??? for Marlin 1894 owners

[J Miller]

Here is a pic of the upper tang of my Marlin 1894 Cowboy.

Tang to wood misfit_web.JPG

Notice how the wood at the end of the tang is not flush but stands quite proud.
Is this normal for the 1894s? I've had four Marlin 1894s, but can't remember seeing any of the others like this.

This isn't a complaint, I'm just curious. Seems to me the curve up to the top of the stock should have started behind the end of the tang.

Joe

[nemhed]

Joe, I will take a look at my two 1894's in a couple hours when I get home. I'm 98% certain the upper tang is fit better on both but will take a look when I get home and post pictures if it will help.

[mescalero1]

Joe,
My 1894 .44mag. does not do that, it is flush.

[Hobie]

I have seen a couple like that but not so much so.

[Old Savage]

Flat on the two I have to look out.

[Griff]

I don't have the foggiest notion, Joe. But, your post prompted me to look at my Marlin 375. Which in turn reminded me that my son told me it wasn't feeding ammo from the magazine into the chamber. Looked and found the lifter wouldn't rise... then noticed the ejector was missing from it's slot. A little teardown found it lodged between the lifter and locking lug... or something. Reassemble with the parts in their respective, proper positions and it works perfectly again.

And, no, it doesn't exhibit any proud wood at the rear of the tang.

Although you can see a small gap between the wood and tang, it is flush, just about an eighth inch gap at the rear of the tang.

And yes, I DO have a levergun with a handle!

[Borregos]

Mine looks just like Griff's

[Idiot]

Joe, I've seen them like that before. I've also seen metal to metal fit like that. It dosen't affect the performance of the rifle and is well within Marlin's "standards."

I currently own three 1894s and have owned twice as many. I also own a number o M336s and big bores, and a number more have traveled through my hands. Marlin is very generous when it comes to fit and finish. One 1894, which I still own, I sent back to Marlin because the bolt extended nearly and eigth of an inch behind the receiver when fully closed. Marlin would not fix it and said it was within its "standards." Marlin makes good value priced lever action rifles; they go bang when you pull the trigger and usually hit where you point them. Any more, I don't expect much more than that from them.

Oh, and wood, when it comes to the lumber they attach to their guns, Marlin has always been "proud," even it we're not.

[J Miller]

If I was any good at wood working I could recontour that area and refinish the stock.
But then I'd have to slim down the forearm a bit and refinish that too. I'm not that good. So I'll just not worry about it.

My gun also has three screws that are considerably below flush. The tang screw you can see, the hammer screw, and the carrier screw. Each is below flush, but the screw does not protrude from the other side to match how far below flush they are. Don't care, just an observation.

I'm sure not gonna send it back to Marlin.

Joe

[Pete44ru]

Maybe it got so cold, where you are Joe - that your gun's metal shrunk !

.

[brionic]

Joe, I've seen them like that before. I've also seen metal to metal fit like that. It dosen't affect the performance of the rifle and is well within Marlin's "standards."

+1

Except for my old Mountie, my Marlins all have had the same fit and finish issues, around the tang. Even where the edges are flush, wood to metal fit is coarse. My 1894P came with the rubber buttpad half detached and a big drip in the poly finish. The wood, though, is highly figured. Hard to understand.

I still like them, but I consider their finishing to be somewhat of a crapshot. Some are really nice, some are... so-so.

--
Brian

[Chuck 100 yd]

The ones without a fluted comb are much thicker in that area and that is just the way they are. I have em both ways and have seen no reason to complain. Enjoy your 1894 Joe!

[marlinman93]

More common in late model 1894 Marlins than it used to be. Never saw this on pre 1935 1894's, and even early second gens, but now it's more prevalent.
I've redone a few for friends, and we slim the forearms, and then reshape the buttstock to get that knife edge to the comb. I also buy a repro hard rubber buttplate as used on the early 1900's 1894, and then shape the stocks down to fit it. When they're done they look spectaculer and feel a lot better to my hands.-Vall

[mescalero1]

Vall,
If we could prevail upon you to do one of your pictorials, I am confident many here beside myself would be appreciative.

[J Miller]

I second mescalero1's request.

Joe

[horsesoldier03]

Mine is flush. All of the wood to metal fit has been executed with excellent detail when you consider it is a production rifle.

[claybob86]

Joe, my 1894SS has the same condition, but not quite to the same extent. Looks like a bit less than 1/16". Not enough to bother me. (for a late model production unit)

[jdad]

The wood should "fit" even on the top and bottom tang, front to back. If this is a new rifle call Marlin and they will send you out a new buttstock.

[J Miller]

The wood should "fit" even on the top and bottom tang, front to back. If this is a new rifle call Marlin and they will send you out a new buttstock.

It's a 2005 vintage and I've had it a couple years now. This isn't something that bothers me to any degree. I was just curious if it was common to the breed. Looks like it is a bit.

No need to bother Marlin about it. It if ever gets to the point it bugs me I'll just have this wood refitted and refinished.

Joe

[Dave]

Mine isn't like that, but fit and finish has been loosening up for a while now.

[nemhed]

Joe, my two 1894 are recent production; less than two years old. The upper tang wood is just slightly "proud". Over all I'm very pleased with the wood to metal fit on both these rifles. Still pretty good "blue steel and walnut" for the end of the first decade of the 21st century!

[TX Gun Runner]

I like that step , it great for a tang sight .

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.e ... mid=424684

[marlinman93]

Vall,
If we could prevail upon you to do one of your pictorials, I am confident many here beside myself would be appreciative.

The next time I get one in need of a transformation I'll keep a picture record.-Vall

[2ndovc]

Remeberd to look at my 94P. It's flush with the tang.

jb

[Borregos]

Got the safe open and looked at all my Marlins side by side and the one with the best wood to metal fit by a looooong way was my 1889 that was made in 1892

[claybob86]

Got the safe open and looked at all my Marlins side by side and the one with the best wood to metal fit by a looooong way was my 1889 that was made in 1892

They seem to have had some sort of a hangup about doing things right back then.

Picture?

[mescalero1]

Thanks Vall,
I like that OLD look, seems more authentic.