Results 1 to 17 of 17

Thread: Marlin Makeover

  1. 12-30-2021, 06:26 AM #1
    Gunning Bird
    Gunning Bird is offline Black Duck
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Greenville, SC
    Posts
    1,789

    Default Marlin Makeover

    My FIL passed away last year and even though he wasn't much into guns, my wife brought home a couple of .22 rifles. Having spent their lives in the Florida humidity, none were in very good shape. Decided to take the Marlin 39A and restore it as best I could. As a fellow craftsman, I think he would have been pleased...

    Marlin 1 Cropped.jpg


    Marlin 2 Cropped.jpg


    Marlin 3.jpg


    Marlin 4.jpg


    Marlin 5 Cropped.jpg


    While I have seen Duck Cutter's truck at the Greenville Cabela's, I don't think I've met him in person. After seeing this, maybe he'll let me tag along on a squirrel hunt as it's only been 40+ years since I've been...
    Last edited by Gunning Bird; 12-30-2021 at 07:47 AM.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  2. 12-30-2021, 06:43 AM #2
    nitro5x6's's Avatar
    nitro5x6's
    nitro5x6's is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Gobbler's Knob, GA/ Bamberg,SC
    Posts
    21,469

    Default

    Very nice. Looks great. Those are accurate little rifles. I have one that I got for my 12th birthday. I have a BLR Grade 2 that I really enjoy too. Lever 22s are damn fun. My girls grew up shooting them and learned basic marksmanship with those guns. Go burn some ammo!!
    F**K Cancer

    Just Damn.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  3. 12-30-2021, 06:49 AM #3
    wskinner's Avatar
    wskinner
    wskinner is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    In the middle of it
    Posts
    8,166

    Default

    Good job. I really enjoy seeing people restore items with sentimental value.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  4. 12-30-2021, 06:56 AM #4
    Gander
    Gander is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Location
    Sandy Run
    Posts
    5,504

    Default

    Thats awesome! Well done.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  5. 12-30-2021, 07:09 AM #5
    nitro5x6's's Avatar
    nitro5x6's
    nitro5x6's is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Gobbler's Knob, GA/ Bamberg,SC
    Posts
    21,469

    Default

    Every once in a while I see a BLR for sale that was sent to Doug Turnbull for his case hardening treatment... I gots a bad case of the wants for one of them..

    Spent many hours with my 22s shooting cans and necco wafers. This thread has reminded me I need to get back to doing more of it. Thanks GB.
    F**K Cancer

    Just Damn.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  6. 12-30-2021, 08:20 AM #6
    ecwooduck's Avatar
    ecwooduck
    ecwooduck is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Knoxville, TN/Bryson City, NC
    Posts
    1,154

    Default

    My grandfather gave me his when I was 10 and there’s no telling how many thousand rounds I’ve put through that thing, can’t wait until I can let my two girls start shooting it. I’ll second nitro on the accuracy of em’, I could pop the top off of a water bottle at 50 yards 9 times out of 10 with those iron sights.
    "some men are mere hunters, others are turkey hunters"-Archibald Rutledge
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  7. 12-30-2021, 08:40 AM #7
    Duck cutter's Avatar
    Duck cutter
    Duck cutter is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    GreenHood
    Posts
    13,867

    Default

    Looks great, I’ve always heard that a Marlin 39 was the best lever .22 ever made but I’ve never had the chance to shoot one. Shoot me a pm and you’re welcome to hunt with me anytime
    Houndsmen are born, not made

    Quote Originally Posted by 2thDoc View Post
    I STAND WITH DUCK CUTTER!
    Quote Originally Posted by JABIII View Post
    I knew it wasn't real because no dogbox...
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  8. 12-30-2021, 08:58 AM #8
    nitro5x6's's Avatar
    nitro5x6's
    nitro5x6's is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Gobbler's Knob, GA/ Bamberg,SC
    Posts
    21,469

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ecwooduck View Post
    My grandfather gave me his when I was 10 and there’s no telling how many thousand rounds I’ve put through that thing, can’t wait until I can let my two girls start shooting it. I’ll second nitro on the accuracy of em’, I could pop the top off of a water bottle at 50 yards 9 times out of 10 with those iron sights.
    They are fine rifles. I have no idea how many rounds is through mine, but it is a lot. Of course, most of them were 75 cent a box WW Super X. Can't afford to shoot like that anymore. My 22 rimfire ammo will end up being barter fodder someday.
    F**K Cancer

    Just Damn.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  9. 12-31-2021, 08:15 AM #9
    Snake Jenkins
    Snake Jenkins is offline Gun Nut Extordinare
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Sumter, SC
    Posts
    609

    Default

    My favorite lever 22. Mine is a 1956 model that was my granddads. No telling how many rounds have been put through it but if I had a penny for each one I could probably retire in style
    Reloaders love a good piece of brass<br />Not only did Samuel colt make all men equal.....He also made it easier for me to sleep well at <br />night
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  10. 12-31-2021, 09:30 AM #10
    Whaler_Dave's Avatar
    Whaler_Dave
    Whaler_Dave is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Chapin SC
    Posts
    5,015

    Default

    Fine job!

    Looks like a fun gun to shoot!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  11. 01-01-2022, 08:35 PM #11
    WoodieSC's Avatar
    WoodieSC
    WoodieSC is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    'Down in the Holler', SC
    Posts
    14,588

    Default

    Fine work there, GB. I have my old Ithaca M51 single shot lever .22 that I got when I was eight that I need to get back to work on. I hope it turns out half as nice as your 39A did.
    .
    Foothills Golden Retriever Rescue
    .
    "Keep your powder dry, Boys!"     ~ George Washington

    "If I understood everything I said I'd be a genius." ~ 'Unknown'
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  12. 01-01-2022, 08:40 PM #12
    Bad Habit's Avatar
    Bad Habit
    Bad Habit is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    charleston
    Posts
    8,600

    Default

    That looks great, and a takedown model too. Sweet rifle.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  13. 01-01-2022, 08:58 PM #13
    4THEGIRLS's Avatar
    4THEGIRLS
    4THEGIRLS is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Charleston
    Posts
    2,292

    Default

    That’s very cool. Nice work.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  14. 01-03-2022, 11:33 AM #14
    nitro5x6's's Avatar
    nitro5x6's
    nitro5x6's is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Gobbler's Knob, GA/ Bamberg,SC
    Posts
    21,469

    Default

    Real nice work on the bluing.. Don't think I have seen anyone do a better job with brush/ wipe on.
    F**K Cancer

    Just Damn.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  15. 01-03-2022, 12:08 PM #15
    Gunning Bird
    Gunning Bird is offline Black Duck
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Greenville, SC
    Posts
    1,789

    Default

    Thanks. It was an interesting learning curve, one I'm not sure I'm finished with quite yet. I used both liquid and cream bluing agents from Brownell's. Experimented with the cocking lever and it turned out great which gave me enough confidence to tackle the barrel and feed tube. The barrel has a couple of spots that aren't quite perfect so I'm attempting to quiet my OCD tendencies and leave it alone. Not sure if I cleaned up/sanded/polished those areas too much or what. It definitely looks 100X better than when I got it.

    My FIL was not only the most prolific model train & plane builder but also the best I've ever seen. I wanted to do him proud and thought about him often during the process.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  16. 01-03-2022, 03:15 PM #16
    BoykinBeau's Avatar
    BoykinBeau
    BoykinBeau is offline Junior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Posts
    13

    Default

    My Grandmother gave me my late Grandfathers Marlin Golden 39A this Thanksgiving. I remember shooting it a lot with him walking to the dog lot. I would like to get the butt and stock redone as the butt is starting to crack in a few places. Anybody know where I could get a new butt and stock? TIA
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  17. 01-04-2022, 06:18 AM #17
    Gunning Bird
    Gunning Bird is offline Black Duck
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Greenville, SC
    Posts
    1,789

    Default

    Numrich/Gun Parts Corp has some in stock: https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/406240A

    Depending on how bad things are, you may consider an epoxy repair and refinish. Not hard to do at all.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Forum Rules