"New" Marlin versus "Old" Marlin

[Mark Terry]

I am in what may the early phase of some sort of lever gun sickness. The current phase of the affliction involves the Marlin "Cowboy" variation with the octagonal barrel in .45-70.

In general, I'm opposed to the idea of a hammer block safety but those are the ones currently sold. I've learned it can be removed and replaced with an unobtrusive screw/ bolt.

Then I begin to hear horror stories about the quality of the most recent Marlins after the aquistion by Remington.

Should I avoid the newer production guns? How can I tell a Remington Marlin from a pre -Remington Marlin?

Thanks

[jgt]

On the left side of the barrel near the receiver will be a small jm stamp if it was made before the
Rimington take over. If you see REM with a border around it, it is made after the Remington take over. Remington eventually moved the serial number from the upper tang to the left side of the receiver. The take over happened in 2010 so serial numbers starting with the numbers 90XXXXXX need to examined closely as that was a transition year. Those with 89XXXXXX, or if any with 88XXXXXX will be all Remington and probably say Illion N.Y. on the barrel in stead of North Haven Cn.

[Mark Terry]

Many thanks, jgt.

[squawberryman]

For all it's worth...

I was told by a friend that Rem's goal was to build a Marlin in 17 minutes or less. I sent my "limited" 1895 45/70 to Clements for a package he does. He told me the crown and muzzle cut were so oblong.

[warhawk]

As far as I've been able to determine, Remington has not made any octagon barrel leverguns, yet. And Marlin didn't make any 45-70 octagon guns prior to the crossbolt safety which debuted in 1983 (of course they made some of the old old, turn of the century Marlins that way).

The 1895 Cowboy has a 26 inch octagon barrel. They also made the LTD series. The LTD III has an 18.5 inch octagon barrel, and the LTD IV has a 24 inch octagon barrel. The other LTDs are in a variety of configurations, half round half octagon etc. I have an LTD IV with the 24 inch barrel.

[wvjoetc]

I see this post is about a month old, you can go over on the Marlin Owners forum and read some of the posts there. Seems the newer Marlins have problems, and have to go back to the factory for different issues. For me I would rather have an older gun, I do have one Marlin a 36G. To be honest I wouldn't trade you for two newer Marlins, but that's me. Shame the quality of the newer mass produced guns have went down, but prices have went up.

Joe

[rWt]

"I am in what may the early phase of some sort of lever gun sickness." quoted from OP.

If you are here for an intervention, you have come to the wrong side of the asylum. Many here welcome the company of folks with gun addictions.

[ejc]

"Remington eventually moved the serial number from the upper tang to the left side of the receiver."

I believe that is incorrect. I have a JM stamped 1895CB, purchased in 2004, which has the serial number on the left side of the receiver.

E. J.

[ejc]

"Remington eventually moved the serial number from the upper tang to the left side of the receiver. "

That is incorrect. I have a JM stamped 1895CB, purchased in 2004, with the serial number on the left side of the receiver.

E. J.

[jgt]

ejc, now that you mention it, I do recall a discussion on the Marlin Owners forum some time back about a Cowboy or Limited Addition model that had the serial number on the receiver. I guess that proves the addage that there are No absolutes partainging to serial numbers or configurations when it comes to gun manufacturing.

From reading the information on the Marlin Owners forum for many years I believe the serial numbers that include the general spectrum of models like the 39's,336's,1894's,444's, and 1895's all had the serial number on the upper tang untill Remington moved them .

My Marlins ranged in manufacture dates from 1978 to 2007. Of those, one was a model 1894, the rest were 444's, and all marked on the upper tang. That does not make me an expert so probably should have stated that fact in my answer to the question.

[ejc]

jgt, Two of my marlins are 336RCs so they have the serial number on the lower tang. My other two are an 1895CB and an 1894CB and both have it on the side of the receiver. I bet Marlin did this on the Cowboys because they thought a lot of owners would want to put tang sights on them and didn't want the serial number affected by a screw hole drilled through it and didn't change the serial number location on the rest of their line.

E. J.

[jgt]

YES!!!! I do believe you hit the nail on the head. Makes since when you think of it.