thumb|right|300px|The same 39A taken down for cleaning.

right|thumb|300px|Inside of Marlin 39A receiver

The Marlin 39A is the oldest and longest continuously produced shoulder firearm in the world. The current variation gold trigger lever-action .22 Caliber Golden 39A is produced by the Marlin Firearms Co. of New Haven, Connecticut. The Golden 39A was last constructed in Remington’s Marlin factory in Ilion, NY. Production ended with the bankruptcy and closing of the Remington Marlin factory closing and sale to Ruger in September, 2020.

As of 2022, the 39A appears out of production. The Ruger company bought out the remaining Marlin production, but no new Marlin .22 cal rifles are currently available.

History

The Golden Model 39A started life as the Marlin Model 1891, the first lever-action rifle ever chambered in .22LR and the magazine was loaded through a conventional side gate in the receiver. The tubular magazine was changed to front-loading with the Model 1892, due to the difficulties of receiver feeding the small rimfire round. The 1892 gave way to the takedown Model 1897, The 39A was produced until 1983 when the current Golden 39A was introduced. Changes between models were so minimal the rifle is considered to have been continually produced to the same basic specifications for over 100 years. The Model 39-A did not have a cross hammer safety, whereas the current Golden Model 39A has had one since introduction in 1983. The Golden 39A is still considered one of the finest examples of a lever .22 rifle, and one of the most accurate .22 rifles ever produced. It is also the best-selling lever rimfire in U.S. history. (total capacity is often cited as 27 Short, 22 Long or 20 Long Rifle counting a round preloaded in the firing chamber). Many previous variations of the model are still available from used gun dealers.

Annie Oakley involvement

On March 10, 1893 Annie Oakley used a Model 1891 to put 25 shots through one jagged hole in 27 seconds at a distance of 36 feet (12 yds or 11 m) using 22 short cartridges. On the same day she also produced another jagged one-hole group through the center of an Ace of Hearts playing card, while shooting off-hand. Marlin has since made two "special runs" of Annie Oakley commemorative 39A rifles to honor Oakley's achievements and fame while using their brand. The first consisted of 500 39A rifles in 1998 which were offered to the general public with another 100 offered only to their employees. In 2000 another run of the special AO guns was made for Davidson's Gallery of Guns again offered to the general public.

Similar guns

  • Winchester Model 9422
  • Henry Lever Action .22
  • Browning BL-22
  • Chiappa LA322

References

  • Marlin FireArms Co.