Marlin Firearms Collectors Association

I'm looking for info on my Marlin model 97. serial # 358571. Behind the trigger it says Model '97. Stamped on the plate inside is Pat. date 1897. Every Model '97 I've seen has an octagon barrel but mine has a round barrel and it's rolled stamped 39A.

Here are some pictures.

oops, one more pic, the serial number

[img][IMG]http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/8572 ... al2.th.jpg[/img][/img]

It looks to me that everything forward of the receiver has been replaced with Model 39A parts.

If that's so then shooting HS ammo would be ok, correct? Hope so, I've been shooting stingers with it Very accurate and the action is smooth.

Also, what year was serial# 358571? The registry I found for model '97s stopped at 355xxx. Could it have come from the factory like this?

"If that's so then shooting HS ammo would be ok, correct"

No, because the problem is with the bolt and that is of the Model 97 vintage unless someone has changed it out. I would not count on that. No it could not have come from the factory like that as the Model 39A did not come out until 1939. That is a good 34 years after you rifle was made.

Can anyone help with where I can look up the age by the serial number?

Look here;

http://www.marlin-collectors.com/forum/ ... f=2&t=7218

Bmckay;

Since the records end at 355,500 in December of 1906, you can pretty much figure that since your gun is only about 3,000 numbers higher than that, it would have been made sometime in 1907.

Thank you Regnier.

So I wonder what the 39A barrel has done to the value. It's amazing that a 103 year old gun is still so smooth and shoots so straight. It belonged to a co worker's father who passed many years ago. It sat untouched in a closet for the last 35 years. He sold it to me for $100 last spring. I'm guessing I didn't over pay for it.

How can I tell if the breech block was replaced when the barrel was? Is there anything distinguishing about the HS ammo capable breech block? It doesn't appear to match the rest of the gun. The breech block is the only part of the action that looks to have been blued.

Post a pic of the breech bolt. Remove the breech bolt and turn it upside down. The area behind the protruding lug is the only way to tell if it is capatible with high speed ammo.

John

AKA bmckay - registered as bobmac
Everyone has been very helpful!

Here's some pics of the breech bolt

So, does it look like the Breech bolt was replaced?

There is a picture somewhere that shows the difference. Problem is where to find it.

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

The extractor spring leg is protruding into the breech area, looks like it needs trimed