Marlin: American craftsmen still proudly sh!t. Update post 39 - thanks Wanstalls!

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flashman2

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I really have no one but myself to blame, but I just picked up an 1894 CB. Yes, I'm well aware of the issues but was under the mistaken impression they'd been addressed.

They haven't.

This hunk of crap suffers from the well known "Marlin jam" aka letting in two cartridges at once, locking things up and necessitating disassembly. It happens 100% of the time on the third round out of the magazine.

As a bonus, the locking block also fails to drop down and gets caught by the breech block about 20% of the time, worse if you cycle it fast. It fixes itself by releasing pressure on the lever, but it's GD annoying to slam your fingers into an unmoving lever every five rounds.

Yes, all the screws are tight. No, the scope mount blanking screws aren't in too far. Yes, it's cleaned and lubed. It's just a steaming hunk of sh!t, that's the main issue.

Not looking for sympathy or advice, just posting as a PSA in case anyone else was thinking about being as dumb as I was and buying a current production '94.

I'm especially not looking for any advice on how to fix things; I certainly don't mind tweaking new guns to get them working optimally, (ie lock tuning or upgrading components) but I refuse to undertake fixes to get the thing to work at all. It's going back, and I guess I have a year or two fighting with Gravel Agency over it to look forward to.
 
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I have been looking for a marlin for the last couple of years. Just this week I looked at several Marlin 336w, XLR's, GBL's and 1895's. They still look like crap finish wise and why they bother still "checkering" the stock is beyond me.

I would never pay $800 to a grand for the product they are producing when for and extra hundred you can get a browning or winchester with excellent fit and finish. It is a real shame because I love the Marlin rifle platform and really regret selling my older ones that were obviously put together with care. Pre rem had proper fitting wood, good bluing and actual checkering. It's the little details that count.

It bothers me that Remington can do great fit and finish on their own brand rifles I have seen on the shelf for less cash but cannot be bothered to get their crap together and restore some pride in a now tarnished brand.
 
aric84 said:
I have been looking for a marlin for the last couple of years. Just this week I looked at several Marlin 336w, XLR's, GBL's and 1895's. They still look like crap finish wise and why they bother still "checkering" the stock is beyond me.

I would never pay $800 to a grand for the product they are producing when for and extra hundred you can get a browning or winchester with excellent fit and finish. It is a real shame because I love the Marlin rifle platform and really regret selling my older ones that were obviously put together with care. Pre rem had proper fitting wood, good bluing and actual checkering. It's the little details that count.
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Well, that's another thing actually... The 94CB on Marlin and the retailer's site show it without "checkering" but the one I got had it. I wish now I'd returned it for that before I used the damn thing. Oh well.

I will say that the finish and wood fit is acceptable. No issues there. It's just that it doesn't work.

I specifically wanted a .44 Mag, and I've never been a fan of the '92 so that ruled out Winchester. Rossi was right out of course, and I don't like the looks of the Henry, just my personal preference. So that kinda narrowed it down unfortunately. Guess I'm going to have to get over myself and go with a Win 92.
 
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There is no comparing the Marlin 94's and the newer Winchester 92's. The Miroku Winchesters are pretty much perfect out of the box as long as you can look past the safeties they added. I never had a problem with the rebounding hammer since it is an automatic half #### and actually grew to like the tang safety.
 
flashman2 said:
Well, that's another thing actually... The 94CB on Marlin and the retailer's site show it without "checkering" but the one I got had it. I wish now I'd returned it for that before I used the damn thing. Oh well.

I will say that the finish and wood fit is acceptable. No issues there. It's just that it doesn't work.

I specifically wanted a .44 Mag, and I've never been a fan of the '92 so that ruled out Winchester. Rossi was right out of course, and I don't like the looks of the Henry, just my personal preference. So that kinda narrowed it down unfortunately. Guess I'm going to have to get over myself and go with a Win 92.
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why not look for an older marlin?
 
Bummer. Examples of Marlin still producing crap quality rifles continue. It was on a leap of faith that I went ahead and placed an online order for a new 1895 GBL this past summer. Lucked out that my Marlin functions just fine and has good fit and finish.
 
I don’t know about the 1894’s but two letters left side of barrel on a Remlin 1895 will indicate month and year of manufacture.
You might have an older Remlin.
 
Sad to hear, these kind of stories has stopped me getting a Marlin in the past. That was years ago and it seems things didn't change.
 
Slamfire said:
Bummer. Examples of Marlin still producing crap quality rifles continue. It was on a leap of faith that I went ahead and placed an online order for a new 1895 GBL this past summer. Lucked out that my Marlin functions just fine and has good fit and finish.
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I specifically ordered it from Cabela's because of their 30 day exchange policy on defective firearms - just in case.
 
aric84 said:
There is no comparing the Marlin 94's and the newer Winchester 92's. The Miroku Winchesters are pretty much perfect out of the box as long as you can look past the safeties they added. I never had a problem with the rebounding hammer since it is an automatic half #### and actually grew to like the tang safety.
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I have no doubt the quality is excellent, I just don't like the 92. Though I'm sure I'd like a 92 better than a 94 that doesn't work. No doubt about Miroku quality though, I have a few guns (all Citoris) by them and they're all uniformly excellent.
 
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Slamfire said:
Bummer. Examples of Marlin still producing crap quality rifles continue. It was on a leap of faith that I went ahead and placed an online order for a new 1895 GBL this past summer. Lucked out that my Marlin functions just fine and has good fit and finish.
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I bought a 336Y a few years ago that was fine. That kind of suckered me in too. I understand the 94s are another matter and Remlin has had more issues getting them sorted.
 
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Slamfire said:
Bummer. Examples of Marlin still producing crap quality rifles continue. It was on a leap of faith that I went ahead and placed an online order for a new 1895 GBL this past summer. Lucked out that my Marlin functions just fine and has good fit and finish.
Click to expand...

Slamfire said:
I specifically ordered it from Cabela's because of their 30 day exchange policy on defective firearms - just in case.
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flashman2 said:
Smart. As smart as I wish I'd been.
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Plus they had it on sale, and with the $100 rebate offer I got it for $675 delivered. :d
 
So, wanna trade for a lightly used, never hunted '94? I'll even throw in some Lyman 535 grain Postells for free.
 
I've maybe misunderstood your last post, but if your trying to use 535 gr anything in a Marlin 94 it will jam!
 
I was wanting a Marlin 1895 CB for quite a while but hesitated 'cause of the Remlin problems. Then Dante had a deal I couldn't refuse. Hundred bucks off and no tax, so I bought one sight unseen.
I couldn't be happier with the fit, finish, and functioning. A tad heavy on the trigger pull, however. But I'm happy, happy, happy!:d
 
450yukon said:
I've maybe misunderstood your last post, but if your trying to use 535 gr anything in a Marlin 94 it will jam!
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It's in reference to another thread about .45-70 bullets.

I suppose you're right, but my 94 jams with even 240 grain, so I guess I'll never know.
 
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