Marlin Model 39A .22 LR Lever-Action Rifle, 24 Inch, 1951 Takedown, Pre-Micro-Groove, Blued/Walnut with Receiver Peep Sight
Produced in 1951, this Marlin Model 39A is a classic takedown .22 lever-action with a 24-inch round blued barrel and solid walnut furniture. It predates Marlin's Micro-Groove rifling and is fitted with a receiver-mounted aperture/peep rear sight, with the barrel's rear sight dovetail neatly plugged. The rifle retains its period details, including the tubular magazine, Marlin script buttplate with white-line spacer, and the signature Marlin "bullseye" stock inlay.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
This rifle is structurally solid. There are numerous scratches and blemishes on the metal and wood. Small, scattered deposits of rust and pitting are present. The bore is clean and shiny. The factory-style barrel rear sight has been replaced by a receiver-mounted aperture/peep sight, and the barrel's rear sight dovetail is plugged.
What’s Included
- Marlin Model 39A .22 LR lever-action rifle (1951)
- Installed receiver-mounted aperture/peep rear sight
- Plug installed in the barrel's rear sight dovetail
This Model 39A showcases the classic Marlin takedown design, allowing the rifle to separate at the receiver for transport and maintenance. The 24-inch round blued barrel and conventional, pre-Micro-Groove rifling reflect its early-1950s production. The bore condition is strong, with clean surfaces and well-defined lands and grooves.
The rifle wears solid walnut furniture with a pistol-grip stock and beavertail forearm. Period details include the Marlin script hard rubber/plastic buttplate paired with a white-line spacer and the traditional Marlin "bullseye" inlay in the stock. The blued finish complements the classic lines and steel construction.
Sighting is set up for precision with a receiver-mounted aperture/peep rear sight. The original barrel rear sight position is cleanly blanked with a dovetail plug. Up front, a ramped bead front sight provides a clear aiming point.
The under-barrel tubular magazine holds 15 rounds of .22 LR and features a brass/bronze loading port window and a knurled end cap. The barrel rollmark reads "The Marlin Firearms Co – EST. 1870 – NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A. – MODEL 39A – 22 CAL.
S.L. & L.R.," underscoring its period manufacture in the United States. Length of pull measures 13.5 inches, and the action is the traditional lever with an exposed hammer.