Marlin Dark Series. I may need one...

[Elkins45]

I just saw an ad for the new Marlin Dark Series in the American Rifleman. Basically it’s a dark finished lever gun with a threaded muzzle, big loop lever and XS sight rail. I could care less about the dark finish and I actively dislike the big loop, but I like the idea of the 16.25” threaded barrel a lot because I have an unbuilt approved tax stamp for a 10” 45 caliber silencer. A silenced lever gun to fling 500 grain subsonic bullets would be just about perfect for a backyard deer harvester.

Do I NEED it? No, but it would finally get me motivated to start turning some baffles and build this can. I’ve been sitting on the stamp for 4-5 years now.

I wonder how much of a premium they are going to charge for it?

 

[troy fairweather]

Have you seen the price. I'd find a older marlin and pay a Smith to do the work you want, be way cheaper.

 

[Skylerbone]

There was a thread awhile back with purists crying foul.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I just wish they nitrided them instead of parkerized them. For that price, I want the tougher finish.

My 336Y has a matte-blued "tough Mar-Shield finish" that's pretty garbage. I bet the parkerized isn't much better.

 

[Gtscotty]

I think they're neat although I'd prefer an 1894 Dark edition in .44 mag. The 45-70s are out of stock everywhere I looked, but prices ranged from $690 - $750. That doesn't seem too bad given that a 'smith is going to charge $200+ to chop, thread and move the front sight on a stock Marlin.

 

[mcb]

I just wish they nitrided them instead of parkerized them. For that price, I want the tougher finish.

My 336Y has a matte-blued "tough Mar-Shield finish" that's pretty garbage. I bet the parkerized isn't much better.

Pakerized finish has protected steel parts on most US military firearms since its WWI if not before. Ferritic nitrocarburizing (nitrided) is a great finish but not applicable everywhere. Nitrided can compromise the heat-treat and temper on the parts due to the high temperature it must be applied at. Pakerizing does not compromise the heat treatment of the part as its a much lower temperature process.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

Pakerized finish has protected steel parts on most US military firearms since its WWI if not before. Ferritic nitrocarburizing (nitrided) is a great finish but not applicable everywhere. Nitrided can compromise the heat-treat and temper on the parts due to the high temperature it must be applied at. Pakerizing does not compromise the heat treatment of the part as its a much lower temperature process.

Not saying parkerizing is bad, I'm saying Marlin might screw it up as it is more of a coating than a full treatment like on my other Marlin. Especially if it's a rifle for foul weather.

And I assume since nearly every part of my AR and my handguns are Nitrided, they can do a lever gun in it as well. I assume haha

 

[fireside44]

A silenced lever gun to fling 500 grain subsonic bullets would be just about perfect for a backyard deer harvester.

Yes it would. 45-70 projectiles are the most fun to cast IMO. So many nice molds to try.

Not saying parkerizing is bad, I'm saying Marlin might screw it up as it is more of a coating than a full treatment like on my other Marlin. Especially if it's a rifle for foul weather.

If I was concerned about it I'd just get the stainless. No threading on Marlins stainless 1895. If it's 650-750 bucks it would make a great backpacking rifle for bear country and I wouldn't concern myself much with a little finish wear. Just means it has stories to tell!

 

[VoodooMountain]

I know a lot of guys hate plastic/modern levers

I would absolutely love to see a mag fed lever like the long ranger with long ranger with a threaded barrel, larger loop, and a pic rail on top and maybe and acc rail on the forearm.

It would also be hard to pass up a 357 or 44 tube fed in this configuration

I would be in for a mossberg depending on street price and caliber selection.

 

[hq]

I think they're neat although I'd prefer an 1894 Dark edition in .44 mag.

Me neither, or in .45Colt. The .38Spl factory loads out of my 1894C are well subsonic and lend themselves for suppressor use nicely. A heavier bullet and larger caliber would be a plus for some semi-stealth close range deer work. Shame about the furniture, I'm not a fan of black in lever guns.

 

[Trey Veston]

I stopped playing the Remlin lottery after my 1894 fiasco a couple of years ago.

 

[BlueHeelerFl]

I think they're neat although I'd prefer an 1894 Dark edition in .44 mag. The 45-70s are out of stock everywhere I looked, but prices ranged from $690 - $750. That doesn't seem too bad given that a 'smith is going to charge $200+ to chop, thread and move the front sight on a stock Marlin.

I've been hoping for a 44mag model as well.

 

[greyling22]

This guy was the only place.around that seemed to be doing turnkey work. http://grumpysguns.com/barrelthreadingserviceleveraction.aspx I decided to just have the barrel chopped and threaded locally, then shortened the mag tube and converted it from a band to a hanger at the same time by hand.

I have a stainless 44mag that I may do the same thing to eventually, but currently my can only does 357. And a subsonic 38 is very quiet and fun out of a Marlin. When I redo the 44, I am gong to restock it with either a grey laminate, or have a synthetic made. Probably the laminate.