Old Marlin identification

[Doug]

I was looking an old Marlin recently and was pretty sure I could tell the owner exactly what he had. When I left the house I was sure that it was an 1893, of which I have owned several. The only thing that stuck in my head to cause a doubt that the gun was an 1893 was that the ones I have owned had the model number written on them. This one does not have a model number on it anywhere.

Looking at the Blue Book, it seems this one should be an 1889, made in 1890 (serial number 42###)

Does anybody have PHOTOS of an 1889 and an 1893 for a fellow to compare? The descriptions in the Blue Book are pretty vague.

Doug

 

[Killer Kanuck]

What was the caliber Doug? The 1889 was chambered in "pistol calibers" (32-20, 38-40, 44-40) while the 1893 was rifle calibers (30-30, 32WS, 25-36, 32-40, 38-55).
Quite a few of the first year run 1893's didn't have any markings on the tang.

Oh, and the 1889 should have a clip on the bottom tang to hold the lever tight.

Here's a pic:

It's an 1889 on the right, and the others are 1893's.

 

[Doug]

Back to Killer Kanuck......

Thanks for the info!

The barrel is marked "38W" which I did take to be .38-40. Barrel is 23.5" so was cut off just past the forward sight by the look of it.

In the pic, what is the little "tit" that hangs down below the forward part of the receiver on the 1889?

Doug

 

[Killer Kanuck]

In the pic, what is the little "tit" that hangs down below the forward part of the receiver on the 1889?

Doug

It'd be an 1889 if it's 38-40 (same caliber as mine).

The little "tit" - don't really know, came with the rifle. The thread on it is the same size and pitch as the proper screw (tried a screw from one of the 1893s). It's kinda like a old fashioned spliced eye bolt. Don't know if it had some purpose, or if it was just the right size so somebody used it.

 

[Doug]

I reckon it was an expedient repair. Every single one of the 1893s I had were home handyman specials, whether it was hacked barrels, counter-bored muzzles, home-made firing pins, springs of uncertain parentage, etc etc. The FP in one of them was a rusted nail (one piece, not two)..........

Our ingenious forefathers!

Doug

 

[Winnipeg Toymaker]

Could it be used much like the ring on a Winnie SRC....only the leather is slit and slips over the stud?

 

[Killer Kanuck]

Could it be used much like the ring on a Winnie SRC....only the leather is slit and slips over the stud?

I suppose it could, but it's definitely not factory.