Marlin Firearms Collectors Association

Hunter1, The bolt from a 39 or 39A will fit a 97 but will have to have minor adjustment to work correctly. A 39A bolt would allow you to shoot what ever .22 ammo you would like as where the original bolt would restrict you to sub sonic or target ammo. I can't say what part of your bolt is broken by ...

OCStomias66, I have done it the same as Regnier described and use a driver bit with a wrench the appropriate size to fit the bit. This saves the bit for the next time you need to use it with the driver. :roll: I also have a small clamp that works good to compress the spring to line every thing up, b...

Mike, Are you sure it is a rimfire? Most rimfire Ballards have a three line address on the receiver that include "Patented, February 5, 1875". The bore measurement is puzzling me as well. The #2 model was chambered in .32,.38,.44 Ballard and rarely .44-40 wcf and .32-20 wcf. None of these ...

I have noticed that Marlin and Ballard rifles with the Browning Bros. stamp bring a little more. I can't help but think maybe it has to do with knowing a bit of history behind the gun. Especially for the Marlins as we all know how little info is in the records. I think it has to do with the fascinat...

My guess would be the almighty dollar! The time difference in fitting a crescent vs. a shotgun butt plate with the same degree of perfection equals money in the manufacturing world.

John

By your description, you have a #2 model Ballard. They were chambered in .32,.38 and .44 rim or centerfire with a few chambered in .44-40. Research the Ballard section of this forum and if you are real interested in the Ballards, I would suggest you get a copy of Dutcher's book, Ballard-The Great Am...

X12B, The bolt from a 39/39A will work, but will require some fitting. Have you tried the firing pin for a 1891 sideloader? If you lay the rifle on a table with the side plate removed, you can operate the lever while holding the bolt in place and see what is causing the problem. I place one finger o...

Scott,
Sounds like you have an interesting rifle. Any chance you could post a few pics for me to salivate over? I've been searching for a half octagon barrel to add to my collection and have only found a sideloader that was re blued and not worth the asking price.

John

Rustik,
I owned a Model 27 chambered in .25-20M and I shot 85 gr round nose flat points through it seated to specs for .25-20W and had no issues. I also have an 1894 that is chambered for .25-20M and shoot the same loads through it but with an occasional hick-up.

John

Try Precision Gun Stocks or Treebone Carving.

Marty, You have a nice looking rifle, but the checkering doesn't seem like the Marlin checkering. I have several 1891,92 and 97 deluxe rifles and the checkering is much finer with a double line border. I know my guns are a bit older but I thought Marlin always used the double border around their che...

You will never recover the cost of a professional restoration. A restored gun won't have any collector value unless it is a rare model and the Marlin 97 aint even close to being rare. I would suggest that you have it relined if you want to shoot it and if it is lacking original finish. Done correctl...

That's the HS bolt! You should be fine shooting high velocity ammo as long as you don't have a head space issue, but stay away from the newer Hyper velocity stuff.

John

No finish is better than re-finished unless it has been modified or just plan abused.

The model 20 mag tube uses the same design as the 1891,92,97 and early 39 mags. The follower has a pin that is caught in the outer tube. It is very common for the outer tube to be broke out at the end, preventing it from lifting the follower. This topic has been discussed several times on here and y...