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Nine pics of a Marlin Model 99

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14K views 32 replies 12 participants last post by  Gator Bait  
#1 · (Edited)
Marlin Model 99

EDIT: I solved the serial number, read my posts further down for the explaination.

I found a Marlin Model 99 today that just had to go home with me. I'm mostly a Mossberg collector but love any of the old rimfires. This could be the first 99 I have seen, or mistakingly thought it was a Model 60.

I don't know a lot about Marlin's and online information is scarce for the Model 99. I think this could one of the first with "Micro-Groove" rifling which would make it an early '60's rifle. But I am never satisfied until I can learn all that I can about a new addition. So please, if anyone can ad any info it will be appreciated.

LINK to NRA's page about the Model 99 and 60 rifles.

A few quotes from the link above that has me wondering about the year of manufacture.
That changed in 1959 with the introduction of the side-ejecting, blowback-operated Model 99. Designed by Marlin's Ewald Nichol, the Model 99 employed a round 22" barrel and featured an 18-.22 LR-round-capacity tubular magazine mounted under its barrel. The top of the receiver was drilled and tapped for a scope base and sights were a hooded ramp front and an open rear. The Model 99, according to the late Col. William S. Brophy in Marlin Firearms, was offered only until 1961.
Click to expand...
This 99 has the top of the receiver drilled and tapped for a scope base and also has a base and Marlin scope.

And...
The Monte Carlo walnut-stocked Marlin 99DL with a gold-plated trigger and gold-tone trigger guard was introduced in 1960, and it featured a buttplate and grip cap with white line spacers. Later a leather sling was standard on the 99DL before it was dropped from the line in 1964. The 99C was introduced in 1961 and differed from the 99 in that it employed Marlin's then-new Micro-Groove rifling and had a gold-tone trigger blade. The 99C had its receiver grooved for tip-off scope mounts in 1964.
Click to expand...
This one has "Micro-Groove", a gold trigger, NO "gold tone trigger guard", does have a white spacer at the buttplate but has NO grip cap at all. It also has gold lettering and engraving on the Marlin scope.

Looks like it would be a 99C. "Introduced in 1961", "Micro-Groove", "gold tone trigger". In '64 it had a grooved receiver. So...1961, '62 or '63.

Now it gets odd.

It's seriel number is AE012, which would leave me to think it was a very early first year of production 1961.

But, there is NO AE in the list below.

From the sticky at the top of the Marlin Forum:
Marlin year of manufacture maybe determined from the following list of letter/numeral prefixs to the serial number; this coding only applies to serialized rifles:

1946-C
1947-D
1948-E
1949-F
1950-G
1951-H
1952-J
1953-K
1954-L
1955-M
1956-N
1957-58-R
1958-59-S
1960 (August)-1961-U
1961 (August)-1962-V
1963-W
1964-Y,-Z
1965-AA
1966-AB
1967-AC
1968-AD, -68
1969-69
1970-70
1971-71
1972-72
Click to expand...
I couldn't decide which ones to post so I figured what da heck, post'em all. Sorry dial up members.

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R
#7 ·
Looks a lot like my Model 99 did before a roommate helped himself to it. He moved to another state while I was out of town. I sent word that if it didn't come back I would report it stolen. Got it a week later in the mail with a broken stock. I put a synthetic stock and a model 60 trigger on it. My daughter has pretty much adopted it. Very accurate squirrel gun and fun to shoot with 18 rounds between reloads. Enjoy it.:bthumb:
 
#9 ·
Does anyone know if Marlin has a Historian that can give me info on this rifle?

I will give Marlin a call later today.

I am stumped on the (what I think must be) the serial number.

There are no year code markings on the barrel, just AE012 on the left front of the reciever. Unless there is something only visable if taken out the stock?

I have run out of room in the safe, gun cabinet and gun cases. It had to set out, no place to put it! I need another safe! But have no room for another.
 
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#11 · (Edited)
I just talked to Marlin.

Marlin says the rifle is an early 99 that they recently sold. They had it in their factory since it was new. They stamped it with the serial number AE012 and sold it to a distributor. It did not have a serial number because it was pre 1968.

I ask if she could supply me with some sort of documentation as to what she just told me. Her reply was "I just told you". I meant that I wanted something in writing from Marlin. I'll write them and request it, that may work better.

So, that clears up the mystery serial number that doesn't exist on any date of manufacture lists.

I told her about the stock and scope. She said yes, she knew which one it was. It was possibly a special order or a special made 99 that was there in the Marlin factory since the early '60's.

I told her that I bought it Saturday at a Gander mountain store. She said "yes" and repeated to me that they recently sold it from their inventory. So I guess that I was just lucky to be at the right place at the right time to buy it.

Strange story!
 
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#12 · (Edited)
Gander Mtn verifies the story. They received 4 "Surplus Rifles" from the Marlin factory. Right now the guy I have on the phone is checking, he thinks they have more from the Marlin surplus buy.

They do!

A J.C Higgins (Marlin Model 100 made for Sears) Model 103.18 single shot 22. He says it's like new, I said put my name on it.

Wooohooo!
 
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#13 · (Edited)
The JC Higgins was real nice, bought it. It was in a still sealed new Marlin factory box with a white sticker on the end with it's serial number, AE041.

So I ask if they had the box that the 99 came in that I bought there Saturday. He looked while I filled out the papers.

He found it. It is old, has no markings except old handwriting (I'll post pics later) that reads something like "md 99" "with scope" "no serial number" and a real big #6 in the middle. It also has the white sticker with handwritten serial number AE012.

Marlin says they had it since it was new in the early '60. But the rifle has been shot, not a lot, but it has been shot. It has a few scratches in the stock. So somebody must have borrowed it for the weekend.

I haven't had a chance to look the JC Higgins over real well yet. The wife is menopausal and this is the third rifle this week. And I bought a scope at the flea market with her along yesterday so I'm not poking the skunk right now if you know what I mean. :D But I am headed to the garage soon to look it over and get a pic or two of the 99 box.

This is my 6th post in this thread, only six so far from everyone else...I guess I should stop posting more about it.:confused:
 
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#31 ·
best gun buy



I couldn't agree more, I hope the factory will take the time to document on letterhead for you.

Two things suprise me. 1) Somebody working for the factory didn't snap this up.

2) Given the fact that time is money, manufactures just don't recognize the value of their factory letters. I would have paid $50 to $100 for that type of letter for this gun.

I'll bet the other three guns will be sold at a premium. Maybe even with a factory letter.

I'd have bought this one too. The stock appears to be walnut the "other hard wood"

Enjoy your rifle, it is a treasure.
 
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#17 ·
I don't know.

I have been too busy to check, but the rifle has a great trigger for a semi so I was thinking it could be a trigger adjustment screw ???.

I called two other local (within 30 miles) Gander Mtn stores last evening looking for more but they didn't get any of these "surplus" rifles from Marlin factory. If you have a Gander Mtn nearby....give them a call.

Marlin said they sold them to a few distributors so there are more out there. The store where I bought these had a 39 and I forget what other one that were sold before I got there or I would have had all four.
 
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#21 · (Edited)
Here's one pic of the JC Higgins single shot, (Marlin Model 100) made 1936-41, that was also one of the the old inventory rifles that Marlin sold recently.

I'm calling Marlin tomorrow to find out more about this, will post what I learn tomorrow.

I'll post a new thread with pictures of the JC Higgens too.

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#25 ·
Thanks OldWolf.

What year is the book those scans came from?

The values are a bit off...at least I wouldn't sell mine for those prices.

I have a Book Of Gun Values from '93 that show about the same values as those. I have a few 22's that are actually worth about $500 now while the book value is said to be under a hundred.
 
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#33 ·
Hey GunHugger,

I'm right here trying to keep warm, down to 54, Brrrrrr!!!

Yup, the Marlin 99 is here in Florida now keeping my 1964 Mountie company and is one of my favorites.
I have not had it to the range yet but hope to someday soon. Internally the gun looks like it may have
been test fired and that is about it, it is spotless inside.

Hi jcc9422,

I guess I was in the right place at the right time also. GunHugger decided to make some room in his gun
safe and had put this on GunBroker. Someone here at RFC had put a link to the auction under the Marlin
thread. I had been looking at Model 60's for a while and thought this looked far nicer then any Model 60 I
had seen so I bid on it. The really strange thing is that my bid was placed about 4 1/2 days before the end
of the auction and ended up winning. For some strange reason people just weren't bidding on it. I don't know
if it was because of the economy or what but I am delighted to have this great gun. So now I have two
Marlin period pieces of the same vintage and may have to start thinking of a third, maybe a bolt action of
the same period with another Marlin scope to match.

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I agree, it is a treasure. Some written documentation from Marlin would be great and someday I will have
to talk to them about it.

Gator
 
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