I have a friend who knows I shoot cowboy and is hard up for some cash. He has a Marlin 94, 20" round barrel, saddle ring 44-40 with a serial number in the 150,000 range. My research places date of manufacture at 1897.
It's in nice condition, the bore is a mirror with nice rifling and no pitting. Action is super tight as is the hammer spring. Stock is nice and tight with no cracks or repairs but there's one gouge up on the grip that is so worn it looks like it happened a week or two after the first owner got it. Case hardening is gone but there's no major pitting and a nice brown patina over the whole rifle.
He knows I am more than likely going to sell the piece since I don't shoot 44-40, but I want to give him a price that's more than fair and leave a little room for me to make it worth my while. I know old Winchesters rifles and shotguns but not as familiar with old Marlins and the web has not been very forthcoming with finding reliable estimates.
I don't have it in front of me but one of the newer blue books had it in 80% for $1500 + 25% for 44-40 + 10% for Saddle Ring.. just north of $2k seems a touch high to me.
Anyone have any thoughts that may help me out?
It's in nice condition, the bore is a mirror with nice rifling and no pitting. Action is super tight as is the hammer spring. Stock is nice and tight with no cracks or repairs but there's one gouge up on the grip that is so worn it looks like it happened a week or two after the first owner got it. Case hardening is gone but there's no major pitting and a nice brown patina over the whole rifle.
He knows I am more than likely going to sell the piece since I don't shoot 44-40, but I want to give him a price that's more than fair and leave a little room for me to make it worth my while. I know old Winchesters rifles and shotguns but not as familiar with old Marlins and the web has not been very forthcoming with finding reliable estimates.
I don't have it in front of me but one of the newer blue books had it in 80% for $1500 + 25% for 44-40 + 10% for Saddle Ring.. just north of $2k seems a touch high to me.
Anyone have any thoughts that may help me out?