Marlin 39-a serial number....has no letter prefix

[Schnibbz]

I have a Marlin 39-a with serial number 2xxx printed on stock under lever. There is no letter prefix, nor area where it could have been worn away. I need hlep aging it. Any ideas...i've checked the marlin serial number site at armscollectors.com, but in the first box my serial number tells me it was made before 1883 (not possible) and in the bottom box, using the first two digits of the number i'm told it doesn't exist.

Thanks in advance.

John

[another guest]

The letter prefixes started just after WW II in 1946 with the letter "C", AFAIK.

I think there were a few pre-war years of 39a manufacture, but earlier than that would have been a straight Model 39 (not the "a" upgrade).

[Hugger]

Subtract the the first two numbers of the serial number from 2000.

Example: Serial Number 20XXXX

2000 - 20 = 1980

Here's more on dating the 39A

Marlin year of manufacture maybe determined from the following list of letter/numeral prefixes to the serial number:
1946-C
1947-D
1948-E
1949-F
1950-G
1951-H
1952-J
1953-K
1954-L
1955-M
1956-N
1957-P
1958-R
1959-S
1960-T
1961-U
1962-V
1963-W
1964-Y,-Z
1965-AA
1966-BB
1967-AC
1968-AD, -68
1969-69
1970-70
1971-71
1972-72
Starting in 1973, the year of manufacture maybe determined by subtracting the first two digits of the serial number from 2000.
Example: SN 2512345 would have been made in 1975 [2000 - 25 = 1975].

[Hunt4em]

With a 4 digit serial # it could be a model 39 not 39A. If the barrel is marked 39A then it may have been rebarreled. Some more info COULD help in determining exactly what you have! How does the mag tube latch? What does the stock look like? Does the stock have a "S" curve at the bottom of the pistol grip? Is there white spacers between the butt plate and stock? If you can post some pics it would help.

John

[Schnibbz]

Here's some photobucket links:

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc20 ... 010034.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc20 ... 010035.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc20 ... 010036.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc20 ... 010039.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc20 ... 010040.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc20 ... 010042.jpg

Thanks for your help so far...anything additional will be greatly appreciated.

John

[marlinman93]

You have oneof those "halfbreeds". A Marlin model 39 from the 1920's, that someone has put a lat 39a barrel, mag tube, and forearm on.

[Regnier (gunrunner)]

Schnibbz;

Looks like a 1st variation Model 39-A to me. This gun would have been made around 1939.
It has the large, beavertail style forearm, the flat "S" style pistol grip and the round barrel of the 1st variation Model 39-A.
The first guns did not have a letter prefix to the serial number.
If this gun were a rebarreled Model 39, the upper tang would be marked Model 39, and that is not mentioned in the description given here.
I hope this helps.

[Schnibbz]

Thank you, i had the gun listed on gunbroker and wanted to make sure what i had written about it was an accurate representation of the gun. Looks like i'm good.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... m=93553662

Thanks,
John

[Schnibbz]

Can anyone tell me anything, or point me in the right direction about information regarding the Weaver Model 440 scope. Unfortunately the auction didn't close, however i've been told that the scope may be just as, if not more valuable than the gun. Thanks again, in advance.

Regards,

John

[Sure-Shot]

Here is an article that may help.


http://www.chuckhawks.com/weaver_v-scopes.htm

[fairchase]

Hello, is your 39 still for sale??
Thanks