Gunsmith for Marlin 39A?

Eric H · Sep 7, 2018

I recently received as a gift from my father, a very clean and very beautiful Marlin 39A dated 1946. I shot it last weekend and when it fired it was a joy to shoot and very accurate too. However, about every 3 to 7 rounds the bolt locked rearward and the lever locked forward making the rifle inoperable. The only solution was to break it down and reassemble only to experience the same malfunction again.

If anyone has a solution to this problem it would be greatly appreciated. But, with safety in mind, I’m thinking this firearm should be examined by a gunsmith. Does anyone know of such a person in the Tulsa area that can help me with this situation? Thanks in advance!

MacFromOK · Sep 7, 2018

Seems to be a common problem...

https://www.ar15.com/forums/armory/Marlin_39A___Lever_locking_up_wonandapos_t_cycle/49-384869/

Googling for Marlin 39A locks up returns 65k hits:
http://www.google.com/search?q=Marl...ient=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official

POKE1911 · Sep 7, 2018

Cannot help you but my Marlin Golden 39A Mountie is one of my most prized possessions. My dad didn’t have a father figure around until he was about 10. His Mom married a rancher and they moved out to the farm. His dad made him a deal, if he helped out around the farm he could pick a calf, see to it, and keep the cash when it was time to sell. The local dime store had this rifle on the wall and the moment he could, he brought it home. Through 10s of 1000s of rounds in his childhood. Plinking, prairie dog hunting, then much later in life taught all his kids to shoot with that rifle. It’s probably the one possession he had that he wouldn’t sell. He passed a couple years ago and I inherited the only thing I really wanted. You bet your ass when it’s my kids turn to learn to shoot, they will start with it. Through thousands of rounds, the action is still like butter and is dead nuts accurate... Absolutely amazing gun. Hope you’re able to get yours running right.

O4L · Sep 7, 2018

Great rifle!

There are a lot of knowledgeable folks over at marlinowners.com.

Mattman5000e · Sep 22, 2018

I would try tearing it all the way down and cleaning it before I tried anything else. Grandpa's guns tend to be a little neglected.... clean the carbon out, grease the right parts, oil the right parts, and dry lube the rest. This process solves 80 percent of gun problems and costs nothing.

I have a little addiction to Winchester Model 12 shotguns, and they are a pain in the ass to strip down and put back together. But doing so has fixed several of them for me.

indi · Sep 23, 2018

Hey Eric I have the same gun and had a similar issue. When I would cycle the rounds through the gun it would lock up, I noticed the screw that holds the cover where you insert the rounds would get loose and cause this, I tighten that drew and everything is fine till tit works loose again. I locked tight it and haven’t had an issue since. Hope this helps.

surjimmy · Sep 23, 2018

Not in Tulsa but Steve Baldwin in Jones, 405-399-2875 or Keith Rainbow in S. Okc off I-240 & Sunnylane 405-761-8312

Eric H · Sep 24, 2018

indi said:
Hey Eric I have the same gun and had a similar issue. When I would cycle the rounds through the gun it would lock up, I noticed the screw that holds the cover where you insert the rounds would get loose and cause this, I tighten that drew and everything is fine till tit works loose again. I locked tight it and haven’t had an issue since. Hope this helps.

A screw on the receiver by the ejection port? Or, are you referring to the loading tube? All the screws on the receiver are tight. The loading tube seems to have one “moving” part - the bottom end that has a spring action in it. Thanks!

indi · Sep 24, 2018

I have a 30aw, might be different

MacFromOK · Sep 24, 2018

Did you read the first link in my previous post? There were a couple of solutions IIRC.

Luck. :drunk2:

Gunsmith for Marlin 39A?

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