Need help on Gun ID...

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David4516

David4516

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I'm not sure what this thing is. It says "Marlin" on the barrel, with a patent date of 1887. It also says ".38w", I believe this means it's a .38-40. Serial number is 19726

I'm pretty familiar with Winchester lever actions, but I have no experience with Marlins. All the Marlins I've ever seen were "side eject", this one is a "top eject".

It's missing a couple of parts inside the action, like the piece that lifts the rounds from the magazine up to the chamber (not even sure what that part is called).

This rifle is belongs to my Girlfriend's Dad. We're planning on fixing it for him for his birthday, and I'd like to know more about it. Info like what model, what year was it made, how much is it worth, and so forth. Thanks in advance.
 
That is a really interesting rifle. Apparently it's an early run Model 1888. The year of manufacture for serial number 19726 is 1888.
 
Wow, that's a find. Is that a half octagon barrel? Intact 88's run for two grand or more. I'd suggest two things. Do not do ANYTHING to it. Don't clean it, don't cut it, don't try to fix something broken on it without more information and the right tools. Go over to the forum at leverguns.com and see what they have to say about replacing the carrier and other possible missing parts. This firearm should be approached with great care, even to the point of removing a screw. To my eye it looks original.
 
I had one a tad newer that. Shot my first deer with it at age
13. It was a different caliber ( 32-40 ), and also a top ejector.
I don't have my book handy but I think the part is called a cartridge
carrier.:)
 
We took this in to the gunsmith yesterday... it's missing 3 parts:

The extractor
The ejector
The carrier/lifter/elevator/whatever you call it

The gunsmith wasn't sure if he could find these parts, as this rifle was only made for a short time. Would any of you happen to know where I could find them?
 
That's a find!!! :what: I'd be afraid to touch the thing. I can understand wanting to restore the action to make it complete but won't having non-original parts to complete it drop the value more than just leaving them out? It's a show gun at this point, and were it ever to have a working action again, would you really fire it? I wouldn't. I'd get a few appraisals, get a professional preservation job done to keep it as it is, and then glass box it like a museum piece. Then give it as a gift. Regardless, that's a fine looking rifle.

I'd also be interested in knowing the story behind the "Kill" marks. Or are those to signify generational hand-downs?
 
ok, cool, replace the parts if you can find correct ones - do not refinish the stock, and do not remove those kill marks....:p
 
Found out recently that those "kill marks" were for black bear.

"Girlfriend's Dad" had recently been upgraded to "father-in-law" :D

Still no luck finding parts for it though...
 
I think I would see what the market would bring for it as is... I'm not one for selling guns( ever), but I don't want a safe queen ethier.
 
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