Oldest Marlin yet!

[MachIVshooter]

I've been after one of these for awhile, finally found one that really spoke to me and struck a deal with the owner. It was the most I've paid for an old Marlin yet, but a fair price for a pretty rare gun.

Most know I've got a thing for vintage JM guns, and also for suppressing them. This one I won't be threading, though, as it's far less common than the 1892/3/4, and I already have an 1895 SS with a can anyway.

It's an 1881 short rifle in 45-70, very early production with a mid 2XXX serial. Decent condition for a 140 year old gun, though the bore is about what you'd expect of a well-loved black powder era rifle; good rifling, but a fair amount of pitting, including the chamber. Some slop in the fore end, plenty of light dings/scratches in the furniture and patina on the steel, but overall not bad. Should be perfectly usable with appropriate loads.

And it won't be shot a lot, mostly a collectible for me. But I do plan to use it some. Anyway:

 

[adcoch1]

That's a beautiful rifle!

 

[Slamfire]

Amazing rifle! Only looked at those as exhibits in museums.
I am curious, and if you have the time, how is that action different from later actions?, and any opinions why that action type was discontinued.

 

[chicharrones]

Wow, just wow. Congrats, MachIV.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Best looking’81 I’ve ever seen. In s.e., most are badly rusted and pitted from B.P. , grimy hands, and s.e. Humidity.

My 1893 .25-36 shoots surprisingly well, but was always a smokeless powders cartridge.
Please follow up with a range visit! Bet it surprises you with a cast bullet over RedDot or #2400!

 

[rbernie]

Nice - congrats!

 

[jmr40]

I like that.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Best looking’81 I’ve ever seen. In s.e., most are badly rusted and pitted from B.P. , grimy hands, and s.e. Humidity.

Yeah, they're old! There are some really clean ones out there, but only about 20k made to begin with.

These guys always seem to have some great old rifles, including this later production 1881:

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/916372689

I almost pulled the trigger on that one a few times, but I don't really want to add another arcane caliber to the stable right now.

Appraisals on these 1881s, like the early Winchesters, are pretty substantial, but the actual selling range for good to very good hovers more in the $1,500-$2,000 range. The above rifle has been listed for some time.

I am curious, and if you have the time, how is that action different from later actions?, and any opinions why that action type was discontinued.

It's more like the action found in the model 39 (also 1890, 91, 92 & 97) in that there's no actual locking block, just the lever mechanism wedging the bolt closed. And of course it's top eject. They're strong compared to contemporary lever rifles, but not nearly as much as the later flat top 1893 & 1895 with a locking lug.

I'd say the Winchester 1886 was a big part of the reason the more robust 1893 and 1895 were developed.

Some guys claim the 1881 can handle modern .45-70 factory loads, but the consensus among the more knowledgeable is that one should stick to trapdoor level loads. An original 1895 was built for smokeless and can easily digest those sedate factory loads. There's really not a tremendous difference between the old 1893/1895 and the modern 336 & 1895. The 1894 is pretty much unchanged after 125 years except for the crossbolt safety and chunkier furniture.

 

[someguy2800]

that is gorgeous

 

[MachIVshooter]

Finally got around to loading some sedate rounds with 405 gr. LFNGCs over 42 grs. IMR 4895 to try this puppy out. What a hoot! Didn't chrono today, but should be around 1,300-1,400 FPS. Not free of recoil, but pretty gentle as .45-70 goes, and the rifle is silky smooth.

Also, since the last post, I completed the Marlin .45-70 trifecta with an original 1895 made in 1900

It's center, below my 1999 1895SS. Long critter!

 

[Scooter22]

WOW. Love that!. But not on the recoil. PAST magnum recoil shield should help with the bite of that metal butt plate. Enjoy!

 

[tark]

post deleted

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Very nice rifle!

These guys always seem to have some great old rifles, including this later production 1881:

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/916372689

I bought my 1890-vintage Marlin 1889 in .38-40 from them. (Bottom rifle, obviously. The top rifle is an Uberti 1866 Yellowboy also in .38-40.)

 

[Ugly Sauce]

If it's accuracy you are after, you sure don't need smokeless powder. This is with 80 grains of 3fg, and the Speer 400 grain JSP. And no, it's not 25 yards, that was sighting in at 100.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Very cool, never seen that model in the flesh- svelte and classy lines on that one.

 

[mindbent]

Nice rifle. My friend has a 30-30 in immaculate condition. I couldn't find any serial#. Is that possible or was I not looking in the right place?

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I couldn't find any serial#. Is that possible or was I not looking in the right place?

Hopefully you didn't find any grinding marks!!!

 

[3Crows]

All model 336 should have a serial number, antique rifles, I wonder?

Most Marlins I have seen, and not an expert on this subject at all, have the serial number on the top tang. Post Remington and now Ruger owned Marlin the serial numbers are on the left side of the receiver.

3C

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Apparantly the new Marlins being made now are better than ever. Initial reviews in the gun magazine is very promising.

 

[3Crows]

Apparantly the new Marlins being made now are better than ever. Initial reviews in the gun magazine is very promising.

Since I have both a REM Marlin 1895 SBL and a RM Marlin 1895 SBL and numerous JM rifles, I would say that yes, the metal work, machining and process work is superior to any previous Marlin. I expect more consistent quality from improved QC. Oldest, okay, newest:



But I am not a Remington hater and Remington owned Marlin was on their way and most of their rifles from about 2014 onward are fine.

3C

 

[mindbent]

Hopefully you didn't find any grinding marks!!!

LOL. No there's no grinding on it. I'll look closer when I get a chance. Like I said, it looks brand new.