My Marlin .30-30

[Nightcrawler]

For awhile now, I was convinced there was something amiss with my M336W's front sling swivel. The thing would rotate 360* freely, and I couldn't unscrew it.

I realized today that it doesn't unscrew. It's not screwed into the handguard like I thought it was; it's attached to the barrel band that holds the handguard in place and is meant to rotate.

ANYway, I'd like to customize this thing a bit. I like leverguns, both in traditional and modernized forms. This one I'd like to modernize. I'm going to get a nice apreture sight on there before too long.

I'd like an action job. Does anybody know who does work on Marlins?

I'd also like synthetic furniture, perhaps. Does anybody make it?

I'd like a large lever loop for use with winter gloves (we're having a uncommonly late winter again this year, but still). Who makes one?

I'd also like to get the blueing replaced with something more durable and rust-resistant, for use in winter. Perhaps parkerizing or one of those polymer finishes? Any suggestions?

 

[Jax]

I'd like an action job. Does anybody know who does work on Marlins?

David Clay @ DRC Custom Gunsights and others. (Be prepared to wait a while i.e. don't believe his stated delivery times.)

I'd also like synthetic furniture, perhaps. Does anybody make it?

Yes, MPI does.

I'd like a large lever loop for use with winter gloves (we're having a uncommonly late winter again this year, but still). Who makes one?

DRC Custom and Wild West Guns

I'd also like to get the blueing replaced with something more durable and rust-resistant, for use in winter. Perhaps parkerizing or one of those polymer finishes? Any suggestions?

Nope, sorry no help here. You might try the Marlin Firearms Board. Lots of knowledgable folks there.

 

[Ron L]

For aperature sights, the two traditional ones would be Lyman or Williams.
Lyman Products
Williams Gunsights

For other aperature sights, try Wild West Guns, Ashley Outdoors, or Brockman's Rifles.
Wild West Guns
Ashley Outdoors
Brockman's Rifles

Ramline also sells synthetic stocks.
Ramline Products

For big loop levers, Brockman's and Wild West also sell them.

As far as gunsmiths go, I've heard of DRC, but on other forums, I've also heard of Coyote Cap Gunworks.
Coyote Cap Gunworks

Now for the hard part, the bluing or plating. Williams will reblue a gun, and Marlin will reblue a gun themselves as well. But when you start talking about plating or some other ubercoating, there are many out there. I'd pose the plating question in the general forum and see what kind of answers you get. You can get anything from a black textured to a satin grey. I do know that DRC does this as well.

For other great sources of info particularly for Marlins and lever guns, check out the Marlin forums or Single Sction Shooting Society forums.
Marlin Forums
Single Sction Shooting Society Forums

As a fellow lever gun fan, I'm sure you'll really enjoy these upgrades.

 

[Preacherman]

Clark Custom Guns in Princeton, LA (tel. 318-949-9884, Web site http://www.clarkcustomguns.com/) does an excellent action job on Marlin and Winchester lever-actions. I've had several done there, and been very happy with the result.