Sigh... I keep trying...

[Old Ironsights]

One of the guns I had at the NIN shoot last month was a friend's Pre-Safety Marlin 1894 .44... the one I fixed the "dreaded Marlin Jam"/carrier on.

Shot a peach. Was able to ring the 100yd gong offhand with the first & every shot (Win White Box).

The Owner is an 80% Quad and can't use it at all... but he doesn't want to part with it. Oh well. maybe someday.

What's a really clean pre safety M94 worth these days anyway?

[AJMD429]

My old beat up, scratched, rusted-then-parkerized, refinished because a mouse chewed part of the stock off pre-safety 1894 is "priceless" for the same reasons you cite (handy and accurate and just the right size/power) plus sentimentality. If you get hold of one, you'll do well to grab it while you can.

I don't dislike the safety, actually, but you might consider getting a 'current' one and dealing with the safety via one of the many methods on other threads on this forum... Might be cheaper and easier to find.

[Old Ironsights]

I don't want it for myself... I actually don't care for the Square Bolt Marlins.

It's a Blonde/Redhead thing.

It's more of "I want to give it a good home, not let it be a closet queen".

But I'd like to let him know what it's worth in real terms to someone (like here) who really appreciates Marlin 94s.

[Buffboy]

I missed out on a mint one a few years back for $300 because I'd just bought a Win94 in 44mag a week before and was a little pinched for cash. It depends a lot on region, and how fast you want it to move(as a seller) so now, around here(not a good market for these), a nice pre-safety would run about $400 on the top end for price. If the guy is actually trying to sell it, realistically, for any kind of speed in sale, they usually have to mark down to that $350 range. They go down fast to $300 if they are below 90% but almost never drop below that much. The odd thing is: around here they are all over 90% because most are safe queens. They aren't in much demand. Around here, the 357s go smokin out the doors used for less than $400 and sell quite well, new. The 45s sell better too.

[Mokwaw]

I seen this rifle, and I seen OI do what he said he did with it. I think $400 would probably be a fair price. And if he decides to part with it to you, keep me in mind, I would like to have one to replace the one sold a few years ago.

[Modoc ED]

The Owner is an 80% Quad and can't use it at all... but he doesn't want to part with it. Oh well. maybe someday.

Sometimes, when people have had a serious injury and are handicapped as a result, they hang onto things from the past hoping against hope that one day they will be cured and will be able to use whatever it is again. Your friend may fall into that category -- hoping he will be able to use the rifle again. Do him a favor. Use his rifle and enjoy the fact that he lets you use it but don't nag him about selling it. It may be one of his bridges to his past life.

A much less serious example of what I'm saying is that I used to be slim-and-trim. Not so anymore but I still have some of my waist size 38 jeans thinking that one day, I'll be able to diet myself back into them from my now current waist size 48 jeans.

[nemhed]

On a similar train of thought, maybe, the owner would like to see someone hunt with it and see the results. Better yet, see some young person use it on their first hunt! In reality, who cares who owns it, it will outlive all of us, but the memories made with it,... those are priceless. With Indiana DNR encouraging the youth hunting and fishing, I'm really encouraging this!

[AJMD429]

Sometimes, when people have had a serious injury and are handicapped as a result, they hang onto things from the past hoping against hope that one day they will be cured and will be able to use whatever it is again. Your friend may fall into that category -- hoping he will be able to use the rifle again. Do him a favor. Use his rifle and enjoy the fact that he lets you use it but don't nag him about selling it. It may be one of his bridges to his past life.

On a similar train of thought, maybe, the owner would like to see someone hunt with it and see the results. Better yet, see some young person use it on their first hunt! In reality, who cares who owns it, it will outlive all of us, but the memories made with it,... those are priceless. With Indiana DNR encouraging the youth hunting and fishing, I'm really encouraging this!

+1,000 on both those comments. I know people who've been on both sides of those equations.

[Old Ironsights]

On a similar train of thought, maybe, the owner would like to see someone hunt with it and see the results.

Well, I'll have to wait for next year for that... and my Rossi is SO much more smooth... (pout)

Better yet, see some young person use it on their first hunt! In reality, who cares who owns it, it will outlive all of us, but the memories made with it,... those are priceless. With Indiana DNR encouraging the youth hunting and fishing, I'm really encouraging this!

Tougher, since their "kid" is at Uni and is not particularly into guns...

AFAIK he's never hunted. He aquired the rifle from his stoner brother rather than see it sold to another ne'r do well...