So much for thinning the herd. First buffalo gun.

[Oldncrusty]

Been sidetracked with life for a while and after this wild winter, was anxious for the local show to come to town. Went this weekend hoping to downsize. Oh well. Ended up with 3 new levers (2 grail guns) and a Win 1903. #1- Marlin model 1881 in 45-70. Bout soiled myself when I saw it walking around in the crowd.#2 Win 1892 in 32-20. First year, 4 digit ser #. Have a couple K frames in this cal. so I now have my first handgun/rifle combo. #3 Traded for a '65 Model 94 also. With my champagne taste but beer budget, I have no qualms settling for "problem guns" as long as they function and aren't eyesores. Not sure how many pics I can upload in one whack, so I'll do the Marlin here and put the 92 in the comments.

Happy Spring everyone

[LeverGunner]

Nice looking Marlin. Not something you see a lot that's for sure.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

Love the wood some guy at Marlin grabbed out of the pile for the forend. Is it a black powder barrel or was it made late enough to be nickel steel? I'm not Marlin literate ... my oldest gun being a Marlin 1897.

[Oldncrusty]

Been after a '92 for years. This one seems to have been carried way more than used.

[Oldncrusty]

Love the wood some guy at Marlin grabbed out of the pile for the forend. Is it a black powder barrel or was it made late enough to be nickel steel? I'm not Marlin literate ... my oldest gun being a Marlin 1897.

The only vague ser. number chart I found on line puts this one at 1890. That is a late model since they ceased production in 1891.

[Galloway]

What a day including that 65! Id proudly tote that with a tucked in shirt andy grifith mindset.

[Bill in Oregon]

Drooling over your Marlin sir!

[marlinman93]

Love the wood some guy at Marlin grabbed out of the pile for the forend. Is it a black powder barrel or was it made late enough to be nickel steel? I'm not Marlin literate ... my oldest gun being a Marlin 1897.

None of the 1881 Marlins had the high speed steel barrels. The Model 1895 replaced the 1881 and they were all the modern steel barrels.

That 1881 is a great gun, and although Marlin sold a lot of them I don't see them too often. I sold a Model 1881 with double set triggers last month at our local collector gun show.

[Oldncrusty]

I sold a Model 1881 with double set triggers last month at our local collector gun show.

Double sets would be awesome. This one has a trigger pull probably in ounces, and a nub of a front sight, so it likely has seen some long range work.

[Oldncrusty]

Drooling over your Marlin sir!

Thanks Bill. I'm still in disbelief myself, and wondering how it ended up in KY.

[Paladin]

WOW, talk about having a GOOD DAY.

[LeverGunner]

That 92 is pretty nice too.

[LeverGunner]

Drooling over your Marlin sir!

Thanks Bill. I'm still in disbelief myself, and wondering how it ended up in KY.

Where in Kentucky are you? I'm in Hardin county.

[Oldncrusty]

Drooling over your Marlin sir!

Thanks Bill. I'm still in disbelief myself, and wondering how it ended up in KY.

Way up north on the River.

Where in Kentucky are you? I'm in Hardin county.

[LeverGunner]

Nice. I occasionally make it to Lousiville or Lexington, but not much farther. Now that Whittakers is closed I don't have any need to go to Owensboro.

[marlinman93]

I sold a Model 1881 with double set triggers last month at our local collector gun show.

Double sets would be awesome. This one has a trigger pull probably in ounces, and a nub of a front sight, so it likely has seen some long range work.

All those old 1881's had really nice trigger pulls, and the .45-70 caliber 1881's usually had a very short front silver blade sight.

[Oldncrusty]

All those old 1881's had really nice trigger pulls, and the .45-70 caliber 1881's usually had a very short front silver blade sight.

That sure describes mine. That's good to know. Maybe I won't have to replace the front after all. The the ammo I ordered should be here tomorrow.

[marlinman93]

All those old 1881's had really nice trigger pulls, and the .45-70 caliber 1881's usually had a very short front silver blade sight.

That sure describes mine. That's good to know. Maybe I won't have to replace the front after all. The the ammo I ordered should be here tomorrow.

They made the Model 1881 in two frame sizes. The smaller frames looked the same as large frames, but were thinner when looking down from the top. Small frames were either .32-40 or .38-55 with lighter barrels, and taller front sight blades.

[LeverGunner]

All those old 1881's had really nice trigger pulls, and the .45-70 caliber 1881's usually had a very short front silver blade sight.

That sure describes mine. That's good to know. Maybe I won't have to replace the front after all. The the ammo I ordered should be here tomorrow.

They made the Model 1881 in two frame sizes. The smaller frames looked the same as large frames, but were thinner when looking down from the top. Small frames were either .32-40 or .38-55 with lighter barrels, and taller front sight blades.

Thanks for the info.