experiences with current day quality of Marlin 1895's ?

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laughingswordfish

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So after huge amounts of time spent reading up on guns I decided I wanted a nice Marlin 1895 in 45-70 with a 18.5" barrel (options being GBL, G, GS, or SBL). Once I came to that conclusion I started searching for specific models and started coming across scathing reviews about quality post Remington.

I have held a 1895 before and know I like the size and lever action but if I get one it would have to be an online order (a couple of the sponsors carry various models but don't think I've spotted an in stock 18.5" barrel yet) and now I'm feeling pretty reluctant to buy sight unseen when so many people are having problems.

Absolutely it is best to buy a gun you can pick up and examine - I plain can't right now... Has Marlin got its act together or is it still too much of a risk to buy a new Marlin sight unseen?

My other concern is being pretty new to gun ownership I don't think I could even spot half the problems if I did in fact pick one up in a store first. I was reading a forum post with about a dozen pictures of issues on a new 1895 and i'd have only recognized half of them as a problem (many of the problems are cosmetic but if you don't know there shouldn't be a gap here or a tool mark there it makes for a tough in person exam!)

Thanks for any experiences or advice; I want one of these but don't want to buy a gun that comes with grief.
 
I happened upon a killer deal for a 45-70 1895 SBL with only very minimal use, like you I read all the online reviews that said they were crap and was a little apprehensive about purchasing it. They were a couple of reviews that said Marlin had rectified their issues so I couldn't resist the deal and took a gamble and bought it.

A very detailed visual inspection turned up none of the flaws noted on the internet, cosmetically my personal feeling is that the 1895 SBL (stainless steel with grey laminate stock) is one of the best looking rifles I have ever seen. Everyone who saw it (even those that are not into guns) all thought it was a beautiful rifle.

It had a Redfield 2-7x with AccuRange reticle scope on it (fairly decent scope) so off to the range I went to shoot this beauty. At 100m shooting off a set of bags it grouped about 2" (the holes from the rounds were almost .5"!) which really surprised me for a lever action with a short barrel, and the action was quite smooth (although this was my first lever so I have nothing to compare it too).

In the end though, the ammo was just too expensive for me and I traded it for a pistol I had been looking for. Sometimes I really kick myself for letting it go.

Hope this helps.
 
I started a thread on here a while back detailing my recent buying experience on a new 1895 GS. I didn't find one worthy of owning until they opened the fourth (4th) box. I am very pleased with the rifle and the dealer in Orillia, but had I ordered one sight unseen for delivery by mail, I am pretty certain I would have been very disappointed indeed. Those who say it is wise to handle any newer Marlin prior to purchasing it are, well.....wise. :)
 
I received a brand new 1895 gs this weekend from my GF for my birthday present. It's very smooth and doesn't seem to have the issues that I've seen in the past couple years. Upon taking it apart for degreasing I noticed most of the action screws were not tightened properly. I hopefully will get to fire it soon but it chambers and ejects rounds perfectly. Nice rifle. I own a few pre rem marlins too (though they are all smaller cals then this)
 
I wouldn't take the chance on buying one 'sight unseen'. Last Fall I was looking for one and went into Elwood Epp's in Orillia. I had the money burning a hole in my pocket and wanted the SBL despite everything that I had read on the 'net. I made it clear that I wasn't 'kicking tires', and I'm not a young kid who would be unlikely to drop $1000 on a rifle (no offence intended, young fellas!). The guy behind the counter didn't really want to go get one for me (but that's another story...) because I told him that I had some concerns about what I had read and I wanted to check the gun first.

He brought back the SBL, and sure enough, the front sight was askew and towards the 'one o'clock' position on the barrel. The receiver also had obvious tooling marks on it. I asked if I could take another rifle, and that I would like to see that one as well. The answer was no, and I walked out of there without a rifle and they lost a sale.

I found a blued one a few weeks later here on the Exchange. Not my first choice, but a great little rifle that is fun to shoot and will take most North American Game.

Great looking rifle, but I think there are several out there in unopened boxes that Remington/Marlin Quality Control should be ashamed about.
 
I had the same concerns when I decided to purchase a 1895 45/70.
I got a local store to order one for me so I could inspect it before laying down the cash.
Upon Inspecting the rifle I was pleased. The wood was really nice the wood to metal fit was
excellent I could not find anything wrong with it so I brought it home with me.
The next day I made a trip to the range with the new rifle and a box of Hornady Lever Revolution ammo.

The rifle worked perfectly but was shooting a 6" inches to the right. I keep a small brass punch and a small
hammer in my range kit. I gently tapped the rear sight to the left I was surprised at how easily and far it
moved with a gentle tap. The rear sight was loose in the dovetail by a few thousands of an inch.

I started a thread here about it and how I fixed it: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?845498-1895-Marlin-rear-sight-dovetail

The rifle shoots good and is accurate with the factory sights and I am very happy with it . I plan on replacing the sights with Skinner Sights in the near future.

Terry
 
I bought one last fall and love it. It has made me get into reloading witch is real fun aswell.
 
laughingswordfish said:
So after huge amounts of time spent reading up on guns I decided I wanted a nice Marlin 1895 in 45-70 with a 18.5" barrel (options being GBL, G, GS, or SBL). Once I came to that conclusion I started searching for specific models and started coming across scathing reviews about quality post Remington.

I have held a 1895 before and know I like the size and lever action but if I get one it would have to be an online order (a couple of the sponsors carry various models but don't think I've spotted an in stock 18.5" barrel yet) and now I'm feeling pretty reluctant to buy sight unseen when so many people are having problems.

Absolutely it is best to buy a gun you can pick up and examine - I plain can't right now... Has Marlin got its act together or is it still too much of a risk to buy a new Marlin sight unseen?

My other concern is being pretty new to gun ownership I don't think I could even spot half the problems if I did in fact pick one up in a store first. I was reading a forum post with about a dozen pictures of issues on a new 1895 and i'd have only recognized half of them as a problem (many of the problems are cosmetic but if you don't know there shouldn't be a gap here or a tool mark there it makes for a tough in person exam!)

Thanks for any experiences or advice; I want one of these but don't want to buy a gun that comes with grief.
Click to expand...

Give Del Selin a call and see if he has one in stock.
Tell him your concerns and I am almost certain he will look after you.
Not too horribly far from you and worthy of the drive.
 
Not all the issues are Remlin problems. I bought a JM marked '07 blued guide gun off the EE this winter and the front sight holes were bored off center. Its not a big deal for me as the rest of the gun is very nice. To the poster considering Skinner sights: do it! I've got one of Andy's winged rear sights with a marbles fiber optic front on my guide gun. The quality is excellent for the price. I've also got one of his dovetail fillers and filler screws, also great quality pieces for the $9 they cost me. I have a brass lo pro rear and brass blade on my 10/22 as well. I'm very happy with them.
 
And for FS, don't tell Curlie.......errr Del I sent you.
He'll give you a smok'in deal and then tack it on
my next deal.
Dastard............ Laugh2

You tell Del your concerns and I am positive he will check it
out for you.
 
I collect Marlins ,I also love the 1895 .Having said that every one of my rifles are JM marked. I think Remington or Cerebrus failed miserably in the first few years of taking over ,I would not buy unless I handled one and I did just last week .I had a new 1895 that had excellent wood ,sights were on straight ,fit and finish was very good almost excellent this one was the 2013 model .I would have taken it home had I needed one .The action was not as clean as I had hoped but it could be remedied easily ,but why should it be me ? I want to buy a gun free of defects and warranty work after all I am willing to pay for it. I do know that the new Marlins will shoot as good or better than the JM models because I have seen it. My brother has 2 newer Marlins that will print .90 @100 yards seeing is believing .The guns in my stable wont do that ,well not by me . I think Caveat Emptor comes into play here, Unfortunately please don't hang me here but the reason Winchester is putting out good guns today is because of skilled craftsman, quality materials and just in case you did not notice it costs 1200-1500 bucks in todays world to produce quality Lever action rifles, Something Marlin needs to discover. Oh yes you will loose some customers with pricing like that , but they may win back the old school boys and lovers of a quality lever action
 
kamlooky said:
Give Del Selin a call and see if he has one in stock.
Tell him your concerns and I am almost certain he will look after you.
Not too horribly far from you and worthy of the drive.
Click to expand...

x 2 on this advice. That is precisely what I did when I purchased my Marlin 336 from them. My 30-30 is fantastic. I have also looked at the new ones in the store..2012 and 2013 models and they have none of the previous concerns I had with the QC.
 
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