My first vintage levergun of 2011 (photo)

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 6:27 pm

I have been collecting old Winchesters for years, but was afraid to start collecting Marlins since Winchesters kept me flat broke already. Then I borrowed a couple fine old Marlins from a local Marlin collector to make a calendar and couldn't resist any longer. Here is a photo of my first acquisition. It is a Marlin Model 93, 30-30 made in late 1922 or early 1923. The rifle has a 26" tapered octagon barrel. I think the original sights were replaced with a Marbles rear sight and a Marbles No. 5 front sight. Other than that, the rifle appears to be completely original and almost unused, with strong case colors on the receiver and at least 95% blue on the barrel and mag tube. The bore is immaculate, even immediately forward of the chamber. Next week I plan to take it over to the range and see how it shoots. Here's a photo ....

JB · Post by JB » Wed Mar 02, 2011 6:35 pm

That sure is a nice one. I sold off most of my Winchesters and now collect Marlins. The Winchesters had just gotten too darn expensive.

Dave B · Post by **Dave B** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 6:36 pm

Very Nice!!!

Dave B

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:02 pm

That`s a beauty, very nice indeed.

gak · Post by **gak** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:09 pm

Nice gun! Saw a neat old-but-clean 93 SRC .30-30--ca early 1900s--in a local gun store last year, and had to do a double take. Other than the tell-tale Marlin lever and its pivot--which I didn't see at first--dead ringer for an old Win carbine, right down to carbine buttstock, barrel bands, ladder sight and the ring. Don't recall the price but it "wasn't bad." Neat gun; I had not seen an older 93 carbine before. Also have been mostly a Win fan, but shoulda got it. I see the rifles around every now and then, but haven't seen any other early carbines.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:18 pm

Kirk,

Absolutely lovely example! MM93'll be using these:

FWiedner · Post by **FWiedner** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:25 pm

That is a lovely rifle.

Very nice lines.

BigSky56 · Post by **BigSky56** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:30 pm

Nice gun Kirk those 93's are classy. danny

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:41 pm

Very very nice. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to the range report. Will this be your deer rifle this year?

Birdman · Post by **Birdman** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:10 pm

WOW, That's a dandy!!!!!!

jdad · Post by **jdad** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:20 pm

Nice Rifle! If there is a "letter" prefix it is about the date you say it is.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:22 pm

Never thought I'd see the day when Kirk got a Marlin. Of course, who could blame him with the one he got! looking forward to the range report too. Welcome to the larger world of leverguns!

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 9:06 pm

Nice score, Kirk. Beautiful looking rifle. I'm not much of a Marlin fan, but I'm rethinking that.

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 9:21 pm

Very handsome rifle....love the case coloring and the "slim" forearm....
I wish marlin would make them like that now...

TMair · Post by **TMair** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 9:33 pm

I am a Winchester fan, but, at the risk of sounding like a girlyman when I scrolled down to the photo it took my breath away...for a second.
Good for you!
Terry

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 9:43 pm

jdad wrote:Nice Rifle! If there is a "letter" prefix it is about the date you say it is.

There is no letter prefix. The serial number is 1385 stamped under the bottom front of the receiver. I was told that put it around 1922 or 1923.

Buffboy · Post by **Buffboy** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 9:56 pm

Sweet looking rifle. I've got a real sweet spot for 1893s since a rifle very much like your new toy was the first centerfire I ever shot(quite a bit older and more worn than that beautiful example, even then). I'm afraid that has jaded me somewhat in that while I've owned several Winchesters, they seemed to always get sold or traded. I've never yet parted with a Marlin lever action in all my years of trading. I think you'll like how it shoots.

Rube Burrows · Post by **Rube Burrows** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 10:14 pm

Very pretty rifle. Like you, I have always loved the Winchesters but just recently started paying more attention to the Marlin rifles and picked up a Marlin 1889 the other day. I love it and will not keep my eyes open for both....Winchester and Marlin.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 10:41 pm

Thanks for sharing the beautiful photo of a classic Marlin.

The first levergun I ever saw or handled was a Marlin 1889 in .32-20, so the fine and classic lines of the Marlin have appealed to me ever since.

Fortunately, I still have great grandfather's gun...

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 10:56 pm

Kirk, that is a beautiful Rifleman,s rifle. The name does not matter when they have that long slender graceful look.

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:01 am

Kirk, that is absolutely beautiful

PaperPatch · Post by **PaperPatch** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 8:39 am

Kirk, you have some of the most wonderful looking toys!

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 8:43 am

That is a gorgeous rifle all the way around!

rangerider7 · Post by **rangerider7** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:16 am

I like the look of Marlins and yours is very nice. I have had bad luck with the Marlins I owned. One was a TD "93" and you couldn't keep it tight. They don't have as good adjustment feature as Winchester does IMHO. I also had a "94" 25-20 and the bullets starting tumbling after awhile. The rifling was not to great when I got it. I liked the feel of both of them.

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 2:22 pm

When I see a post by Kirk I just know it's gonna be good

Congrats Kirk, smart looking rifle.

Is that the model used in the James Stewart film where upon he is a bounty hunter I think and the bad guy gets away with a Marlin and try's to ambush Stewart by a fast river????

Nath.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 2:54 pm

Nath, I don't know. I've not seen the movie, but it sounds like one I might want to see. In a few weeks, I have another vintage Marlin arriving, an original Model 94 SRC in 38-40 (now THERE is a fox gun for you!)

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 2:59 pm

KirkD wrote:Nath, I don't know. I've not seen the movie, but it sounds like one I might want to see. In a few weeks, I have another vintage Marlin arriving, an original Model 94 SRC in 38-40 (now THERE is a fox gun for you!)

You got some range time to get penciled in Kirk

You must of seen the film, I can't remember the name of the film.

I think the bad guy's girl takes off,,, Stewart goes after her and the bad guy kills Stewarts old friend guarding the bad guy or something like that,,,,, someone here knows it.

Anyway,,,,

N.

.45colt · Post by **.45colt** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 3:37 pm

Very nice Kirk,but it doesn't hold a candle to the 1895 45-70 Takedown (May) from Your calander this year.

.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 3:43 pm

.45colt wrote:Very nice Kirk,but it doesn't hold a candle to the 1895 45-70 Takedown (May) from Your calander this year. .

That 1895 is what convinced me that I need to get a few Marlins. Unfortunately, 1895's like the one in my calendar are pretty tough to come by.

Leverdude · Post by **Leverdude** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:31 pm

Very nice Kirk! Is there a link here or something where I could get a 2011 calender of yours?

Huntermb · Post by **Huntermb** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 8:08 pm

Very nice rifle Kirk, that is a really sweet old gal.

Post by **Old Savage** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 8:47 pm

Great find Kirk, interested to hear how that rifle shoots.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 10:33 pm

Leverdude wrote:Very nice Kirk! Is there a link here or something where I could get a 2011 calender of yours?

You can get one here http://www.cafepress.com/KirkD

Hope you like it!

Levergun · Post by **Levergun** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:09 am

Another nice rifle. replaced sights or not, that looks fine. Now the big question, how far did it set you back?

TMair · Post by **TMair** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 2:44 pm

Nath wrote:
KirkD wrote:Nath, I don't know. I've not seen the movie, but it sounds like one I might want to see. In a few weeks, I have another vintage Marlin arriving, an original Model 94 SRC in 38-40 (now THERE is a fox gun for you!)
You got some range time to get penciled in Kirk

You must of seen the film, I can't remember the name of the film.

I think the bad guy's girl takes off,,, Stewart goes after her and the bad guy kills Stewarts old friend guarding the bad guy or something like that,,,,, someone here knows it.

Anyway,,,,

N.

I know this is not the movie that you where talking about...but I went down to help my mother with a couple of things and she had the TV on ThisTV and the movie was "The hills run red" at least one guy was using a Marlin, first time I've ever noticed a Marlin in an old western.
Terry

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 3:17 pm

I think the film is called "The naked spur".

N

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 8:26 pm

Levergun wrote:Another nice rifle. replaced sights or not, that looks fine. Now the big question, how far did it set you back?

Quite a bit less. If you like old lever guns, you certainly get more condition for your dollar with an old Marlin. I am surprised that a lot more people don't collect old Marlins.

Levergun · Post by **Levergun** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 9:15 pm

KirkD wrote:
Levergun wrote:Another nice rifle. replaced sights or not, that looks fine. Now the big question, how far did it set you back?
Quite a bit less. If you like old lever guns, you certainly get more condition for your dollar with an old Marlin. I am surprised that a lot more people don't collect old Marlins.

I agree, I think alot of it comes from movies. Until I got my first Marlin I have no idea how cool they really are.

No that Remington owns Marlin, I am hearing horror stories that I hope they get ironed out.

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 9:21 pm

Just lovely!

Oly

3leggedturtle · Post by **3leggedturtle** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 8:42 am

That is a great looking rifle!!!! What is the difference between the M93 and M36?

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 9:40 am

3leggedturtle wrote:That is a great looking rifle!!!! What is the difference between the M93 and M36?

I think the 36 is a later version of the 93. The 93 is the same as the the 1893 but around 1905 the dropped the '18' and just called it the Model 93. Mine was made in 1922.

Levergun · Post by **Levergun** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 11:41 am

Mine was made in 1894 and it does not say anything on it as far as model. It has "Special Smokeless Steel" carved on the barrel and in front of the rear site is has the patent dates. The top of the reveive simpley says Marlin Firearms.

It is still a good shooter!

okdee · Post by **okdee** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 9:00 am

That is a keeper in our family!

Cheers,
Oklahoma Dee