engraved Marlin Model 39

[winc]

Is there someone that can help me assign value to an engraved Marlin Model 39? I can email photos.
Thanks!

[Sure-Shot]

If you email them to me I will post them on here so folks can give their input.

[Sure-Shot]

[marlinman93]

Beautiful workmanship! Do you know who did the aftermarket engraving and checkering?

[winc]

I don't have any background information on this gun whatsoever. It is from a family's collection. I did suspect the engraving and checkering was after market, but was not 100%. I am trying to determine a fair market value.

Thanks!

winc

[chrifle]

Very, very nice. Seeing that pristine 39s without engraving can go over $1500-2000, I would think someone that has interest in that type of work may pay that, plus some!? It is indeed aftermarket, but information on the engraver could add value if it can be located / documented.

[marlinman93]

The holes on the left seem to be for a scope mount, as is the hole in the hammer for some sort of hammer spur to offset for the scope. These will hurt the value some. I personally like the way this gun was done, and think it was probably period, or at least long ago, even if not factory.
Not sure it would add a lot to the gun's value over a equally nice original, but I do agree with the previous estimate of around $1500+ or -.

[JohnK]

I agree with MM93. If you are planning on selling it, consider putting it in an online auction. Your market is much bigger and there is a greater chance that you will get more than average market value for it.

It is very well done and very nice looking rifle.

[Hunt4em]

You can always put it on one of the online auctions with an outragious reserve and see what someone is willing to pay! If you frequent the auction sites you see this happen almost weekly.
John

[Wishbone]

How can you guys be so sure that this is aftermarket engraving and checking ?

WB

[Regnier (gunrunner)]

Bob;

Several things tell us that this is aftermarket engraving. The first is that Marlin did not have custom shop while the Model 39 was in production, and therefore no one to do the engraving or checking.
Second, there are none of the engraver's elements involved in the engraving that all factory engravers used to make the job easier. If you will go back to Volume 20 , Number 2 (December, 1999) of the Association's newsletter, I wrote an article about all the different engraver's elements and how they were used.
These elements are the first thing I look at on any engraved gun to see if they are present, and are correct. Many of today's fakers, do not have the tools to make these elements and try to hand engrave them into the surface. The factory elements are completed with a stamp, and therefore are uniform in size, shape and depth. Anyone trying to hand engrave them cannot get each element exactly the same, duplicated over and over again, and that is where they make their mistake in trying to fool an experienced collector.
I hope this helps.

[Wishbone]

Rick,
Thanks for the educational reply. I wasn't a member of the Assn. in 1999, so I don't have a copy of your article. I don't think I joined until 2001. Any idea where I could get a copy ?
That is amazing to me. I would have swore that this rifle wore factory No. 3 engraving and C checking.
I see I still have much to learn...

WB

[jwmtx]

It sure looks like a reproduction of the 39, while not being an actual 39. They have made a lot of reproductions of various models over the years. James

[marlinman93]

It sure looks like a reproduction of the 39, while not being an actual 39. They have made a lot of reproductions of various models over the years. James

I don't think it's a later version of the model 39. It looks like a real 39 was used when it was done. The extra holes on the left side are for a old side mount scope, it has the early style hammer, lever, buttplate, etc. Of course a clever craftsman can build anything, but it would cost so much more than just finding an old 39 and restoring it, then engraving, checkering it. This one is extremely well done, and doesn't appear to have been done last week, just not at the factory. The checkering is well executed, as is the engraving, but the checkering is too coarse for Marlin, and as Rick pointed out, no border stamps as Marlin engraving used.

[shotley]

Wishbone, I can bring you a copy of Ricks engraving article. Will you be set up at Grand Forks?
Ken