Forum rules
Welcome to the Leverguns.Com General Discussions Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here other than politics... politely.
Please post political post in the new Politics forum.
The other night I was looking around the internet's classified section...............DANGER! Will Robinson DANGER!!!!!!
At Kittery Trading Post up in Maine I see a Marlin 1893, "Smokeless Steel", Octagon barrel in 30-30 with pictures that showed it to be in decent shape for $435.00.....The description said it had a crack in the stock. I figured I didn't care what condition it was in, for $435 I could part it out and make a few $$.
So a buddy and I drove the two hours to Maine today to check it out. Well, when they pulled it out of the rack I couldn't believe it. The condition is fantastic! The salesman couldn't believe it was going for so low a price. The internals look excellent and the bore is a strong 8.5 out of 10. Might even be better after a good scrubbing. We couldn't find the crack in the stock! Both forend and stock look great.
So to say I'm a happy camper would be an understatement!
Nice Grab and the price is even better! I try to go down there as often as I can, not only to shop around but my brother-in-law works there. They do have an excellent collection of firearms. A few years back I scored on a nice small ring 98 Mauser in 7x57. Looking foward on the range report!
Because I Can, and Have
-------------------------------------------------------------
USAF-72-76
God Bless America.
Disclaimer, not responsible for anyone copying or building anything i make.
Always consult an expert first.
A few months ago I scored another deal at Kittery. A beautiful Winchester 1873 in 38-40. But that one needed a barrel reline. You can read all about that adventure on my web site;
Yes, I looked at the 38-40 model 92. Someone cut the magazine and the wood to metal is very poor. Not even close to the good condition this rifle is in. But 38-40 rifles in any condition seem to command a premium price.
We then headed up to Cabelas. They had a fantastic 1893 in my favorite cartridge of the month, 38-55. Octagon to round barrel, great wood, excellent bore and on sale for $799!
Then you turn it over and some a--hat drilled two holes in the receiver with a hand drill and threaded them while on a drunk'n bender. HORRIBLE! But if you were to have the receiver refinished, they could be TIG welded and no one would be the wiser.
I still might go up there in a few weeks and if it is still there try a little bartering with some rifles I never look at anymore...........
Too bad about the holes. Like you said, they can be fixed if you ever decide to do a refinish. (Was that the one you bought that has the extra holes, or the one at Cabelas?)
I'd check the locking bolt and the locking bolt recesss in the bolt for wear. A friend has a nice old 93 that was worn badly in the locking bolt recess in the bolt. I took it to a machine shop I knew at the time that did good welding work on gun parts and they rebuilt the edge in the bolt that the locking bolt engages, and the freind reshaped it to finish it and tighten it up.
"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt-
Isnt it amazing how many people post without reading the thread?
Congratulations on that fine old '93 you bagged! It looks great and makes a fellow wish it could tell the stories of those fall hunts it has been on.
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester. Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
Good score! KTP is about 2hrs south of me. You can sometimes hit it good there for old levers. Always kinda wanted a 93 as I have an 89 and 81. Marlins are very accurate and that should be a great shooter.
I stopped there 2yrs ago and they had a beautiful 1876 in 50-95exp. Outta my price range with two kids in college. I think of it often.
"Oh bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round.
The rifle with the holes is the 1893 in 38-55 at Cabelas for $799.
My "new" rifle is "holeless"
I took the rifle apart last night for inspection and cleaning. Looks excellent. Very little wear. Interesting is that nowhere on this rifle is the caliber. The barrel has all the appropriate Marlin roll marking, but no inspection marks or "30-30" or "30WCF". Strange?
Sorry if the bore was too far gone to shoot. That's always sad. On the upside 38-55 is a great cartridge and will make that rifle one of your favorites in no time. It is my hands down favorite of the medium action chamberings. Enjoy!
"Oh bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round.
The interesting point about this rifle is that it was never marked on the barrel 30-30 or 30WCF........So how it got out of the factory with no markings on the barrel. So making it a 38-55 won't really damage the value.
It actually shot good enough for a deer rifle, the bore isn't that bad. But my new found "Cartridge of the Month" is the 38-55. A GREAT cartridge to load for with cast bullets. Amazing accuracy out of my two other rifles in this caliber (Lyman Mini Sharps and a WinJap 94 Sporter)
That will be a sweet rifle chambered in 38-55. An old, good-looking classic chambered in a vintage caliber.
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester. Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
