Marlin 1894, mfg. In 1897

[silicosys4]

Well I was sweating bullets but the Marlin 1894 in .32-20 I won via auction made it through the holiday gauntlet without damage.
I'm tickled, it's just what I was hoping for, an honest gun with what looks like a good bore that just needs some spit and polish to shine. Here it is as it came, I'll post more as I clean it up.

Here's a fun fact. At the price I had to pay for .32-20 brass the other week, this rifle cost the equivalent of 500 empty starline .32-20 cases.






Edit: a few more pics now that I figured out to resize them






Still has some traces of the original color case hardening in a few protected spots.









Toying with the idea of having it professionally restored to factory original, not sure. The stock is pretty bad, missing chunks and visibly cracked then reglued. Structurally OK, but visually a bit tatty. The CCH'ing is pretty much gone except for a few small areas. The barrel has about 20% bluing, mostly under the handguard, the rest is patina. the mag tube has about 10% bluing, rest is patina. I don't see a lot of collectors value as it sits, and I didn't pay much...but the bones are really good.

 

[Jonny2guns]

Nice find!

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Nice, and a genuine antique too!

 

[Armored farmer]

Beautiful.
That's the real deal right there!
Congrats!

 

[Steve Milbocker]

Great rifle! Turnbull restoration would make her a showstopper!!

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

You do what you want, but I prefer to keep my old gems with their original scars as much as possible as I feel it reflects the story of their history. I have a Type 38 Arisaka manufactured in the early 1930's that came into my possession with a broken wrist on the butt stock leaving the end of the stock turned at about a 20 degree angle. I cleaned it up and repaired the break with Acraglas and while you can see a line on the side where the break was open you have to look pretty close. I have about 40 pre-1950 rifles and although I have cleaned them up they still bear witness to their histories. I value them more than I would if they were restored to new condition.
That is a very nice specimen you have acquired!

 

[Steve Milbocker]

I actually agree with Steel Horse Rider. I have an 1893 Marlin that is in similar shape. I threw Turnbull out there because the op mentioned a possible restoration and those guys do outstanding work. Especially with the color case hardening.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

An octagon barrel, very nice.




I picked up this 44-40 Model 1894 Marlin way back in the 1970s sometime. Not a drop of blue left on it anywhere. It left the factory in 1895. No idea what I paid for it back then.

The caliber marking on it is simply 44W. Not 44-40, not 44WCF. I guess Marlin did not want to give Winchester any credit for the caliber.

The rear sight is quite crude, a very simple semi-buckhorn with a simple V groove.

The front sight may be a replacement. It has a nice little ivroid bead set in it.

I had never heard of 44-40 when I bought it. The shop sold me a box of ammo along with the old rifle. Look what they sold me. I shot up most of the box, I only saved a couple of the rounds. I think the name High Velocity is a bit misleading, the ammo did not hurt the old rifle.

I don't take the old rifle out and shoot it much any more, when I do I only shoot my Black Powder loads through it. The bore is old and pitted, but the rifling is still strong. I discovered a long time ago that old pitted barrels can still deliver excellent accuracy.

 

[silicosys4]

Howdy

An octagon barrel, very nice.




I picked up this 44-40 Model 1894 Marlin way back in the 1970s sometime. Not a drop of blue left on it anywhere. It left the factory in 1895. No idea what I paid for it back then.

The caliber marking on it is simply 44W. Not 44-40, not 44WCF. I guess Marlin did not want to give Winchester any credit for the caliber.

The rear sight is quite crude, a very simple semi-buckhorn with a simple V groove.

The front sight may be a replacement. It has a nice little ivroid bead set in it.

I had never heard of 44-40 when I bought it. The shop sold me a box of ammo along with the old rifle. Look what they sold me. I shot up most of the box, I only saved a couple of the rounds. I think the name High Velocity is a bit misleading, the ammo did not hurt the old rifle.

I don't take the old rifle out and shoot it much any more, when I do I only shoot my Black Powder loads through it. The bore is old and pitted, but the rifling is still strong. I discovered a long time ago that old pitted barrels can still deliver excellent accuracy.

Thats a nice old rifle. I have an 1873 in .32-20 that's also got a chewed up bore, but if you size a soft cast lead bullet to .312, it will still shoot pretty well. The 24" rifle configuration with an octagon profile is my favorite, if it isn't too heavy. The 1873 I have has an octagon barrel that's been cut down to 20" and at 20" feels heavier in the hands than the Marlins octagon barrel at 24". I'll have to measure diameter when I get home and see if my mind is playing tricks on me.

 

[BlueHeelerFl]

Congrats

 

[cfullgraf]

Nice acquisition.

I have a Winchester 1873 chambered in 32-20 made in the early 1890’s.

Mine was restored before I found it so it looks good and shoots fine but I do not know what the condition was to begin with.

I have an S&W 32-20 hand ejector made in the early 1920’s that is a good companion for the gun. They are not terribly rare to find at least my area.

You have to decide if the Marlin would be more valuable left as is or is it’s condition so bad, a restoration would restore some value.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

32-20

Model 1892 Winchester at the top, shipped 1911. Bottom left, Smith and Wesson 32-20 Hand Ejector, shipped 1916. Bottom right, Colt Police Positive Special, shipped 1926.

 

[Bazoo]

Wow, that's a nice find. Very nice old gun, congratulations!

 

[codytrucker]

That is a nice find ! If you decide to have any work done on it , Wyoming Armory precision Firearms In Cody Wyoming does a great job , I had them restore a 99 savage for me that was pitted and worn . They do a lot of restoration on old Ballard's and other 1800's guns . They do bone case hardening in house . Good luck getting it up and shooting !

 

[silicosys4]

Here are a few pictures of the stock damage, I don't know that it could really be hidden. It was repaired with 3 pegs and a screw...a long time ago.
Also, some of the remaining color case hardening, because who doesn't like 125 year old color case hardening