Among the most respected gunmakers in America is Marlin Firearms. They are well-known for a long line of rifles and shotguns.
The single most famous rifle they make is the Marlin 39A .22-caliber rifle.
This rimfire has been in production longer than practically any other rifle in America.
This rifle has always been appreciated by those needing an accurate and reliable small-game rifle.
The piece is well-suited for target shooting, practice and training young shooters.
Since about 1910, the sameness of society and manufacture underwent a tremendous change.
Mankind in developed nations could no longer expect generations to live out much the same life among grandparents, parents and children.
Change became the rule, but the Marlin 39A remained the same.
The Mountie Version
My rifle is a carbine version known as the Mountie. This rifle is a little shorter than the usual 24-inch barrel Marlin 39.
The Mountie is practically as accurate as the full-size Marlin and a fine handling rifle.
These are pretty ordinary rifles in a way with a bead front post and adjustable rear sight. The standard sights are fine for most uses to 50 yards.
I think the Skinner Sights aperture sight is a great improvement for any lever-action rifle.
The magazine may hold as many as 17 rounds of ammunition.
This is a pleasant amount of reserve when plinking and all you will need for most days of hunting squirrel or rabbit.
Not running rabbits, but bedded rabbit. I have taken quite a few in this manner.
Features and Function
The rifle loads by means of the typical under-the-barrel magazine.
Take the spring-loaded inner tube out of the magazine tube and drop cartridges straight down the tube, or simply move it to the spot where you may load cartridges into the opening in the loading tube body.
.22 Long Rifle, .22 Long, CB caps, .22 Short, shotshells — they all feed effortlessly in this lever-action rifle.
The leverage of the short-throw rifle is excellent.
Considering the design has changed little since 1892, this is a neat operating system that has proven trouble-free.
The rifle was modified into a takedown design a few years after its introduction.
When many traveled to the hunting grounds by buckboard or horseback, a takedown or folding rifle was an advantage.
Simply unscrewing the takedown lever allows the rifle to be separated into two pieces.
You don’t need a tool for turning the takedown screw, a coin will work fine.
The rifle we know as the Marlin Model 39 rimfire rifle was finalized as far as design is concerned in 1921.
The Marlin 39 has been universally acclaimed as a reliable and accurate rifle.
Work the lever pressing forward, not down, and the hammer is cocked and the rifle is ready to fire.
If you are going hunting, carefully lower the hammer by keeping the thumb on the hammer as you press the trigger.
Simply cock the hammer fully to the rear and you are ready to fire.
Fit and finish have remained remarkably consistently during the Marlin’s production life.
And this has ensured the Model 39 will never be a cheap rifle. Fit of the internal parts and the fit of the wood to metal is excellent.
My rifle has been well taken care of and, while it was manufactured in 1955, it remains a great all-around rifle.
How It Fires
Lever-action rifles are not famous for having great trigger actions.
The Marlin trigger is usually crisp with the typical lever-action take-up, while it breaks at 3.4 pounds in my example.
I have fired the rifle for accuracy at a long 50 yards. Results were good before fitting the Skinner Sights aperture, and excellent afterward.
A five-shot group of 2.0 inches at 50 yards was achieved with the Winchester 37-grain Super X.
The new Winchester Silvertip posted similar results. The Marlin 39 is a great rifle, a classic with much to recommend.
What do you think of the historic Marlin 39A? Let us know in the comments section below!
I’m in my 70’s and have had a Marlin Golden 39-A Mountie since I was a boy. I’m not sure when it was manufactured, but its serial number is W 8663. Its overall length is 36.5 inches with a barrel length of 19.5 inches. I used to hunt with it with my dad who passed away in 2017. It is one of my most treasured possessions.
I have a Marlin Golden39-A Mountie. Shooting today and all was good. Suddenly the cocking lever would no longer move. Disassembled rifle and all parts seemed intact and lever and parts move fluidly. Checked bolt and , intact, firing pln looked good. Reassembled and still won’t move or cock rifle. Any ideas?
During my senior year in high school in 1966, I was at a friend’s house. He showed me his Marlin .22 Carbine. I always wanted a .22 lever action rifle and immediately wanted to order one. He suggested I purchase something different from his. I purchased the Marlin 39A Golden Mountie. I still have the rifle and the original order form. Last year I bought my friends Marlin .22 Carbine from him to remember our plinking days.
Does anyone know where I can locate a lever only for my .22 Mountie?
I was given a Marlin 39A for my 12th birthday by my dad in 1957. I still have it. It is my most prized possession. All three of my sons learned to shoot with it. I would not take $10,000 for it. Some things have value beyond their worth!
I acquired my Golden Mountie 39a from my uncle about ten years ago. My first lever gun. Absolutely love it. It had a cracked stock that was taped up. Repaired it as best I could but looking for a replacement. I shot it some with the open sights and was pretty accurate but eyes being what they are I just installed a 4x scope.
I got my first marlin golden 39a mountie in the early 60s at the navy exchange in Norfolk about 1970 it was stolen from my home I replaced it with another one from Lazarus it is in mint shape will never sell it love it
I have a few very nice examples of the 39 and 39A Marlin .22 Lever guns . Along with a original surviving Marlin 1894 .30-30 Carbine, a beautiful Marline 336 chambered for the .35 Remington.
I inherited my 39A from my grandfather when he passed. He was given it from his father. It was beautifully engraved while my great grandfather owned it. Had the opportunity to fire it for the first time a couple days ago. I was on target on my very first shot. I feel so blessed to have received this beautiful rifle. I hope to pass it down to my daughter when the time comes!
I got a 1954 Marlin 39a in mint condition in 2018 for $475 + $45 tax.
The rifle has a feature of the extractor moves out of the way for bore cleaning.
If this feature is not disabled, the rifle will not extract.
I think the feature kept this rifle out of use for 64 years.
The Marlin 39A Golden Edition I have Just brings back lots of great memories. Very accurate, I used CCI Stingers in it. A long shooting rifle. Very well made.
I bought it in August of 1977 at K-Mart, Pueblo CO. The sale was for $89.99. I wish I would have bought 10 of them and saved them for later. That rifle has taken more game than I can remember. Cotton tails at the top of the list and lots of Jack Rabbits and squirrels. I dispatched several varmints too. Coyotes, Raccoons, a Badger.
I wouldn’t sell it for $1000.00 today.
My Grandfather used it to hunt with also. He liked it lots but preferred his J.C. Higgins .22 Semiautomatic. I have his rifles now. The good ole days. ^_^
I have a 39A that was handed down to me, it is about 48 years old and still looks great and shoots as good as it did when it was new. All the rifles I have is either a Marlin or Henry except my 30-06 and I would not take anything for them.
I have a 39A Golden Mountie Carbine that I purchased New in 1964 and it looks as good as the day I bought it. I was attached to it the day I purchased it and I still am and have no interest in ever selling it. Whenever I am in my Gun Safe I always take it out and admire it. It is also Great that the Sturm Ruger Company purchased Marlin and will continue to make those fine Firearms.
Wish they still made them
I got one from my grandfather 50 years ago it was modified for smaller shooters they cut the stock I love this guy and still have it I was wondering if anybody out there knew where I could get a replacement stock we had a 3030 the same model and we would switch it from the 22 to the 3030 for smaller shooters the 3030Was stolen a while back I would love to have a long stock on it now thanks
I’m privileged to own my Dad’s Marlin 39. He bought the rifle in 1946 when he returned from WWII for $46.00! We have put thousands of rounds through it over the years and it is still as accurate as ever. We have always joked that if you miss with the Model 39, it’s certainly not the rifles fault! This Marlin is a family treasure and I will pass it on to my son along with its story and history. One of the best firearms we have ever owned.
The Marlin 39A was my first rifle and I bought it myself for about $70 as I recall from a Western Auto Store in Buffalo, NY. That was in 1950 I believe. I had that beautiful gun, the Golden model, for many years. It was stolen during a house break-in while I was away in the Army. I’ve thought about replacing it many times but never did but I still think about it.
I own my Dad’s 50’s vintage 39A with an octagon barrel. I also have the Article 2 commemorative model my Dad gave me for my Birthday in the early 70’s. Many squirrels were taken by both guns. Even at age 70 my Dad shot a clump of mistletoe out of the top of an oak tree with a single shot.
I enjoyed this write up.
I own a Marlin Model 336 from my Father. There is no serial number am I correct? The rifle is a 30/30 lever action with the gold trigger
Can’t remember when I bought it; but I think it was sometime in the 80s. It was a beautiful 39 with the pistol grip. I took it to a local gunsmith and had it parkerized. It was a great shooter. I am a big Marlin fan; and this was the first of my Marlins. I gave it to my son some years back; and he likes it as much as I. He liked it so much he put a scope on it. It is one of his favorites. A while after giving it to him I replaced it with a MAS45 that I cherish as much as the 39A.