Barrels on Marlin Cowboys: Badger or Marlin?

[C. Cash]

Does anyone know if Marlin makes their own barrels for the Cowboy rifles? I had heard rumor sometime ago that at least some of the octagon barrels on the Cowboy rifles were made by Badger. Any truth to this? Thanks in advance.

[J Miller]

I'd like to know too. How does one tell? Is there certain markings?
If so I'll look mine over to see what's what.

Joe

[C. Cash]

Thanks Joe. I am curious as I would prefer the Badger barrel and the hard 4140 chrome moly steel. Just me and probably doesn't matter to most.

[J Miller]

C.Cash,

As soon as someone tells us how to tell, I'll give mine the once over. All I know about it right now, is it's an octagon barrel with a big hole down the middle .

Joe

[Rusty]

I thought it was the early ones that had the badger barrel. Later ones have barrels made by Marlin.

[1886]

A call to Badger is in order. I have been told by one whom I trust emphatically that many of the CB .38-55, .30-30, and the early .45-70 wear Badger barrels. I do not know if the .45-70 models still do or if any other CB chambering wears a Badger barrel. The CB models do tend to be more pricey than their brethren, a possible clue? Is Marlin set up to produce octagon barrels? 1886.

[C. Cash]

I will email Badger barrels and see if I get a response. Marlin doesn't have an email contact on their website. I am beginning to suspect not for the vast majority of CB rifles....either that or it's the best kept secret out there. I'll post more info as I get it. Thanks fellas!

[Old Savage]

I would like to know about the Cowboy Limited 357.

[Modoc ED]

There is a Marlin employee (Management Level I think) over at the Marlin Owners Forum and when this topic was brought up several months ago, he said that all of the barrels had been made by Marlin. He said Badger had made no barrels for any Marlin rifles.

[1886]

Call Badger. It will be confirmed. 1886.

[1886]

Upon further investigation it would seen that only the .38-55 CB rifles wore the Badger as a regular production item. Marlin purchased many other calibers as prototypes, in approx. 100 production increments. So it would seem to be true that many other Cowboy calibers also wear Badgers. 1886.

[C. Cash]

1886...thank you for the info on that. I apologize that I haven't gotten back on this.... I am not able to access Badgers email on my computer without going into "unprotected mode" so kind of let it go. Again....thank you for the info on this and will pass on whatever else I can find out as well. I like the idea of getting a Marlin Cowboy as it would serve alot of roles: companion to my Rugers, plinker for my wife and sons, Deer rifle for when my middle son gets older and with the 10+1 in the rifle it would be a nice rifle to get out of a bad social situation, two legged or four. I am thinking about going this route instead of an AR or Mini.

[J Miller]

But ............ how does one tell the difference? Marlin or Badger?

Joe

[1886]

I do not know Joe. 1886.

[Modoc ED]

I finally remembered who the fellow is that works for Marlin who posts over at Marlin Owners. He goes by the moniker "Tomray" over there. He is on their Management side. Anyway, I sent him an e-mail about "Badger Barrels on Cowboy Rifles (CB) and this is what he replied to me.

"Hi Ed,
Sure, I recall seeing your "Modoc ED" posts on the site.
Badger barrels?................I'm familiar with them, they're great barrels. I can't answer your question authoratively, because I really don't know.
I joined Marlin in 2002, AFTER the CB's were introduced. Marlin may have used some Badger barrels on the very first lot of CB's, but I really don't know.
Since 2002 to present, we manufacture the CB barrels "In House", as we do all the other various barrels for our other models.
I'll ask around with a few guys that were there then........there arn't many of those guys left!..........If I get some info, I'll forward it to you.



Safe Shooting,
Tom"

So, that tells us that no Badger barrels have been installed on Cowboy Rifles from 2002 to present day.

Should he e-mail me with additional information, I will share it with all of you. Hope this helps.

[C. Cash]

Thank you for passing that on Ed. So, it looks like perhaps only some of the first ones, and nothing since 2002. Many thanks!

[Old Savage]

Aren't many guys left that were there before 2002?

[J Miller]

Aren't many guys left that were there before 2002?

Yeah, I saw that too. Must be a heck of a turnover there. That would explain the on again off again QC .

Well, since there were no Badger barrels made since '02, I guess I don't have to look for any makers marks.

Joe

[Modoc ED]

Aren't many guys left that were there before 2002?

Old Savage and Joe Miller -

I think what he meant was that there aren't many guys there since the very first Marlin Cowboy Rifles came off the line. Don't know when that was. What year did the first Marlin Cowboy Rifle roll off the line?

Anyway, it was decent of him to take the time to answer me.

[Modoc ED]

But ............ how does one tell the difference? Marlin or Badger?

Joe

Look up the "Badger Proof Mark" Joe. All barrels must be proof marked by the maker. If the barrel has the "Badger Proof Mark" then it was made by Badger. In that case, it would or should also have the Marlin Proof Mark on it too.

[chg]

A friend of mine was building a .38-55 on an old Model 36 action and wanted to use a Badger barrel. I can remember the date - it was labor day weekend 1998. We were fishing on the Blackfeet Reservation and made a stop in Polson, Mt to look at some wood for the stock. Badger did not manufacture that bore until a year or so later. Shortly after he completed his rifle, with a Badger barrel, Marlin came out with the .38-55 in the Cowboy rifle. chg