Marlin,bullseye on stock?

"...Just a trademark..." Yep. Just like Colt's Rampant horse. Seems to me the bullseye can help date a Marlin though. Wasn't on all of 'em. Don't remember where I saw that, of course.
 
I believe that Marlin traditionally puts the bullseye on its walnut stocked models.
 
When I was a inexperienced newby, I bought a used Marlin and I thought that the Bullseye was a marking for were you put a screw for a sling swivel. Good think I checked out to make sure before I screwed into the bullseye......lol.
 
mikeystew said:
The bullseye was only put on marlins higher end models with walnut stocks. The bullseye is the symbol of a quality firearm!
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I'm going to be snarky and say "was a symbol of a quality firearm". I still love my older Marlins and do agree that there was a time when the bullseye meant quality --- and it hopefully will against once Remington irons out their quality issues.

Although it was not Marlin's intent, the bullseye does serve a useful purpose for people who drill it out for a sling stud. Drilled out bullseyes are a lot easier to repair than trying to patch holes in the wood.
 
I couldn't agree more stickhunter. However I believe marlin no longer puts bullseyes in the stocks on any of their new guns... Hence; bullseye=quality. No bullseye=leave it on the rack IMHO.

Personally, I'm a marlin guy... my favorite guns are marlins. But I won't buy a marlington levergun ever. QC at the Ilion plant stinks!
 
From the Marlin website FAQ's:

12. What is the small round black and white dot on the bottom of my Marlin stock?

This is the Marlin "Bullseye". This trademark has been used since 1922 on all Marlin walnut buttstocks. Please note that this is not a suitable place to install a swivel for you firearm. Swivels should be mounted approximately 2 inches from the toe of the butt.
 
mikeystew said:
I couldn't agree more stickhunter. However I believe marlin no longer puts bullseyes in the stocks on any of their new guns... Hence; bullseye=quality. No bullseye=leave it on the rack IMHO.

Personally, I'm a marlin guy... my favorite guns are marlins. But I won't buy a marlington levergun ever. QC at the Ilion plant stinks!
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What lever would you recommend?
 
I understand that at some point Marlin discontinued the bullseye.
A young man at the range today had a 39a and it appears to me older but my memory id not recall the breaks in serial numbers to predict year of manufacture.
 
An old time collector told me the 'bullseye' was put on the stock so that when the customer is looking at a rack of lever-actions he can tell immediately which are Marlins. It made sense to me. Since Winchester went belly up they don't need 'em anymore.
 
Dench said:
What lever would you recommend?
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I prefer older, pre-1980's marlins, and my favorites are early 1950's models. For example, until I believe the mid eighties there was one man responsible for assembling the 39a's by hand, and he held that job for over 40 years. Marlin at one time was IMHO the leader in craftsmanship and quality control, and that is reflected in their older guns... With bullseyes.

I've said it before... They just don't make em like they used to!
 
They sure don't make them like they used to. I'm always amazed at guys at gun shows buying new rifles when there is a table full of much superior used rifles at 60% of the cost. Personally I will take a rifle or shotgun made from 1900 to 1960 any day of the week over the new stuff. In those days labour costs for a really skilled pair of hands was a fraction of what it is now and it shows in everything from inletting to polish of steel parts.
 
Mike Webb said:
They sure don't make them like they used to. I'm always amazed at guys at gun shows buying new rifles when there is a table full of much superior used rifles at 60% of the cost. Personally I will take a rifle or shotgun made from 1900 to 1960 any day of the week over the new stuff. In those days labour costs for a really skilled pair of hands was a fraction of what it is now and it shows in everything from inletting to polish of steel parts.
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My thoughts exactly.
In my safe is a Marlin 39A Golden Mountie from the 1970s. Anyone who doubts the quality difference between old and new, should compare this rifle with a new Marlin 39.
 
Mike Webb said:
They sure don't make them like they used to. I'm always amazed at guys at gun shows buying new rifles when there is a table full of much superior used rifles at 60% of the cost. Personally I will take a rifle or shotgun made from 1900 to 1960 any day of the week over the new stuff. In those days labour costs for a really skilled pair of hands was a fraction of what it is now and it shows in everything from inletting to polish of steel parts.
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I agree 100% Mike. I'm actually surprised that older Marlins don't sell at a premium over newer rifles (at least for currently catalogued rifles)! That's not to say that some of the newer Marlins aren't excellent, but there certainly are some out there that lack the fit and finish of the older rifles. I've also found universally that the pre-70's era Marlins all have great triggers, most likely because they've been nicely worn in. Since Marlins are proverbial hunting rifles, the other great thing about the older Marlins is that they've already earned their honest wear so no need to pussy foot trying to keep the finish pristine.
 
My first Marlin 39A Golden was purchased in 1958, and when I looked at the list of serial numbers on Rimfire Central, I recall it was an "s". I traded it in 1987 as my interests changed - it wasn't suitable for .22 Silhouette. I actually ordered a Mountie but SIR substituted. My current 39a is a Mountie with an AC serial number from 1967. While very accurate, someone would have to come up with big coin or pry it from me with something I want more . . . really more. It is a great little gopher gun but my address would suggest limited usage . . .
 
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