Turning a Revelation 120 into a Marlin 795: which barrel to keep? (Just a little tongue in cheek.)

[WVGunman]

This is General Discussion instead of gunsmithing because I'm interested in general opinions on feasibility, not "how-to."

So I bought a very junky Revelation 120 years ago ....
Pictured: Not my own gun


and have had the barreled receiver:


...knocking around ever since. It's followed me through several moves, jobs, and states of residence. For those who don't know, the Rev 120 is a version of the Marlin Model 60 made for and sold by Western Auto Hardware Stores. Mine was made sometime between 1961 and 1968, as it has no serial number.

I finally decided to try something with this. I found a Marlin 795 parts kit online with everything but the receiver. The 795 is basically the Marln Model 60 with a box magazine instead of a tube:

Not being the patient type I went ahead and ordered it BEFORE trying every option to see if a Marlin 795 made about 10 years ago would be compatible with an off-brand version of a different model made almost SIXTY years ago. But here's an interesting detail: I own a Marlin Model 60 I bought new about 5 years ago. I took the action assembly out of this and stuck it into the Revelation receiver, and ... it fit! Even MORE amazing was that the action/stock screws from my Model 60, made in the last few years, fit exactly into the screw holes on the receiver of that Revelation 120!!

I am now pretty confident this old receiver will work with my Marlin 795 parts. But what of the barrel? The Revelation receiver already has a barrel attached, and it's 21 inches, longer than the 795's barrel. It might be better to just leave it attached than to take it off and try to attach the 795 barrel to this old receiver... right? The old barrel appears to be in at least decent shape, but I haven't exactly been careful with it. I'm worried that I'll take it off though only to find out the 795 barrel won't fit, and then NOTHING will go back together right. But the 795 barrel HAS to be in better shape... right? And if even the screws are the same size on all these models what are the odds the newer barrel won't fit? How do I figure out the best option here?

 

[StrawHat]

The longer of the two barrels is 21”? Leave it on. Worst case scenario, it groups poorly. If that happens, sleeve it with a rimfire liner and don’t look back.

Kevin

 

[dieselchief]

i am a new haven boy. all of us in the area worked related to the firearm industry. me the motors for mossberg and marlin, uncle jimmy the reciever polishing at both win and marlin. sister in laws brother made barrels destined for ruger. i personally have been in all four factories either for service calls, deliveries, boy scout tours, etc.
....now for the gist of this reply> new haven made marlin barrels were hand straightened looking through them at a candle in a overhead fixture resembling a ships wheel with side mounted handles. go for the new haven made barrel. just saying....bobn

 

[MacAR]

Don't mess with the barrel. The rest of the parts ought to fit right up. That wasn't an option on your poll, or at least not that I could tell.

Mac

 

[jmorris]

The barrel is pinned and pressed in, you can swap it but I probably wouldn’t suggest it unless you have to. Probably would have to do some minor fitting and a pretty good risk of damage without the right tools, not to you but the finish.

 

[WVGunman]

i am a new haven boy. all of us in the area worked related to the firearm industry. me the motors for mossberg and marlin, uncle jimmy the reciever polishing at both win and marlin. sister in laws brother made barrels destined for ruger. i personally have been in all four factories either for service calls, deliveries, boy scout tours, etc.
....now for the gist of this reply> new haven made marlin barrels were hand straightened looking through them at a candle in a overhead fixture resembling a ships wheel with side mounted handles. go for the new haven made barrel. just saying....bobn

I hadn't thought of this. From what I can see of the 795's serial #, it IS of Remlin-era manufacture. This is an important factor.

 

[LoonWulf]

I have a picture somewhere im sure....ill look....
Anyway i swaped a 795 to an older 21" model 60 tube.
I dont like short tubes.....but otherwise no improvement

 

[WVGunman]

I have a picture somewhere im sure....ill look....
Anyway i swaped a 795 to an older 21" model 60 tube.
I dont like short tubes.....but otherwise no improvement

Please post what you have!

 

[LoonWulf]

Please post what you have!

New/old project and continuation on some others.

So lets start with the new/old. This is the second 6.5 Go Wild my ffl buddy ordered last year or so. His gun, in our attempt to build up two Americans as a joint project. This is the one i did for that project, which some of you may remember. This rifle got traded to a friend, who put it back...

www.thehighroad.org

Thought i had in progress stuff in my google pics, but couldn't find.

 

[LoonWulf]

Found some

 

[WVGunman]

Found some
View attachment 1181654View attachment 1181655View attachment 1181656

So that is a 795 receiver and a Model 60 barrel? How much force did it take to get the original barrel out of that receiver and then to insert the new one? Some have said here the barrel may be press-fitted as well as pinned. Is that what you found?