Question regarding difference between 97 and 39

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 2:41 am

An 1897 looks like this:

A 39 looks like this:

The difference is, the 1897 has a straight stock, is tapped for the hepburn rear sight (except the early round top models), and has a flat latch at the end of the magazine tube to release it. The 39 has a pistol grip stock, is NOT tapped for the Hepburn sight, and has a button latch (usually) to release the magazine tube. Rear sight is usually a Rocky Mountain on the 39, while the 97 usually had the standard buckhorn used on Marlin's 1894's ect.

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:21 pm

Just a note on magazine types. Very early 39 models had the 1897 type latch, and the last year of the model 39 (1938) had the 39a style mag tube.
Hope this helps.