I would say mine is about that old also..... I also have a marlin 39a I was given in the late 70s which also is a great rifle...All this talk I am gonna break them both out this weekend and give them a good workout..
When we were first married 25 years ago I helped a few times and then the wife said she well do it her self.............So I guess i screwed some thing up....I did try.......
Thats a shooter for sure....my BAR shoots a 2 to 3 in group at a hundred yards no matter what ammo I use......I do not use it much these days it goes to the range and cleaned and back to the gun rack..
Grow we are talking about the southern tier......I live in Westchester county and I hunt in Sullivan county....I used to hunt at Stewart a lot when I was younger I think that is Orange county.Hope that helps a bit....