1958 Marlin Mountie? Sling swivel in the wrong place.

[ShowroomShine]

I have a 1958 Marlin Mountie in my possession for a "test drive" before I buy. The rifle is in good shape considering age with a few minor "nicks" on a few screws and some blue loss on the lever.

However, the rear stock is confusing. It has a sling swivel in the area where the bullseye should be, however its drilled about 1/8th inch off center. Even taking it out it looks like there was never a bullseye hole?

Did this year model have a bullseye? How hard would this be to repair? Can I make it look decent? The rifle is a good value at $400, just want to make sure I can fix this.

 

[JohnBT]

www.marlinfirearms.com/customersupport/faq.asp

#12 - The bullseye has been used on all walnut stocks since 1922. And people still try to put the swivel there. The swivel goes 2 inches from the toe.

Marlin will, they used to when it was Marlin anyway, send you piece of bullseye to glue in. It's left long and you have to cut/sand it down to the level of the stock. I replaced the one in my '63 Mountie after the original dried up and shrank.

How easy it will be to fix depends on how off center the hole is.

John