Finally joined the ranks of Marlin owners

I've been lurking for a while since I don't own a Marlin but I finally changed that today. Went to a gun show and found a 1951 39A in pretty good condition and ended up walking out with it for $440.

Pictures below. It has some light rust on part of the lever and is a little dirty (fuzz from a leather case) from sitting around, but it seems great. Bluing is worn through in a couple places. I wanted a shooter though, so this is ok. Hope I got a good deal as I have no idea what I'm doing!

I do have two questions...

1. Does this have the micro-groove barrel? It's an H-prefix serial.
2. Has the front stock/grip been replaced? It doesn't have a sling mount hole like the stock does.

I'm planning on taking it down for a good clean (seems pretty grimy inside) and I'll be looking at the wood. It probably just needs a good clean as it's dull and somewhat "sticky" for lack of a better word. Might give it some stock oil.

It was well hidden in the tables; I had walked by it at least twice before noticing it, and I went to the show to get one! Walking the 60 seconds to the door from the table I had two people stop me and ask if I was selling.


Pictures:

She's purdy...



Slight marring on the grip...


Chipped "butt plate"

 

More pics due to image limit...

Very slight rust on the lever - phone wouldn't take a good pic.

 

Well mine is an H prefix, which is 1951 as I understand, though still before the micro groove rifling. Hope it still shoots as good as its reputation.

Question for everyone: I am curious...did I overpay?


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Took it to the range this weekend and it shoots like a dream! By the time I finished at 25yds I was tearing a ragged 1.5" hole. Windage is slightly off, but it doesn't bother me at all and I can fix it if I want anyway.

Very happy with it.

 

So since I got the automated "we haven't seen you in awhile" email from the forum, I'll consider that license to dredge up old threads.

Anyway...been continuing to shoot the 39A. Sighting it in at 25yds I have the rear sight bottomed out completely and it still shoots high and left - about an inch. I'll probably knock the front sight over a little to bring windage into line, but kinda stuck on the elevation part. Doesn't bother me a ton; unless I think about it too much.