What is my Marlin 39A worth?
The longest continuously produced shooting rifle in the world, and frequently the most valuable gun in an otherwise ordinary cabinet. A lever-action rimfire that people buy and keep for life.
Made 1922–present.
No page can price your gun, and one that offers to is guessing. What this does is show you which one you have — because that is where the money is.
How to tell which one you have
- Look on the barrel for the JM proof stamp, which indicates North Haven production.
- Establish whether it is a takedown, which most are, and whether the halves fit correctly.
- Check the stock for a Golden designation or upgraded furniture.
- Look at the bore, which on a well-used rimfire tells you most of what you need to know.
The versions that change the number
| Version | What it means for value |
|---|---|
| Model 39 and early production 1922–1930s | The earliest guns, and a separate market from later ones. |
| Model 39A 1939–present | The long-running standard. JM-stamped examples are the ones to identify. |
| Golden 39A 1960s onward | Gold-colored trigger and upgraded touches. Common and well liked. |
| Post-2007 production 2007–2020 | Made after Remington moved production, and priced below JM-stamped rifles. |
What actually drives the price
- The JM stamp.
- Condition of the bore and the original blue.
- Whether the takedown fits tightly and the rifle is mechanically right.
- Early production, which is a market of its own.
And the two that apply to every gun on this site: do not clean it, and keep the box and papers. Removing original finish is permanent, and on the right gun the packaging is a real part of the total.
"It is only a rimfire"
The phrase costs families real money. A lever-action .22 with a hundred-year production history and a devoted following is not the same thing as a mass-market rimfire, and a good 39A regularly outvalues the deer rifles standing next to it in the same cabinet.
How do I check the takedown is right?
With the rifle unloaded and the action open, the two halves should draw apart cleanly with the takedown screw loosened and go back together without force or wobble. If it feels loose when assembled, say so rather than tightening anything yourself.
Getting a number for yours
Send photographs and we will tell you what we will pay for it. We buy nationwide — a single firearm ships to us prepaid and insured, and for a collection we come to you. More on what separates one Marlin from another.