J ust got in a Western Field Model 79 lever rifle. Was a pretty gun but needed a few parts that were missing. Got it all put back together today. Shoots good. Action is smooth but a little stiff. Anyone familar with this wanna be Marlin?

I suspect it was a Marlin offered through the old Western Auto chain.

Could be a Montgomery Wards also. I think, though I'm not sure that many of their sporting goods products were labeled Western Field. Both Savage and Marlin made guns for them with that label on them.

MrC:

What you have is A Mossberg model 472PRA, They were sold by Montgomery Wards as Western Field Model 79. also sold as Western Field Model 771 and 772.

The Western Auto store brand produced by Marlin was called Revelation. I have one, a Revelation Model 200. It is a Marlin in all respects without the Marlin name or "bullseye." It shoots very well.

There are rebranded Marlins that have identical parts (Glenfield for example), and there is at least one similar looking rifle that isn't really a Marlin 336 (although it appears to be so from a distance).

I've seen the look-alikes at gunshows and can't remember how they were labeled. Think Lee is correct.

The outward appearence is of a Marlin but the internals are a little different. For parts, it cross referenced to the Mossberg 472 PRA, which is listed as the original manufacturer. Since getting it going, I have only fired it to check it's workings. Haven't had a chance to really give it a workout at the bench. I have noticed that it doesn't have a micro-groove barrel as do the Marlins. It is tapped for a scope however.
The lever pin has a detent plunger and spring instead of a bolt. The extractor is a simple flat spring hook type, held in by a small pin. It appears that it was stripped for parts but shows little wear. Working good now. Ended up with $150 in the gun and $34 in parts. I collect leverguns but haven't dealt with these before.

The outward appearence is of a Marlin but the internals are a little different. For parts, it cross referenced to the Mossberg 472 PRA, which is listed as the original manufacturer. Since getting it going, I have only fired it to check it's workings. Haven't had a chance to really give it a workout at the bench. I have noticed that it doesn't have a micro-groove barrel as do the Marlins. It is tapped for a scope however.
The lever pin has a detent plunger and spring instead of a bolt. The extractor is a simple flat spring hook type, held in by a small pin. It appears that it was stripped for parts but shows little wear. Working good now. Ended up with $150 in the gun and $34 in parts. I collect leverguns but haven't dealt with these before.

Take it out and shoot it, after a good wringing out, you might just find out that Mossberg makes some pretty good barrels.

Take it out and shoot it, after a good wringing out, you might just find out that Mossberg makes some pretty good barrels.
Tis spring alas. And everybody in the neighborhood wants guns fixed, new stocks. I'm going to have to find more hours in a day so I can get out there and wast some ammo. I might slip a scope on it and pretend to my wife that I'm really hard at work. ;)