Quality of new Marlin lever actions?

Marlin

Ormachek said:
The old Marlin factory isn't closed(yet). It is however scheduled to be shut down by June 2011. As long as the gun is made by the old workers in the old plant I wouldn't be worrying.
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Good to know, I just bought a Marlin 336C in 30-30 from Clay at Prophet River and I am really happy with it. The rifle feels nice and tight, and should be a great deer and black bear rifle for the woods. Quality and fit/finish seems fine and I checked the wood to metal finish and it's good. Nice rifles!
 
pharaoh2 said:
And I'm not really complaining too much about mine either. I suppose I did come across as a little judgmental in my post, but the wood to metal fit could be better. I know it won't affect anything, and the gap isn't really that bad, I was just saying. This picture was the best I could do. I had to get the flash to hit the rifle just right to get it to show, so that must mean it can't be that bad. :D
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Unfortunately that type of gap is not that uncommon, although your example is at the extreme. My 1992 1894c and my 2001 444p both had gaps in front of the receiver flats. Fortunately, the solution is simple --- a bit of inletting black and a small sharp chisel or scraper. After a bit of hand fitting, shining a bright light behind the receiver/stock interface does not show any gap.

Cosmetics aside, the gap isn't great on some of the big bore Marlins as it can mean that the tang is taking the recoil and might eventually split the stock. I like to have the receiver flats as the primary bearing surface for recoil against the buttstock --- the endgrain can take the abuse a lot better.
 
Marlin 336

So I just want to clarify, Marlin is now owned by Remington but they are still making the 336's in the same plant, same machines and by the same workers as the past years.

So technically Marlins quality should be good until summer of 2011 when the plant closes and god knows where they will move it to.

I ask because I just bought a late 2009 manufactured 336 in 30-30 from a CGN dealer. It has the little white bullseye on the stock and quality and fit/finish seems to be good.
 
Yours might be great, but any Marlin built within the last couple years needs to be seriously looked over before buying.

They have cut staff and the employees that are remaining are being pushed for quantity over quality. Doesn't matter if it is the same plant and machines, the quality control isn't there like it once was.

Your gun is likely fine, have fun with it.
 
The Marlin M1895 and M336 in whatever version or cartridge you find, are great rifles.

As to the current production, well I have ZERO idea. I guess soon we'll refer to them as Pre-2008-9 models? They routinely come up on the Equip Exchange.

I'd love an early 19th century production .32WinSpl, Win M1894.
 
H4831 said:
Just look for the bullseye in the butt. It means quality.
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i agree whole heartedly. i have a 1950 336RC and a 1980 444s both with the bullseye and both are incredibly accurate and very well built guns. im sure the newer guns are fine but i believe that everything was made better in years past.
i know a guy on the island here who is selling a few old winchesters... i'll look into it for you.
 
i have a new Marlin 444 as well as the Cowboy(previous post in this thread) and the fit and finish is very very good, i would buy another Marlin anytime, they both shoot great also

the 444

444asdelivered.jpg


the 1894 Marlin Cowboy in .357 Mag

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Gord
 
I think the bullseye went when Remington bought out marlin.
Today at the gunshow I saw a new Marlin 22, marked 39 Golden. I thought it very cheap looking, not the price, though, it was $575!
My old Golden Mountie from the 1960s is pure quality, and it shows.
 
H4831 said:
I think the bullseye went when Remington bought out marlin.
Today at the gunshow I saw a new Marlin 22, marked 39 Golden. I thought it very cheap looking, not the price, though, it was $575!
My old Golden Mountie from the 1960s is pure quality, and it shows.
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There was a period of about 6 months shortly after Remington's purchase of Marlin during which the bullseye was phased out (cost cutting). I believe pursuasion by Marlin fans resulted in the bullseye being put back --- so there are probably a couple hundred Marlins with walnut stocks that lack bullseyes.

H4831, if you can believe it $575 is a low price for a new Marlin 39a --- many retailers have them in the $700+ range!

I've only purchased one brand new Marlin, which was a 2007/2008 1894c. Sadly, its workmanship was sub-par (ill-fitting, cracked wood, mistruck barrel rollstamp, and several other obvious cosmetic issues) --- I sent the rifle back. In this day-and-age of CNC machining, robotic painting, and fewer skilled assembly workers (read: craftsmen/women) a huge responsibility for quality falls upon the QA inspectors. When that final step is not functioning well, as appears to be the case from time-to-time, you have to really inspect a rifle closely yourself before buying.

If you'd asked me last year, I would have been hesistant to recommend buying a new Marlin sight unseen, or at least I would have encouraged you to buy from a dealer who will actually take a look at the rifle on your behalf. I have no idea about the present situation, but certainly hope it has improved. In the meantime, there are so many Marlins floating around in the EE that I'm happy to buy used. With Marlin's chamberings, a barrel is unlikely to ever be shot out, so as long as the rifle looks well-cared for, I'd have no hestitations *plus* the rifle is already broken in and likely to be smoother operating than a new one.
 
If you are a discriminating gun owner in my opinion you will be happier with an older vintage rifle, be it Marlin, Winchester or whatever. There is no substitute for a gun that has been handled several times by skilled people during its manufacture and assembly. That's just the way it is, labour is expensive and everyone wants to keep costs(and prices) down. Look how many Stevens bolt guns are being sold nowadays. Alot of guys just want a plain jane rifle that is dependable and fairly accurate. The details don't mean that much to them.
 
I don't know? But I looked at a CB 44 mag the other week, at wholesale sports in Edmonton, thought about buying one! had money burning a hole in my pocket, but it just didn't do it to me?? The front sight slot of the barrel to the front sight, you could see at least 1/16 in or better. between them, is this normal? other than that it felt good.
 
Marlin Quality

So as far as we know has Marlin/Remington started cutting corners and using cheaper parts like stamped steel instead of machined or forged steel parts yet? I gave my new 336C 30-30 a good, long look over today and it all seems fine, the only thing I can find is the painted black shell ejector piece on the bolt has a few spots that are missing a tiny bit of paint, not a huge deal.
 
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My son-in-law bought a new Marlin 308 Express a couple years back when they first arrived in Canada. Nothing wrong with that rifle.

Well, except for one thing. The trigger sucked! Was just awful for creep.

Solved it by installing a Wild West trigger, what a difference! Crisp as breaking glass!

He did make one other mod, had a Decellorator recoil pad installed, which really took some of the bite out of it. Had a surprising amount of sharp kick, due in large part to the hard plastic cap.

I don't think the take over of Marlin is going to affect their quality. At least I hope not!
 
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