Marlin Model A1 First Variation .22 LR Semi-Auto Rifle, 24 Inch Tapered Barrel, 1930s USA
This Marlin Model A1 First Variation is a 1930s-era American .22 LR semi-automatic with a 24-inch tapered barrel and Ballard rifling. It carries early-production features including a right-side charging knob, a sheet-metal receiver drilled and tapped on the right for a peep sight, and a detachable 6-round magazine. Period details such as the finger-groove forend, straight-comb walnut stock, and knurled takedown screw highlight the distinctive first-variation configuration.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: The barrel has been reblued. The walnut stock shows significant wear, with numerous dings and scratches and a dry appearance to the finish. The Ballard rifling is visible but presents a darker, frosted appearance, consistent with the transitional period to non-corrosive primers.
What’s Included
- Marlin Model A1 First Variation .22 LR rifle
- 1x 6-round detachable steel box magazine
The Model A1 operates on a simple blowback, closed-bolt system and feeds from a detachable single-column magazine for a stated 6+1 capacity. It features right-side ejection and a right-side charging knob, reflecting the layout of this first-variation design.
The 24-inch tapered, pencil-profile barrel uses Ballard rifling and is paired with open iron sights: a dovetailed front blade and an open leaf rear with a stepped elevator for elevation adjustment. The receiver is drilled and tapped on the right side for a peep sight, with two holes visible.
Construction details include a sheet-metal receiver, a stamped metal trigger guard, and a knurled takedown screw beneath the receiver for field maintenance. The butt is capped with a black, horizontally grooved buttplate.
The walnut-finished stock has a straight comb and a finger-groove forend, providing a classic 1930s rimfire profile. Length of pull measures 13.5 inches. Made in the USA during the 1930s, this first-variation configuration is a notable early example of Marlin’s semi-automatic .22 lineup.