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TNBigBore has one for sale and that got me to thinking about the first time I saw one in Hudson's Guns in 1972 or 1973 (not sure of the date). I think it was 1973 as I almost bought it and that was the year I turned 18. Dad thought it would knock me flat! Anyway, that's what he said. If I'd had one of those I wouldn't have gotten my Browning 1886. It seems to me that this is the ideal configuration for a Marlin 1895 (of the modern persuasion).
So, does anyone else out there have one of these 22" barreled, straight-gripped guns? How do you like it?
Sincerely,
Hobie
"We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best that we find in our travels is an honest friend." Robert Louis Stevenson
Mine's a '79 vintage I think. I love the straight grip style. For some reason that gun belts my shoulder harder than any other 45/70 I own. The butt hits harder than the Buffalo Classic. It makes me appreciate that the guide gun has an effective recoil pad. It has the smoothest factory action I've found. And there's something else, I believe the hammer is slightly narrower, and the slot for it in the receiver is a little narrower. But maybe not, I haven't measured it, but it's nice.
My guide gun lives in the tool box and gets a lot more attention.
Hobie wrote:...So, does anyone else out there have one of these 22" barreled, straight-gripped guns? How do you like it?
I used to. I bought it in 1990 at a gunshop in Fairbanks.
Was a great gun, but I ended up trading it for a Casull... which was more efficient for standing in AK Rivers while on Bear Guard.
I agree though on the size/weight.
If someone were to offer a Stainless 1895 TD in trade for my 1886 TD I would do it no questions asked.
I buy guns to carry/hunt with. And while the (Full octagon) 1886 TD is a great gun, it is just not as carryable/huntable as a 20" 1895.
C2N14... because life is not energetic enough. מנא, מנא, תקל, ופרסין Daniel 5:25-28... Got 7.62?
Not Depressed enough yet? Go read National Geographic, July 1976 Gott und Gewehr mit uns!
I have owned just about every configuration of the modern Marlin 1895, Winchester 1886 and Browning 1886. While the Winchester and Browning actions appear to be the strongest and definitely have the most positive ejection, I like the Marlin better as a hunting rifle.
The guide guns are great to carry and handy as all getout. However, the longer 22" barreled guns offer a much better sight radius if you are using aperture sights. I am able to shoot the 22" guns much more accurately with peeps that the short guide guns. To me, they are easier to hit with and still pretty handy and easy to carry. The balance point of a loaded 1895 22" barrel is just where the front of the receiver meets the wood. To me, the guide gun seems butt heavy when carrying.
While I like the newer pistol grip stocks for handling heavy loads from the 45-70, the older straight stock with the semi-crescent plate is not offensive with the mild to moderate loads I use in them. Also, and this is a big plus, the hard plastic buttplate does not catch on my clothes like all of the rubber recoil pads factory and aftermarket. This allows me to get the rifle into play much faster and more consistently. After having tried all the configurations, the early straight grip Marlin 1895s are my favorite.
Last year, at least I think it was last year, I traded an little used pistol to a very nice fellow for my 1895. When it arrived I discovered it was made in 1972, serial nr. B003xxx. It still had the factory stickers on the stock and butt plate. I believe it is unfired. The wood is pretty nice also. I emailed the fellow back and he told me he came into the 1895 when his grandfather passed away. It was on a shelf still in the original box. Seemed grandpa collected Marlins. Didn't shoot them, just bought them and put them away. I havn't had the heart to take it to the range yet. I know it will never be worth enough to retire on. Maybe down the road I'll load up some light loads and have a go at it.
Sorry for the bad picture. Obviously, photography is not my strong point.
Good shooting.
Just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean they're not really after you!
Coastie, Welcome aboard. That is one of the nicer ones I have seen. It begs to be shot though. The "early" 95 is the prettiest but I agree with TNBigBore about the recoil handling characteristics of the pistol grip model. 1886.
The first time I saw one as well was in late '72 or maybe '73 at Gell's Sporting Goods in Livonia Michigan. At the time I was looking at all the nice rifles in their rack trying to see what one of the Ruger M77's looked like and though I thought the new Marlin 1895 looked great, I was sure a scoped bolt action would really be the ticket for deer hunting. I probably was suffering an overdose of too many Jack O'Conner stories at the time. Many years later and wiser the true value of a lever action was learned but I digress...
I have since remedied that missed opportunity and was able to find a Marlin 1895 "2nd issue" with a four digit "B" serial number. Started my range work using a 405 gr. LFN cast lead bullet from Beartooth working up to a load of 48 grs of IMR 3031. My plan was to work my way up to one of Elmer Keith's 45-70 favorite loads that he used in his Winchester 1886's but my starting load was accurate and I felt it would do the job on any game opportunity that would present itself in my travels. The recoil was also plenty noticeable. My hope has been to draw a Kentucky Elk permit but luck has not been in my favor thus far.
I really like the way this rifle looks and carries.
Hobie,
I have a B numbered 1895 under sn 2000. I bought it used from a neighbor for $75.00 in the early 80's. It was my first lever gun and I still use it regularly. I like it fine, wouldn't want to part with it.
Just had my smith swap out the barrel. I like it alot better. Might slim the wood down someday but I'd hate to lose the checkering. It sticks to gloves very good.
Hi Hobie. I was 18 in 1978 and an avid reader of all things Elmer....His ideas on big bores and heavy slugs absolutley convinced me I NEEDED a 45-70! The very first firearm I ever bought for my self was a Marlin 1895 with a straight stock, a 4x Weaver scope, complete with a mount that pivots off to the side in case you need to use the iron sights. I remember the store clerk trying to sell me the high see through mounts "just in case" and my Elmer reading kicked in and worries about a cheek weld on the stock prevented me from ordering the see through mounts. Anyhow, all of the above plus 2 boxes of 405 gr. Remington ammo set me back $205. My old man thought I was out of my mind.
A couple of years later when my brother decided he wanted to be a gunsmith, he kept talking about how the smith he was working with had taught him how to apply a proper linseed oil finish to a stock, and could he practice on my Marlin? I old him only if he and the smith he was working with put a decent recoil pad on the gun as the hard butt plate was killing me.
7 coats of hand rubbed linseed oil later and 1 Pachmyer Decelerator pad later, he gives me back what used to be a nice rifle and was now a work of art. That was 30 years ago and it still takes my breath away to look at the gun. Its too bad he lost interest in gunsmith work 'cause he sure did nice work.
10 years ago I sighted in the gun with Remington 300 gr hollow points. Its hitting a couple of inches high at 100 yards. When my rather skinny 13 yr old son decided he wated to shoot the gun, I ordered a bunch of 400 gr cowboy loads from Cabela's and turned him loose. The gun will shoot the cowboy loads to point of aim at 90 yards. He can consistantly hit a clay pigeon on the dirt bank at that range.
It wasn't till I started typing this out that I realised what a constant thing its been to have owned all these years. First chance I get I'll have my son take a picture of the rifle and I'll post it.
Anyway, that's what he said. If I'd had one of those I wouldn't have gotten my Browning 1886. It seems to me that this is the ideal configuration for a Marlin 1895 (of the modern persuasion). 
