The finish on the checkered butt and forend is failing -- chipped and flaking badly -- but underneath there is some lovely figurein the wood and even some fiddleback.
When I put the borelight in the chamber and peered down the bore from the muzzle, I was pleasantly surprised by the clean, crisp Ballard rifling. It's not 100 percent, but darned close to 90 percent upon first examination. There is some freckling on the barrel and receiver and much of the bluing is gone, but no egregious issues -- just wear consistent with a good old New Haven friend carried often and shot little.
I will get it to the range next week. I have a Williams FP receiver sight to mount; this rifle is drilled and tapped on the upper right corner of the left flat, but also drilled and tapped on the tang for a tang sight if preferred.
This is the first Model 36 A-DL with the deluxe checkered stocks that I have owned. Boy does she balance nicely, and talk about that legendary glass-smooth action. The icing is of course, the reassuring "Marlin Safety" engraved on the top of the unmolested receiver.
