JM Marlin 336. Am I Out of Touch?

[jags]

In 2023 I purchased 9 Marlin 336. Of the 9, 7 were 30-30 and 2 were .35 Rem. The average price for the 9 rifles was $600. Usually able to get the 30-30 for $500 -$575. The .35Rem are usually around $700.

 

[PapaG]

I still gloat over my ugly 336 carbine. We were sitting in the shopowner’s office one evenings and I saw this forlorn looking thing leaning in the corner. No finish, last few inches of the barrel pitted on the outside. Marlin marked scope and mount.
“What’s that”
“Headed for auction”
I looked at it and thought if I got it cheap I could rebarrel. “How much to save it from the ignominy of being auctioned off?”
“Hunnert and tax”
Bought it, shot it and it gets an honest 2 to 2.5 MOA with 170 grain Remingtons.
My favorite lever.
That was fifteen or twenty years ago. I haven’t seen anything clean for under $750 and mine would probably bring $400.
I’m glad I have all the Marlins I want and they’re old, original Marlins. There is a hole for a 39 but they have become high dollar also

 

[LoonWulf]

I just ordered an r95, want a more "traditional" lever to go with my 99. (I really wanted one of the pistol caliber lever guns, but nobody makes one in the configuration I want for less than a grand....)
We'll see how the fit and finish is when I get it, but that's pretty low on my priority list. I just want the thing to run lol.

There's no way I'd pay the entry fee for a Marlin 336 now. But I don't have the nostalgia for them, or lever guns in general, that other people do. SO in my opinion, if what you REALY want is a Marlin, go get you a Marlin! If not The r95, or remlin aren't bad options.

 

[ThomasT]

I understand everyone gets dewey-eyed when they hear JM Marlin, but something to consider... the JM stamp is not a guarantee. The latter years of production are noted to have issues, as they were still being made on worn out equipment, and/or less than skilled, experienced labor. Marlin was in decline prior to Remington... everyone seems to forget that part.

Thats the truth. I bought a Marlin in 32 mag, a 357 and 44 mag in 2002 and 2004 and all three needed work on them. Then I bought a 45-70 and it was very good out of the box and a darn accurate rifle to boot. My old 39A has been good. No problems at all.

I looked at an Rossi R95 a couple days ago and unlike the other poster this gun was put together very well. If I can get them to come down on the price I will probably buy it. I have been reading reports and watching videos on the gun and like what I see. If I somehow lost all my guns and wanted another 30-30 lever action it would be the one I bought. Unless I found a deal on a Henry for not a lot more.

I do have two Marlin 30-30s. A full tube made in 1982 and a Glenfield/Marlin made in 1969 with half magazine. Both good shooters with 2" groups at 100 yards. And sometime much better like when I bought a box of Silvertips and they stayed just under an inch at 100. With ammo the gun likes it can shoot.

I would get a pocket of cash and start off early Saturday morning with a list of guns shops and pawn shops in your area in an organized mapping route and see what they have on the shelves. And do be afraid to make counter offers. Don't give up and buy junk or beat up guns. Buy a nice gun the first time out. You only have to buy once. Let them know what you are looking for and give them your name and number. I got a couple of guns I wanted that way.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Sold my Marlin 1895sbl and Marlin 444p on Gunbroker for $4125 for the pair.Waaaaaay crazy but Ill take it.

 

[3Crows]

Sold my Marlin 1895sbl and Marlin 444p on Gunbroker for $4125 for the pair.Waaaaaay crazy but Ill take it.

I was offered nearly that much for my so called Remlin 1895 SBL in Alaska. Which even including the two Ruger 1895 rifles I now have is still the best Marlin I have owned. I declined the offer as Ruger was still a long way from production and it was irreplaceable. Still is.

 

[3Crows]

I understand everyone gets dewey-eyed when they hear JM Marlin, but something to consider... the JM stamp is not a guarantee. The latter years of production are noted to have issues, as they were still being made on worn out equipment, and/or less than skilled, experienced labor. Marlin was in decline prior to Remington... everyone seems to forget that part.

My point being, JM's are good... but buyer beware. Know what you are looking at.

The Marlin Jam, Letting In Two, crooked sights and incorrectly indexed barrels were all invented by JM Marlin with no help from Remington. And they had years to fix these known problems but either chose deliberately not to or ignored them. Ruger has corrected the barrel indexing issue which should also fix the crooked sights issue. And they have improved the timing of the action and they heat treat prior to machining which is more difficult and time consuming for post heat treat machining but it results in truer parts. And to top it off, they kicked MG rifling to the door and sent it packing !

 

[.45Coltguy]

In spades 3Crows, in spades!^^^

 

[Charlie98]

The Marlin Jam, Letting In Two, crooked sights and incorrectly indexed barrels were all invented by JM Marlin with no help from Remington. And they had years to fix these known problems but either chose deliberately not to or ignored them. Ruger has corrected the barrel indexing issue which should also fix the crooked sights issue. And they have improved the timing of the action and they heat treat prior to machining which is more difficult and time consuming for post heat treat machining but it results in truer parts. And to top it off, they kicked MG rifling to the door and sent it packing !

I think it was more of an issue of Corporate not wanting to spend any money to update the manufacturing equipment rather than the basic skill of the workers, at least until later. I've had my share of Tinker Marlins, but in the whole, they have been very good.

I don't really have a problem with MicroGroove rifling, so that's sort of a moot point with me. It can require a little more work with cast bullets to get it right, but I've never seen it as a detriment.

 

[herrwalther]

I bought my Marlin 336 in great condition in 2007 or thereabouts. For 300 bucks. Every other day I am tempted to sell it and get 1000 or more, depending on if I leave the scope on. And then the next day I say "Yeah but then you will really miss that rifle." I have been on this back and forth decision for about 6 months. Great rifle that I have taken plenty of deer with. But it has not seen a hunting season in over a decade.

 

[Armybrat]

Bought my .30-30 new in 1968 for about $80 IIRC.
Gifted it to one of my sons 20 years ago, and it was still in near “mint“condition.

 

[Wasangeles]

I'm glad I posted here. You guys gave me confidence! I found a lovely 1973 336 today for $600. It's a user for sure. The wood's finish is about as scratched as it gets, but the rest of it is in great condition. Bore is perfect. Action is smooth. It looks (and smells) like a well-loved antique. It actually has the same smell as my mom's old Singer sewing machine (it's a very distinct smell, reminds me of playing with the treadle as kid when she told me not to). Either way, I'm a happy camper. It would be a great candidate for refinishing someday, but that won't be anytime soon. My only thought is that it has a straight stock, and I kinda wanted a pistol grip style, so I still might be perusing the classifieds on occasion to find it a brother...just with a little less fervor this time.

 

[CraigC]

I've always thought Marlins were overrated. I have four Marlin leverguns, three JM's and a later Remlin 1895. The latter is the nicest of the bunch. Every JM gun I've ever handled had rough actions and machine marks left on the metalwork. The roughness is the reason I didn't get the 1897 Limited. In hindsight, I wish I had but I understand why I didn't at the time.

 

[Charlie98]

My only thought is that it has a straight stock, and I kinda wanted a pistol grip style, so I still might be perusing the classifieds on occasion to find it a brother...just with a little less fervor this time.

FWIW, you can convert a straight-stock Marlin to pistol-grip, or vice-versa, quite easily. I've done so...

My 1894FG came with a pistol grip... and I wanted a straight grip. I posted a WTT listing (on the old Marlin Owners site, years ago...) and got a guy who wanted to trade... he wanted to convert his 336 to a pistol grip. We swapped parts, and the rest is history. The caveat to that is... the forearm. His .30-30 had a barrel band, my .41 did not... so we both wound up keeping our respective forearms.

 

[Savage30L]

I used to own a Marlin 336, 30-30, 1954 production, in near-mint condition, that I inherited from my father. I traded it off for a pittance (compared to what such a gun would command today) back about 30 years ago. The finish and fit were excellent, but the trigger pull was atrociously heavy, and the iron sights were not well-regulated (it would group about 10" high and 5" right at 100 yards, with the rear notch on the lowest setting), and it wasn't drilled and tapped for a scope. The older Marlins were pretty, but not always practical. I needed a good deer gun that I could scope and use.

I never thought I'd see the day when when a 336 would command such prices. I wonder what that thing would bring at auction now.

 

[3Crows]

Like the song, you do not know what you got until it is gone .



Because lever guns are more American than apple pie and baseball.

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[3Crows]

Every JM gun I've ever handled had rough actions and machine marks left on the metalwork.

If you mean the sanding scratches that run vertical on the sides of the receiver, there are those who would say that is how they are supposed to be. My JMs and my two Remingtons rifles have the sanding scratches. My two Ruger built 1895s do not or are comparatively nearly invisible. It looks almost as if Ruger uses as a final polish some sort of random vibrating polisher instead of a belt or wheel.

 

[JTHunter]

Not a 336 but a mid-90s Marlin in .357 that I bought off of GB about 7-8 years ago for ~$800. It has the "JM" stamp on the barrel and has a few dings in the wood but was clean and bright inside and with a decent trigger.
After all, I had to have a rifle to go with my GP-100.

 

[CraigC]

If you mean the sanding scratches that run vertical on the sides of the receiver, there are those who would say that is how they are supposed to be. My JMs and my two Remingtons rifles have the sanding scratches. My two Ruger built 1895s do not or are comparatively nearly invisible. It looks almost as if Ruger uses as a final polish some sort of random vibrating polisher instead of a belt or wheel.

I was referring more to the parts that are blasted without removing the machine marks.

 

[DustyGmt]

It's pretty wild to see these prices, I believe there have been a handful of threads of people seeking or asking about advice for a JM Marlin and the common sentiments expressed by other members were that if in good shape, $1000 was a good deal, but have been seeing them for around $1200 ish +/- and people seem to think that's alright. Even $1400-$1600 assuming it's a certain vintage or something like that but idk.

But...... I have seen classified ads on UncleHenry.com and my buddy always makes sure to text me deals he finds on that site in Maine and the typical price for a JM Marlin 336 in either 30-30 or 45/70 in excellent shape is around $600-$750. If any of you here found one for that would you burn rubber on your way to the ATM or is there more factors in deciding value besides being a JM Marlin in LNIB condition. My buddy has a Marlin 336 in .35rem and I think it's such a nice feeling lever gun. I'd rather have a Marlin over my Henry but I still love my Henry. I just would like to find an old Marlin. Is $700 for a mint JM Marlin a run don't walk situation?

Here is the latest classified post my buddy in Maine passed along, he also scored a couple really nice guns at the show in Maine last week, a Gen 1 1986 Glock 17 with original box + mags and a post war Walther .32acp PPK both in near mint condition for a very kind package price, he said he saw a bunch of nice old sub $1K lever actions, Marlin, Winchester, Henry, Rossi, etc.....

This just makes me wish I lived in Maine, these things come up on the site often.

 

[Art30/30]

I have a gun cabinet full of them. I love my JM Marlins. Even got a 1948 Winchester 94 in pristine condition. Got 336s and a pair of CB 45/7Os. Fun rifles to hunt with. NOTHING takes me back to 1983 like hunting mulies with a Marlin

 

[styles]

I got 357 and 44 ruger marlins for ~$900 shipped. The 30-30 is the problem.