sights on old marlin

[nwcatman]

1950 marlin 336 35 rem, bought from bill here on PK. love the gun, fun to shoot but the buckhorn rear sight and my eye are fighting each other. i'd like to put a skinner site on it, but will that decrease the value/collectibility? should i try to find a period correct sight? this has nothing to do with not wanting a skinner sight at all. i have 2 of em and love em.

[earlmck]

I'm sure my old Marlins would bring more dollars now than I paid for them. But those dollars are worth so much less now than they were back then that I know I didn't come close to keeping up with inflation. Put whatever sight you want on the good old babe and don't worry about it.

That thing is an enjoyable shooter -- not a wise investment.

[GunnyMack]

Just keep the original buckhorn and if you sell it the site goes with the gun.
In the meantime get the Skinner and shoot it!

[Bill in Oregon]

John, I am taking a lesson from Veeman and Doc AJ and have bought a Marble's Bullseye rear sight to try on the Uberti 1873. Will report when I get to shoot it. The Skinner is a much more rugged sight of course!

[marlinman93]

Just keep the original buckhorn and if you sell it the site goes with the gun.
In the meantime get the Skinner and shoot it!

Yes, Just keep the original sight and elevator taped together and write on the tape what they fit. I've got lots of sights in ziplock baggies with notes in the bag to tell anyone what they fit if I'm not around to tell them.

[Lastmohecken]

Technically, about anything you do to an old rifle, lowers the value as a collectible, but personally, I don't let it bother me much if I plan on using the gun. I just put a barrel mounted Skinner sight on a pre-64 Winchester model 94, yesterday. But it's not pristine, anyway, and not a really old gun, made in 1958, but it's my farm rifle, that I keep in a saddle scabbard on my side by side and tractor. I have missed too may armadillo's on the first shot, over a period of time, not to mention coyotes and wild dogs, and I didn't want to switch to a different gun with a scope on it or something. That rifle, has just got to out last me, which shouldn't be much of a problem, and then it someone else's problem if the collector value is diminished a little bit more.

[JimT]

I put a Skinner sight on our JM Marlin 1894 .44. It's a family gun.

[nwcatman]

John, I am taking a lesson from Veeman and Doc AJ and have bought a Marble's Bullseye rear sight to try on the Uberti 1873. Will report when I get to shoot it. The Skinner is a much more rugged sight of course!

waiting to hear back bill

[marlinman93]

Technically, about anything you do to an old rifle, lowers the value as a collectible, but personally, I don't let it bother me much if I plan on using the gun. I just put a barrel mounted Skinner sight on a pre-64 Winchester model 94, yesterday. But it's not pristine, anyway, and not a really old gun, made in 1958, but it's my farm rifle, that I keep in a saddle scabbard on my side by side and tractor. I have missed too may armadillo's on the first shot, over a period of time, not to mention coyotes and wild dogs, and I didn't want to switch to a different gun with a scope on it or something. That rifle, has just got to out last me, which shouldn't be much of a problem, and then it someone else's problem if the collector value is diminished a little bit more.

Changes that are easily reversed have zero affect on the gun's value. Permanent changes have a great affect on values!

[Lastmohecken]

Technically, about anything you do to an old rifle, lowers the value as a collectible, but personally, I don't let it bother me much if I plan on using the gun. I just put a barrel mounted Skinner sight on a pre-64 Winchester model 94, yesterday. But it's not pristine, anyway, and not a really old gun, made in 1958, but it's my farm rifle, that I keep in a saddle scabbard on my side by side and tractor. I have missed too may armadillo's on the first shot, over a period of time, not to mention coyotes and wild dogs, and I didn't want to switch to a different gun with a scope on it or something. That rifle, has just got to out last me, which shouldn't be much of a problem, and then it someone else's problem if the collector value is diminished a little bit more.

Changes that are easily reversed have zero affect on the gun's value. Permanent changes have a great affect on values!

I agree, as long as you can still find the original parts, which I always try to save, but that doesn't mean I can always still find them. Example would be, like on this gun that I put the Skinner dovetail barrel mounted sight on. If someone was buying this gun, but wanted the original sight, and I didn't still have it, an original pre-64 rear sight and elevator, if you can find one, is over a hundred dollars, I know, because I have bought a couple over the years. But for the reason you stated, I try not to permanently alter older classic guns, anymore, unless for some reason, I feel I just have to for my own use.

[marlinman93]

Technically, about anything you do to an old rifle, lowers the value as a collectible, but personally, I don't let it bother me much if I plan on using the gun. I just put a barrel mounted Skinner sight on a pre-64 Winchester model 94, yesterday. But it's not pristine, anyway, and not a really old gun, made in 1958, but it's my farm rifle, that I keep in a saddle scabbard on my side by side and tractor. I have missed too may armadillo's on the first shot, over a period of time, not to mention coyotes and wild dogs, and I didn't want to switch to a different gun with a scope on it or something. That rifle, has just got to out last me, which shouldn't be much of a problem, and then it someone else's problem if the collector value is diminished a little bit more.

Changes that are easily reversed have zero affect on the gun's value. Permanent changes have a great affect on values!

I agree, as long as you can still find the original parts, which I always try to save, but that doesn't mean I can always still find them. Example would be, like on this gun that I put the Skinner dovetail barrel mounted sight on. If someone was buying this gun, but wanted the original sight, and I didn't still have it, an original pre-64 rear sight and elevator, if you can find one, is over a hundred dollars, I know, because I have bought a couple over the years. But for the reason you stated, I try not to permanently alter older classic guns, anymore, unless for some reason, I feel I just have to for my own use.

I simply put the parts in a ziplock baggie with a note inside. They all go in a small storage cabinet where I keep various gun parts for repairs, or whatever. It sometimes takes a few minutes to open up various small bins, but I label the plastic bins as "sights" or whatever. I have one that's just Marlin Ballard parts, and another that's Rolling Block parts. Then the several misc. parts bins.

[big bear]

I have an old Marlin 36 "waffletop" in 35Remington. I found a Lyman"Micrometer Receiver with Disc" sight, box says for Marlin 93,94 and 36. Lyman 56 MB. Fit my rifle with no modificaton. Works great I got 3 shot 100yd 1.25" group with my reloads, 200gr Hornady RN Interlock bullet and the powder charge on the Levergun powder can. Velocity was close to that on powder can. I found that old sight on an internet gun stuff sales sight here in the wilds of Canada so I think one should not be too hard to find in U.S., like maybe on flea bay.The sight may be more expensive than you expect, mine cost me $275 U.S..

Cheers!

[Sarge]

1950 marlin 336 35 rem, bought from bill here on PK. love the gun, fun to shoot but the buckhorn rear sight and my eye are fighting each other. i'd like to put a skinner site on it, but will that decrease the value/collectibility? should i try to find a period correct sight? this has nothing to do with not wanting a skinner sight at all. i have 2 of em and love em.

I have a 1955 336 Texan which has its original flat-top rear sight. I find them much easier to use than buckhorns.

[nwcatman]

i need to proofread what i post! mine has the original flat top rear sight also. not a buckhorn.

[nwcatman]

I have an old Marlin 36 "waffletop" in 35Remington. I found a Lyman"Micrometer Receiver with Disc" sight, box says for Marlin 93,94 and 36. Lyman 56 MB. Fit my rifle with no modificaton. Works great I got 3 shot 100yd 1.25" group with my reloads, 200gr Hornady RN Interlock bullet and the powder charge on the Levergun powder can. Velocity was close to that on powder can. I found that old sight on an internet gun stuff sales sight here in the wilds of Canada so I think one should not be too hard to find in U.S., like maybe on flea bay.The sight may be more expensive than you expect, mine cost me $275 U.S..

Cheers!

gonna check those out. thanks