Marlin Model 39 Article II NRA Commemorative .22 S/L/LR 24″ Lever 1971 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,208.00
LSB#: LSB260630VB001
Make: Marlin
Model: 39 Article II
Serial Number: 71 81639
Year of Manufacture: 1971 / C&R
Caliber: .22 Short, Long & Long Rifle
Action Type: Lever action rimfire rifle fed from an under-barrel tubular magazine.
Markings: The top of the octagonal barrel is marked “Marlin 39 Article II” and “The Marlin Firearms Co. NORTH HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A.”, and the left side of the barrel is marked “Cal. 22 S.L.&LR”. The serial number 71 81639 is marked on the lower tang. The right side of the receiver carries the red and gold NRA commemorative medallion.
Barrel Length: 24″, octagonal, with Micro-Groove rifling
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a U-notch semi-buckhorn leaf dovetailed to the barrel with an elevation riser. A Weaver scope base is included.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The rifle is stocked in walnut with a straight grip, a straight comb, a brass semi-crescent buttplate and a brass forend cap. The LOP measures 13.25″ from the front of the trigger to the rear of the buttplate. There are no cracks, but there are a few tiny chips throughout. Overall the stock set is in Very Good to Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the Micro-Groove rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9.75/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 98% of its original blued finish. The metal shows only minimal handling marks, and the medallion is bright and intact. The action has minimal wear. The screw heads are sharp and the pins are undamaged. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good to Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Weaver scope base, hammer spur extension and the Marlin Model 39 scope base instruction sheet.
Our Assessment: Marlin built the Model 39 Article II in 1971 to honor the National Rifle Association’s centennial, taking its name from the Second Amendment and marking the NRA’s founding in 1871. The rifle dresses up the Model 39, the lever action .22 whose lineage stretches back to the 1890s and is the longest-running shoulder arm design in continuous production in America, with a full 24″ octagonal barrel, a straight-grip walnut stock, brass buttplate and forend cap, and the commemorative medallion inlaid in the receiver.
This example is close to new, retaining about 98% of its original blue, with a bore that rates 9.75/10 and walnut with only a few tiny chips. It comes with the Weaver scope base, hammer spur extension and Marlin’s scope base instruction sheet. It is an attractive commemorative that is equally at home in a Marlin collection or at the range.