Change that open bolt on a Marlin 1895 ?

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:50 am

I've always liked the flush, enclosed bolt of the 1894s.

Y'all seem to know about metals and Marlins. What would it take to darken the bolt on a Marlin?

OR Since the lockup is on the left side, would it reduce the guns strength to bolt it like a Marlin 1894?

Leverdude · Post by **Leverdude** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:58 am

I thought at one point about getting a 336 bolt blued & my smith talked me out of it. I think he was right when he said it would wear off in short order & look like stuff. Maybe something else would be more durable.

The 1895 used to be a flat bolt like the 1894 when it really was a different action. You wont see that again I dont think tho, Its got to be weaker without the reciever surrounding the locking area. It would be strong enough for trap door 45/70 loads & a bit more maybe.

What would be excellent IMHO is if they just scaled up the 336 action instead of whittling away at it to fit the 45/70 in it. The old 1895's were a scaled up 1893 & could handle a longer COAL & therefore heavier bullets seated out where they belong. I like the flat bolts but like the round ones too.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:50 am

Yea, I think that changing to the square bolt thing is just not going to happen. I too, have thought about rust bluing the round bolt but like Leverdude says, it will wear off mighty quick.

I do have a solution though. In a couple of weeks, drop on down to the Timonium Show in Baltimore and you will have a couple of dozen original 1895's to choose from. All you have to do is bring the title from your Hummer or your mortage papers

------Sixgun

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 2:04 pm

I don't see what the bolt would rub on that would wear off good blueing? You could always try it, then if it didn't work, polish it off. Perhaps jeweling it first would help?

Noah Zark · Post by **Noah Zark** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 4:32 pm

Blueing is an extremely thin finish, and not at all durable. Not many bolt guns have blued bolt bodies because of it.

IMO, the one finish that may work the best for blackening the round 1895 bolt would be hot salt bath nitriding. It's offered under a number of tradenames, one of the more well-known is "Melonite."

Hot salt bath nitriding inparts a dark color, higher surface hardness, and lubricity to a part so treated. It is significantly more abrasion resistant than standard chemical or heat/charcoal blueing.

Noah

Bramble · Post by **Bramble** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:27 pm

I believe that there is a black nickle plating. That might serve.

Regards

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:33 pm

Marlin round bolts are chrome plated!! I dont think anything would blue them.

Swampman · Post by **Swampman** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:39 pm

What about Teflon coating? The old 1895s are much weaker. You would have to stick with Trapdoor level loadings.

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:51 pm

Swampman`s idea is a good one! Some of the new space age coatings are very tough and slick as snot. May smooth up the action at the same time.

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:54 pm

The old 1895's are weaker, but not Trapdoor weaker! They offered them in .45-90, and .40-82, which are much hotter loadings than the .45-70 Trapdoor ever used.
The bolt on a 336 style 1895 could be stripped of it's chrome finish, but the wear patterns always show right dead center on the sides, so it will definitely wear through the finish eventually. I've got 4 336 bolts in my parts bin, and all show wear where it would locate in the ejection port.

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 10:21 pm

Maybe you want something that looks like this?
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... m=92677099

Leverdude · Post by **Leverdude** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 11:13 pm

Ben_Rumson wrote:Maybe you want something that looks like this?
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... m=92677099

That wont fit a 45/70. Thats an aweful lot of money too for a model 36. 30/30. I dont know what a 36D is but it looks like a RC to me. If theyre fetching a grand I'v made some decent investments.

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 11:20 pm

The middle one here:

I have the one on the left, like the one on the right, love the LTD-III except for the open bolt...

hfcable · Post by **hfcable** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 1:56 pm

wonder if it would be possible to leave the round bolt, but install some sort of cover that made it look like the old ones? probably not practical, but i like the old style much better myself.

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:11 pm

I saw one once that was "converted" to flat bolt look by adding a thin piece of spring steel to the right side of the bolt, and spaced out to slide past the rceiver as it opened and closed.
Looked OK from about 6 ft away, but up close it was obvious that it was not quite flush.

bcp · Post by **bcp** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:43 pm

Just buy a model 1936 or 36 with the flat bolt to fit the 30-30 family of cartridges.

From:
http://www.bedlans.com/new_page_1.htm