Marlin score!

Elk creek

So the day before thanksgiving I stopped into the local slobber shop to wish all a happy thanksgiving. The manager was doing a buy deal so I hung back til he was free to chat. After they were done doing business I walked up and saw it! A Marlin 1894cl 357 mag in beautiful shape. I picked it up thinking it was a newer gun but a quick glance at the SN said 1999 as a manufacture date with a JM stamp! Without a word I handed the manager a 50 and said I’ll be back after thanksgiving to pick it up. The background checks are taking up to 4 days around here so I figured I’d pick it up Monday.  I ended up swapping off a Rossi 357 I had as my fun token fund was not flush enough to get the job done. I’ll make that deal again in a blink though!!! 

sakodude

Nice find!! Congrats.

Elk creek

sakodude said:

Nice find!! Congrats.

Thanks sako! Oh 550 for the 7mm and 675 on the 300 boat paddle Ruger’s at the same shop

sakodude

Thanks for checking but I just don't see belted magnum in my future any more. 
There was a similar vintage marlin 357 in my dads collection that I gave to my daughter, I'll have to borrow it back next time we hit the range for comparison. 

Diver43

Great find.

bullsi1911

Nice!  I would have definitely made that trade as well

bellcat

Excellent! Way to keep the economy running.....and..You Suck!

Elk creek

bellcat said:

Excellent! Way to keep the economy running.....and..You Suck!

Just doing my part! 

Elk creek

sakodude said:

Thanks for checking but I just don't see belted magnum in my future any more. 
There was a similar vintage marlin 357 in my dads collection that I gave to my daughter, I'll have to borrow it back next time we hit the range for comparison. 

Nice! 

Big Al1

AArrggh!! A cross bolt safety!! But I can ignore that, great find, I would have snapped it up in a heart beat!!
Looks almost unfired!!

Elk creek

Diver43 said:

Great find.

Thanks, lucky timing.

Elk creek

Big Al1 said:

AArrggh!! A cross bolt safety!! But I can ignore that, great find, I would have snapped it up in a heart beat!!
Looks almost unfired!!

The guy that brought it in said he was the original owner. When he bought it, then ran 50  factory box  357 and a box of 38’s through it. Then put it in “deep storage”

Antonio

Great purchase! I have one of those and with .38 Special (mine doesn't love light loads btw) you think it's actually a .22LR.

Read online about having to polish an angle in the lever that makes contact against the bolt to avoid premature wear and therefore eventual loading failures and needs to replace parts. Seems as the earlier you do this the best so did it and no issues so far. Might be worthwhile to investigate (Think it was an stickie on one of the main Marlin forums).

Safety button can be nulled by replacing it with a saddle ring sling; currently considering it.

Mag follower is plastic and you can find metal ones (anodized aluminum usually) available online. Also planning to do it.

Other than swapping the front bead sight post with a solid rectangular one like those in modern handguns (also filed square the rear sight aperture to match) and polishing to bare metal the loading gate for better view of it in low-light situations (this has been my travel gun a few times), at least for me few mods are need for these cool rifles.

Avoid aluminum-cased .357 ammo too as instruction manual advices. Friend of mine had a few cracked cases in his and might be harmful for the chamber.

Range test please!

CHIRO1989

One of those is on my list too, other stuff keeps popping up and draining the gun fund, excellent find on an essentially brand new 20y/o gun.

GunNut

Sweet score!

Elk creek

CHIRO1989 said:

One of those is on my list too, other stuff keeps popping up and draining the gun fund, excellent find on an essentially brand new 20y/o gun.

Thanks!! 

Elk creek

GunNut said:

Sweet score!

I need to quote going in there!!!

Elk creek

Antonio said:

Great purchase! I have one of those and with .38 Special (mine doesn't love light loads btw) you think it's actually a .22LR.

Read online about having to polish an angle in the lever that makes contact against the bolt to avoid premature wear and therefore eventual loading failures and needs to replace parts. Seems as the earlier you do this the best so did it and no issues so far. Might be worthwhile to investigate (Think it was an stickie on one of the main Marlin forums).

Safety button can be nulled by replacing it with a saddle ring sling; currently considering it.

Mag follower is plastic and you can find metal ones (anodized aluminum usually) available online. Also planning to do it.

Other than swapping the front bead sight post with a solid rectangular one like those in modern handguns (also filed square the rear sight aperture to match) and polishing to bare metal the loading gate for better view of it in low-light situations (this has been my travel gun a few times), at least for me few mods are need for these cool rifles.

Avoid aluminum-cased .357 ammo too as instruction manual advices. Friend of mine had a few cracked cases in his and might be harmful for the chamber.

Range test please!

Good tips, thanks! 

minnesotashooter

My most favorite gun I own, love that thing

ridgleyart

Nice and clean.

Zee

tennmike

Those 1894 Marlins are sweet little rifles, and that one's a beaut! Only 1894 I have is in .44 Mag. and it lets you know it when you pull the trigger!
And you suck, too!  

Jeeper44mag

Awesome find!  I've got an 1894cp (very similar) that is a blast to shoot.  Such a nice rifle.

Luis