Marlin 1897

[Rimfire McNutjob]

I ran into an 1897 on a used gun rack today. Serial number was 1555XX and it was marked for sale $1300.

The rifle has a straight grip and what looks to be about a 24" octagonal barrel. There was very little finish left on the barrel with just a bit on the bottom where it's shielded by the magazine tube. There really wasn't any pitting nor gouges on the barrel or mag tube though ... just a light patina and all of the markings were pretty sharp. There appeard to be no obvious caliber markings on the barrel.

The receiver seems to have long ago lost it's case coloring. The receiver had a slightly rounded top and was not drilled and tapped for the Hepburn sight. It was marked "Marlin Safety". The recevier had no pitting or gouges anywhere. The takedown thumbscrew had no slot cut in it.

The hammer had a bit of case coloring left ...maybe 30%. The lever was tie-wrapped in place so I couldn't operate the action. The buttplate was cracked and several pieces were missing. Basically, there were two pieces of plastic still being held on by the screws but that's about it. Maybe 70% of the total buttplate was there. The wood was pretty nice for being at least 100 years old. It was lighter and had good grain but was a bit darkened wherever it butted up against any of the metal. There seemed to be no real cracks or repairs to it and it looked typical for what I've seen on 1897's before.

The rifle had the flip globe up front (Beeches perhaps?) but the rounded surrounding piece was apparently smacked into a left leaning oblong shape. The rear barrel sight was a flip type with a large V notch on one side ... and I mean with pretty unusually large wings on it. The other part of the flip was short and perfectly flat with a small colored diamond shape in the center. The flip action was a bit loose ... but I imagine the pin has been in there for 100+ years and I should probably cut it some slack. There was also a tang sight that appeared to by a Lyman but had a broken stem and was therefore missing the apperature. The front sight and rear barrel sight were badly out of alignment having been drifted far to the left in the dovetails.

As the lever was tie wrapped, I couldn't operate the action or check the rifling. This also prevented me from telling if the lever was loose or drooped at all.

Anyway, it looks like a neat fixer-upper. But I don't have any Marlin references and I'm trying to figure out what my upper limit should be on an offer for this rifle. I was thinking I shouldn't go past about $500. I know it's got some nice sight options, but they're also beat up and broken. I'm also not sure about the year of manufacture ... seems early but I'm not positive because of the plastic buttplate rather than metal. It may not technically be plastic but it's certainly the late 19th century equivalent and it's definitely beyond repair and will require a reproduction.

Before I make an offer, I realize I probably should check the action ... maybe make sure it feeds a couple of rounds first and check that the lever is tight to the lower tang on closure.

Any thoughts? Perhaps see if they'll let it go for $300? Pretty far from $1300 though.

[Lefty Dude]

I just bought one in the last few Months, paid $350.00. This one is about 75-80%, all original TD model and made in 1905. I have been looking for one for years, just could not pay the big bucks.Had lost interest till this one appeared out of no where.

For the condition you described, $1300.00 is way out of line. You need to know if it has any issues, like a broken bolt or other internals. Mine was test fired before I made the final nod. Mine is coming from Michigan, I should have it next Month when my Friend arrives for the nice Arizona weather.

If you can get it for $300.00 - $400.00, that would be a good deal.

Good luck

[RIHMFIRE]

Which shop were you in?
I think that guy took a little too much cough medicine...
or something...

[jdad]

Antique, 1st year of manufacture, but in the condition you describe I would be hard pressed to pay more than $450-$500 IF it had a shootable bore and the mag tube still functioned. Rear sight is probably a Lyman #4 or #6, busted tang sight is parts unless you wanted to hunt ebay and pay $25-$50 for a stem, and the front sight could be folded down and you could use the post.

For $1300 you could buy a really mint 1897.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

Antique, 1st year of manufacture ...

Would that even require a 4473? I suppose it's probably on their FFL's books so they may still have to do a 4473.

[marlinman93]

Regardless of whether it's on their books or not, it wont need an FFL, unless you're in a state that has weird rules. If they want one there's probably no talking them out of it though.
The gun sure isn't worth more than $500, and even then I'd deduct the cost of the buttplate. There's a lot of them selling on Gunbroker for much less than $1300 in better or equal shape.-Vall