Fair price for an Marlin 1894 cowboy limited?

[flintyboom]

I'm trying to figure out a fair price to sell my Marlin 1894 cowboy limited. I know they don't make them anymore and most Marlins hover around 2k these days.
It's the .357/38 spl model with 20" octagon barrel. It's had an action and trigger job because I used it for cowboy action shooting.
It's seen a fair amount of use over the years with some wood scratches/dents.
The biggest issue is a ring in the bore about 4" from the muzzle, but the barrel isn't damaged on the outside, and it doesn't seem to affect accuracy. What do you think it might be worth? Just to give me a ball park of what to ask for it. Thanks

 

[BlackPowderBurner]

Realistically? $450 for a used, worn rifle with a serious defect. That probably translates to $3500 on gun post though and don't forget to let AI write your ad. Marlin (Ruger) still makes 1894s in .357 so you gain no scarcity from calibre. No Marlin collector is going to want used rifle with a ringed bore. So you're looking for the right person who will buy it as a shooter and will take your word the ring doesn't affect accuracy (cowboy action accuracy is a limited scope of evaluation).

 

[flintyboom]

This is a 50 yd target with the bead sight, and cheap 38 spl lead ammo out of it. Gives an idea of accuracy potential.

 

[fingers284]

but the barrel isn't damaged on the outside, and it doesn't seem to affect accuracy.

Most barrels that are toast inside are still pristine outside ( altho a barrel bulge is always easy to find on the outside if you know how to use the sunlight glare to find it), and your good accuracy expectations seem somewhat lesser than mine would be for that rifle. Both my wifes Marlin 94's will still do 1.5 " at fifty and this after each has fired 75,000 rounds or so. But cowboy targets being as big as they are it could prob be used as such with one caveat....cast slugs will easily start to lead the barrel at the bulge.
The Cowboy Limited model was marketed to the cowboy industry with a color case frame and a lighter hammer stroke to facilitate trigger control and for this reason I think your rifle would have slightly more value than a regular "parts gun" but not much. If I were offering to buy for a re-build, $300 would be my top limit here.

 

[flintyboom]

Thanks for your input. Yeah, I couldn't see any signs of barrel bulge on the barrel. I have a scope rail for it too, so I think I might load up some decent .357 ammo and stick a scope on it to help take the shooter out of the equation, and see what kind of accuracy it can give. I should give the barrel a good cleaning too, to get any lead out of there.

Probably 95% of the shots from it were under 25 yards with 38 spl lead loads.

 

[flintyboom]

I did like you suggested and looked in the sunlight, and saw a faint bulge. I put a 3x9 scope on it, and with 140 gr .357 loads I shot it at 50 yds today. I don't think it affected the accuracy. Here's a few pics.

 

[fingers284]

Isn't it amazing how you can instantly see a bend in the glare where an almost indiscernible bulge is. I was shown that tip by Ron Smith almost 40 yrs ago now.

 

[boxhitch]

if a 100 year old 32-40 sells at auction for $1000 with questionable everything, whos to say what a modern Marlin is worth

 

[flintyboom]

Definitely a handy tip.

 

[cam1936]

Isn't it amazing how you can instantly see a bend in the glare where an almost indiscernible bulge is. I was shown that tip by Ron Smith almost 40 yrs ago now.

Google "Foucault knife-edge test"

It's how people who grind their own telescope mirrors test for accuracy down to a fraction the wavelength of light. Like down to .01 thou or .00001" just by using light and looking the right way with a razor's edge.

 

[Luckybeer]

The Cowboy Limited model was marketed to the cowboy industry with a color case frame, the action was also smooth and perfected. these brought premium prices when new. This rifle is a real Marlin (JM), which still is more of a draw to collectors and people who know there levers. The serious defect on the barrel is an issue, I agree. I think though it would still draw more money than $300-$400 even with its problems. real hard to say without handling, but I would think $600-$800.