Make: Marlin

Model: 39

Serial Number: S665

Year of Manufacture: 1925-1932 (Some Model 39’s have been recorded with an S prefix)

Caliber: .22 Short, Long & Long Rifle

Action Type: Lever Action, Tube Magazine Fed

Barrel Length: 24” Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a v-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the barrel. The top and left side of the receiver are drilled, tapped, and filled. The tang is drilled, tapped, and empty.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are a two piece smooth walnut set with a capped forearm, Marlin S-shape pistol grip, straight comb, and checkered black hard rubber buttplate. The belly has a Marlin “Bullseye”. There are scattered handling marks. There is a crack on the left side of the grip. There is a loss on the right side of the grip in the corner of the receiver. The LOP measures 13 3/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stocks rate in about Fair - Good overall condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no notable erosion in the bore. There is some fouling down the length. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 10% of its metal finish. Most of the finish has turned to a dark patina. There is oxidation and minor erosion with some pinprick pitting. There is thinning on the leading edges and at the muzzle. The screw heads are sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. This rifle has a half-cock safety. The action is smooth and the trigger is crisp. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: The Marlin Model 39 is an American classic with roots that stretch back to the Model 1891 and the famed Marlin Model 1897. As the first .22 caliber lever-action rifle to feature a solid top and side ejection, the Model 39 helped define the standard for rimfire lever guns. Produced between 1922 and 1938, this example—with its S prefix serial number—was likely manufactured between 1925 and 1932. Built with a 24” octagonal barrel, pistol grip stock, and tube magazine, it’s a quintessential small-game and plinking rifle from the golden age of American rimfires.

This rifle retains about 10% of its original finish, now showing an honest patina with scattered oxidation, and the stocks have visible wear, including a grip crack and chip at the tang. However, the bore is impressively bright with sharp rifling, and the action remains smooth and functional. It’s a testament to Marlin’s build quality that this rifle remains a solid shooter nearly a century later. Whether for restoration, nostalgic range time, or simply as a piece of early 20th-century firearm history, this C&R-eligible Marlin 39 has earned its place among the greats of American rimfire design.