To drill or not to drill ?

[toolman]

I'm trying to decide whether or not to scope my pre-57 39A. This gun isn't mint and has been reworked several times but is still sound. It is the most accurate lever gun I've ever shot but my eyes aren't what they were. My problem is that my now-deceased father gave it to me when I was 10 yrs old, it is a pre-Micro Groove model and has never been drilled and tapped. What do you guys think, should I scope it or just buy another .22 with less historical and sentimental value? I hate to relegate it to wallhanger status but I hate to ruin its value as well.

[ScottD]

You know with so many of the dang things out there and from what you described of yours being plain, except for sentiment. It really comes down to you. If it is a shooter and from what I understand they are, I'd say why not do it and keep shooting her. And she is not a shooter, well then it doesn't make sense to invest into it, better off to retire her and get another.

[Big Dog]

Toolman, having the 39A drilled&tapped for the top-mounted Marlin 39A scope rail really wouldn't lower it's value, unless it's one of the rarer models.
Another option is to install the Marbles tang-mounted peepsight, though again a second tang hole must be d&t'd to secure it. I have the tang sight on my 39A, and I really like it. I too have problems with open sights - with or without my glasses on. The peep is as accurate as a scope, within 50 yards.
Well, a little spendy at about $125. Bought mine off the net for $80 - I'd have put at least twice that into a scope mount, and a lever gun just don't look "right" with a scope. You never saw John Wayne with a scoped Winny 94!

[toolman]

Thanks guys, I still can't decide what I'm gonna do tho'. Looking at gun shows and on the net, similar models are selling for well over $500.00 due to the pre-MicroGroove status as many claim that they are more accurate. I may look into either a tang or receiver sight anyway as my hope is for it to stay in the family. I used to be able to hold 1 1/2" groups at 50 yds with this gun with almost any ammo on hand but now things are pretty fuzzy past 25 without a scope.

please don't ruin the collector value.. :right:

[jerry]

What would Pops say?

[Shaun]

Only recommendation is if you choose any mod that might hurt the wood is to replace the wood and safegaurd the early stuff.

[toolman]

Unfortunately, the wood has been sanded at least three times that I know of. I refinished it when I was 16 using a Birchwood Casey cherrywood stain and it came out beautiful. I loaned the gun to a guy that I shouldn't have in San Antonio and it came back with a very poor walnut finish and had been cold blued and the screws damaged! I told the guy that if I ever saw him again I would end his gun-finishing career for good!!! I semi-repaired the damage but it needs several screws replaced, buttplate replaced, bluing re-done, etc. This gun is the only thing that my Dad gave me that I still have, so the value is mostly sentimental but I hate to hurt what collector value it still has.

[Big Dog]

Just my humble opinion:
Any "collector value" it might have had is basically gone. At this point, I see no problem with making the rifle more useful as a shooter. No sense just having a rack queen that you can't effectively use. A properly installed scope mount or peep sight will let you use the gun, as your father intended you to. When you eventually hand it down to another family member, they'll get more use out of it too.
You can't return the value lost by the refinishing and the actions of the idiot several years ago - you can improve the gun's usefulness to you.

[william4440]

toolman, drilland scope but have the work done by
a craftsman. Never let an amature touch your gun.
william4440

[maroontoad]

Originally Posted by Big Dog

Just my humble opinion:
Any "collector value" it might have had is basically gone. At this point, I see no problem with making the rifle more useful as a shooter. No sense just having a rack queen that you can't effectively use. A properly installed scope mount or peep sight will let you use the gun, as your father intended you to. When you eventually hand it down to another family member, they'll get more use out of it too.
You can't return the value lost by the refinishing and the actions of the idiot several years ago - you can improve the gun's usefulness to you.

+ 1
The damage has been done, enjoy your tack driver.

[devil8975]

Originally Posted by toolman

I'm trying to decide whether or not to scope my pre-57 39A. This gun isn't mint and has been reworked several times but is still sound. It is the most accurate lever gun I've ever shot but my eyes aren't what they were. My problem is that my now-deceased father gave it to me when I was 10 yrs old, it is a pre-Micro Groove model and has never been drilled and tapped. What do you guys think, should I scope it or just buy another .22 with less historical and sentimental value? I hate to relegate it to wallhanger status but I hate to ruin its value as well.

well, with excellent .22 rifles costing only a hundred bucks, id say save the pre 57 and grab a marlin model 60 or a 10/22 that have the dovetail installed. thats just my opinion tho...good luck.

Aaron