Marlin 55 12ga

[PJSprog]

So, I wandered into my LGS this past Saturday. I was looking for other things. The owner noticed I kept glancing up at a shotgun on the wall, and asked it I wanted to handle it. I did, of course. It was a Marlin 55 12ga bolt shotgun with the Micro-Choke, and no serial number. (As background information, this is the model of shotgun my Father used to hunt with, until he loaned it to my uncle ... from whom I have been trying to get it back since 1984!) The wood is in very good shape, and I only found a few minor dings here and there on the metal. He wanted $125+tax, so I took it. As I live in Illinois (24-hour waiting period on long guns), I had to go back Monday after work to pick it up. I took it home, cleaned it up a bit (the bore was clean and shiny), and took it out by the lake to pop a few rounds through it. I ran three Winchester SuperX 3" #4 rounds through it, and I liked it!

Even though it's not something I'll likely shoot a lot, and it's not my Father's actual gun, it's close enough for nostalgia's sake.

(less-than-great cell phone pics attached)

 

[oneounceload]

Maybe trade your uncle for the original back?

 

[PJSprog]

Not letting him anywhere near this one ... or any other gun I own.

We haven't talked in years. That situation got kind of ugly several years back, and even involved several other family members - including his mother, my grandmother - trying unsuccessfully to get him to do the right thing. He's never going to let it go, so I just moved on.

 

[oneounceload]

Sorry to hear that - was just a thought
Enjoy your "new" one!

 

[Virginian]

Ah well, you don't get to pick your relatives. That's why friends are oft times better.

 

[jaguarxk120]

Look at it this way, time is on your side, he will not live forever.

 

[PJSprog]

One of his sons, my cousins, will someday inherit that gun. I guess there's always the possibility that one of them will give it back. Again, not holding out hope for that, just moving on.

I was still quite young when that gun left our home. I never got to shoot it. Heck, I could barely hold it up back then. Having shot one now, they're quite fun. I love bolt action rifles, so this is a natural fit. I did note that you have to empty the chamber with authority to get the 3" shells to clear the receiver. Other than that, it functions pretty well. The bolt is much smoother than I had anticipated.

 

[Frostbite]

Tanks for identifying the gun! I was given the same, or one that looks exactly the same, but in 20 gauge, and did not know what it was exactly. Never even tried it. Will probably end up selling it down the road. I could only guess it was something from the fifties in view of the age of the gentlemen who gave it to me, (he is now 93). Glad you like yours.

 

[PJSprog]

Frostbite, there were several "brands" like this sold back in the middle of the 20th century. I remember there were some excellent posts here from a couple years ago that detailed most of the labels. Marlin was but one of them. I believe they made the 55 and it's variants from the mid-1950s up into the 1990s. None of them are really "high-end" guns as I recall, but they're all fairly nice, especially for the money.

 

[Frostbite]

Thank you PJS, I might just have to try it then. I just do not see an obvious use for it. Maybe will I bring it along next time I go bust some very informal clays with my friends. I cannot possibly do any worst with it than with my 12 gauge!

As for identification, I just checked it and it says Stevens model 58-20 on the barrel. Similar gun, though. Maybe is it the same as yours with only a different branding and gauge, like you said. I would not have know the thing on the end of its barrel was called a Micro-Choke if I had not read it in your post. I thought it was called a Polychoke or something like that.

 

[Liberty1776]

Much easier on your heart to let that other situation go... and as for this gun, it looks great - darn near brand new! Congrats.