Marlin .357 WITHOUT Safety?

[Arminius]

Dear Sirs!

I have bidden for 2 LA´s at a recent auction. Didn´t go high, as I am not exactly unarmed ... ahem

Checked the results: sure, higher than I bid, okay, I don´t >need< those guns.

One an Uberti 73 Carbine, nice rifle, .44-40, has been shot. Light ( I have an Uberti Steel Henry Octagon Barrel, "one of one thousand" - MAN, that´s an anchor!! ) and handy - I bet the bbl is under 20"!

The other one is a Marlin 1894 in .357 mag. Used, shot, with swivels added. And an extension on the hammer.

Now I got a letter, that I have to pay for two rifles ... they nowadays post the results WITH added taxes and else.

So I got me two new LA´s.

Collected them today.

The curious thing is, that I didn´t remember that "§$#*!!! Marlin safety ... and when I cleaned the gun just now, I noticed it: there´s no safety!

Which is fine by me, you can read my opinion on safeties on LA´s in general and the §$'+!!! Marlin especially above ...

Now my question: I presume my gun is an elder one. From when approximately? And is it worth more or less than the usual Marlin with safety variety??

TIA, Hermann

[jkbrea]

Two rifles at once! Great job.
I believe Marlin started putting safeties in their leverguns in 1983 but I may be wrong.

[Arminius]

Thanks!

That late???

I am not sure, but could it be, that ´78 there were already safeties on Marlins?

How was Marlin quality then?

TIA, Hermann

[1894]

If I'm not mistaken , Marlin rifles always had a safety . Hammer at the 1/2 cock notch .
From what I've read , the x-bolt stuff started around '83-'84 .
I think that you should send that dangerous .357 to me , I'll make sure that even without the lawyer safety it will stay in a safe loving home .

[1894]

Pretty easy to look up the serial #s vs date codes to find a year of mfg. Congrats on a nice 1894

[Arminius]

From what I've read , the x-bolt stuff started around '83-'84 .
I think that you should send that dangerous .357 to me , I'll make sure that even without the lawyer safety it will stay in a safe loving home .

Oh no!

I am willing to do with that extremely NO safety issue myself!!!!

MY safety is between my Ears ...

Yes, the half cock is there, and MUCH appreciated!



Hermann

[Arminius]

Shot the Marin 1894 C today.

Indoor, 20 m.

Trigger is fine, the hammer extension is handy.

Sights were laterally dead on, had to go up two steps on the rear sights ladder.

I am disappointed, that it doesn´t feed 38´s! ( JFP )

Also the cycling was not so smooth. I wonder what to expect from a Marlin?

So if 38´s for home defense aren´t, I think I´ll Mount a Weaver rail and an Aimpoint Micro --- and may use it without glasses

Your opinion on that?

Thanks, Hermann

[Ysabel Kid]

Interesting. My pre-1980's Marlin 1894C (.357 Magnum; no safety) feeds .38 Specials fine, as long as I don't try a wadcutter! Mine is also very smooth cycling, though having cycled the action thousands of time shooting it tends to do that!

Good luck - it is a fine rifle and the Marlin quality back then was great (IMHO).

[Arminius]

I wonder, why mine won´t cycle 38´s ... they seem to hit under the Barrel, when levered.

Another question:

what is this boards opinion, on putting a Weaver Rail on a LA, and then an Aimpoint on it.

Remember: it´s a non collectible, modern Marlin!

Hermann

[Mescalero]

Hermann,
It is your gun.
Do what you want to with it.

[Paladin]

Shot the Marin 1894 C today.

Indoor, 20 m.

Trigger is fine, the hammer extension is handy.

Sights were laterally dead on, had to go up two steps on the rear sights ladder.

I am disappointed, that it doesn´t feed 38´s! ( JFP )

Also the cycling was not so smooth. I wonder what to expect from a Marlin?

So if 38´s for home defense aren´t, I think I´ll Mount a Weaver rail and an Aimpoint Micro --- and may use it without glasses

Your opinion on that?

Thanks, Hermann

Don't have a .38/.357 but do have a .44 with a Zeiss red dot on it. Very handy and fast for older eyes. Great selection on two new rifles my marlin has a cross bolt safety.

[Arminius]

I am sorry, but I never cared much for Marlins, therefore I have no clue. My question:

will scope bases for the 1894 and the 1894 C be the same?

Is the size of the receiver and the screw spacing equal for .357 and .44 Mag guns ( I presume the 336 / .30-30 will be different )

TIA, Hermann

[Griff]

I don't know about the screw spacing... but,, if you subtract the first two digits of the serial number from 2000, that will tell you the year your rifle was made. I.e., 22xxxxxxxx from 2000 = 1978. IIRC, the cross-bolt safety was introduced in the mid-'80s.

If a 38spl. is hitting the underside of the barrel, it sounds like the carrier timing is slow, lifting after the bolt has started forward. Check here for possible causes & cures: http://marauder.homestead.com/Rifles.html

[Arminius]

Wow!

Thanks a LOT!

I´ll get the new style carrier!!!

( and that site will keep me busy for a while )

Hermann

[DPris]

If the moderators will permit mention of a Kindle eBook, the story of the Marlin 1894C re-intro & an extensive product review of a new sample is available now (posted yesterday) at Amazon.

The Prisbrey Report, Volume 2014-1, Return Of The Marlin Model 1894C in .357 Magnum.
Denis

[piller]

I recently got a Marlin in .35 Remington for my Birthday, and it had no crossbolt safety. My Wife has a Marlin 336 without the crossbolt safety. Both are very accurate and both cycle perfectly. I have never tried the pistol caliber Marlins. Please post again when you have it working. I am interested in the results.

[trooper joe]

None of my Marlins have a cross bolt safety. If they had one when they left the factory, they now look like this:



Trooper Joe