Marlin Model 39A .22 S/L/LR Lever-Action Takedown Rifle, 24 in Barrel, 1951 New Haven Production, JM Proof, Pre–Micro-Groove, Weaver V22 Scope
This 1951 Marlin Model 39A is a New Haven, Connecticut production rifle with the oval JM proof on the barrel shank and an H-prefix serial on the upper tang. It is a pre–Micro-Groove example with a 24-inch round steel barrel and classic takedown receiver. It comes fitted with a Weaver V22 scope in Weaver 875 Tip-Off rings and retains original open sights with a semi-buckhorn rear and dovetailed brass-bead front.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Excellent Rifling - Sharp lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: The bore presents a glossy interior. The rifling is sharp and well defined.
What’s Included
- Weaver V22 scope (installed)
- Weaver 875 Tip-Off scope rings (installed)
Built in 1951, this Model 39A reflects New Haven production standards of the era and shows the oval JM proof on the barrel shank. The H-prefix serial aligns with its 1951 date, and the barrel has no "Micro-Groove" rollmark, identifying it as a pre–Micro-Groove rifle. The 24-inch round steel barrel and steel receiver wear a blued finish consistent with period Marlin manufacture.
The rifle uses Marlin’s takedown receiver with a large slotted takedown screw, allowing the action and barrel assembly to separate for transport or maintenance. It feeds from an under-barrel tubular magazine with a brass inner tube and is chambered for .22 Short, Long, and Long Rifle.
Furniture is walnut, featuring a pistol-grip buttstock with a thin white-line spacer and a checkered buttplate bearing the "Marlin" script. The fore-end is a plain, rounded walnut piece, and the length of pull measures 13.5 inches, delivering a classic handling profile.
Sighting equipment includes original open sights: a dovetailed brass-bead front sight (no hood) and a semi-buckhorn rear mounted on a stepped elevator. For optics, a Weaver V22 scope is installed in Weaver 875 Tip-Off rings marked "WEAVER 875 TIP-OFF PAT. U.S.A. No. 2803907," providing a period-appropriate mounted solution while retaining the rifle’s traditional sighting system.