So I have wanted a marlin lever action for years and ohio finally allowed strait walled rifle cartridges so I skimped and got a cva elite stalker 45-70 but found it lacking so today after much research, thought, etc I decided to buy a Remington/freedom group marlin 1895 45-70. for those that don't know they put out some junk for a few years and cabelas refused to get me a rifle that wasn't 2yo, dinged up and loose lever and action so I went to a mom and pop chain store I always deal with and talked them into price matching the $400 price tag someone else had but the kicker was I had to buy it today and had an hour to get there.
I got there with about 30min to spare and made sure the action, wood to metal fit, etc was right and it was so I told the guy lets do it. I got home and was looking at it hanging on the wall rack and noticed the forend was lighter color then the stock. buttstock is black walnut and forend is almost like pine so I began examining it and the forend has deep, nice checkering and the buttstock has scratched in checkering. I am now so pissed that I have a headache. About 50% of me said leave it alone and use what I already had and the issues in the past pushed me away but on a marlin forum it seemed all the issues were worked out but it looks like they aren't. They have a 30 day return policy with $40 restock fee so I might just take advantage of it cause if you cant get wood stocks right whos to think anything else will be right.
I got there with about 30min to spare and made sure the action, wood to metal fit, etc was right and it was so I told the guy lets do it. I got home and was looking at it hanging on the wall rack and noticed the forend was lighter color then the stock. buttstock is black walnut and forend is almost like pine so I began examining it and the forend has deep, nice checkering and the buttstock has scratched in checkering. I am now so pissed that I have a headache. About 50% of me said leave it alone and use what I already had and the issues in the past pushed me away but on a marlin forum it seemed all the issues were worked out but it looks like they aren't. They have a 30 day return policy with $40 restock fee so I might just take advantage of it cause if you cant get wood stocks right whos to think anything else will be right.