shooter]

Very nice...sorry I didn't go for that one!

 

[Rambler]

Oh I really like them. I really regret getting into boating.

 

[Trumpet]

Also, you know the hydrogen peroxide trick to clean the white line buttplate, yes?

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It's very likely it would crack. Another easy "cheat" is to buy a small/cheap white laundry basket. Trace the original buttplate on it, and then cut out a new one.

 

[Fushigi Ojisan]

Never had a cracking issue with that part, though you are right getting it out is risky.

Numrich/GPC has replacements but they are way oversized

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[Fushigi Ojisan]

It's very likely it would crack. Another easy "cheat" is to buy a small/cheap white laundry basket. Trace the original buttplate on it, and then cut out a new one.

Haven't had one crack yet (and these were 1950s vintage) so unless there is a glue issue involved they should be okay.

The hydrogen peroxide trick is simple: Take the white part of the buttplate (which should separate from the buttplate) and put it into a bag of hydrogen peroxide (the smaller and more close-fitting the better). Then put the bag outside in the sunlight. The UV rays will react with the hydrogen peroxide to make an oxygen-based bleach similar to Oxi-clean. Its great for removing oxidation from plastics.

As for the buttplate itself, wash it with dish soap and COLD water, even scrub it with an old toothbrush if you like to really get in there. Once its dry apply your favorite product. I either use Zaino Z-14 Plastic Magic, Car Guys Plastic Restorer, or McGuiars Ultimate Black.

Also take a couple of pics as you disassemble the stock cap, so you know how it goes back together.

 

[KRC]

Thanks to all for the great responses. FYI - I have (back-)ordered a Williams FP-39 rear aperture sight and will try this out in competition, while keeping on the lookout for a steel elev/windage adjustable version like a Lyman. The Skinner sight looked very nice but lacked the needed elevation adjustment. I already love the feel of this rifle. Flame me now, but you couldn't give me a Vudoo.

 

[54rndball]

That's a really nice rifle. Maybe Ruger will make them again, as they have with the 336, Guide Gun, and the 1894 carbine.

 

[54rndball]

Thanks to all for the great responses. FYI - I have (back-)ordered a Williams FP-39 rear aperture sight and will try this out in competition, while keeping on the lookout for a steel elev/windage adjustable version like a Lyman. The Skinner sight looked very nice but lacked the needed elevation adjustment. I already love the feel of this rifle. Flame me now, but you couldn't give me a Vudoo.

The Skinner peep does adjust for elevation. But that requires rotating the sight up.

 

[paperwork351]

What did you use to clean it up?

 

[KRC]

What did you use to clean it up?

Nothing special. Bore with bronze brush and patches with Shooters Choice MC-7, metal with CLP and cloth/Q-tips and GunScrubber spray (no abrasives), and wood with Old English liquid polish.