Recently took in a 1968 39a, and the customer states rear sight is crooked. I set barreled receiver into vise and leveled side to side-front to back, removed rear sight, installed triangular stone into dovetail, and looked down as if aiming, and sure enough seems that not only rear is off, slightly towards 1 o’clock,(and I mean slightly), but so does the front. But it appears to the customer front is straight up and down. However, forend tenon dovetail, as well as magazine tube band, appear to be correct, so unsure if just an index problem is what it is. Could a guy just simply re-cut rear dovetail at a slight angle, as well as possibly shim right side under front sight to fix. Just went over Bob’s barrel set back issue with this model, and sounds like too much time and money to go that route. Also, I do not own a lathe that it would fit in to start. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance, David
I have a Marlin 39a myself. Don’t have it in front of me right now, but I remember the barrel is pinned to the receiver, and the regular rear leaf sight is on the barrel. Sounds like the barrel is slightly cocked to the right when it was installed. Perhaps it can be corrected by pulling the barrel and reinstalling? It is a nice rifle. Unfortunately parts are getting more and more expensive. -TL
Answer
Don’t shim front sight but machine or file off one side so it will sit straight. As far as the rear sight you can alter the dovetail but you are gonna have problems with the sight fitting tightly afterwards. You can weld up and reblue the sight after you have altered the dovetail in the barrel. You can try to bend the shank of the sight so it sits straight, and leave the dovetail cut alone. Ken
Reply
Thanks Ken, I carefully bent the rear sight blade in the shank area, and the customer was very pleased! I was afraid due to spring steel not bending easily, usually breaks. No re-blue, no heat needed. Thank YOU very much. David
Answer
Glad it worked. Ken
