New Manufactured Marlin 1895 SBL Quality

[109Hammer]

Has anyone heard about the quality of the Marlin 1895 SBL being shotty since the move to SC?

I'm looking to add a rifle to my Alaska backpacking trips for Bear protection. I currently have a S&W .460 (5" barrel), but I want to start taking a rifle as well. Katmai is my next trip......They have Big Bears there!

 

[Badlander]

I have not heard the good stories about the new Marlins, people only tell the bad ones.
I would want to closely inspect A new Marlin before I bought one.
There are plenty of exelent condition New Haven made 1895s out there. Look around.
An 1895 Guide Gun in 45-70 would be A fine choice for your purpose.

 

[109Hammer]

hard time

Having a hard time finding one in my area (CT)

 

[Abel]

Has anyone heard about the quality of the Marlin 1895 SBL being shotty since the move to SC?

Freedom Group moved the plant to Ilion, New York. I've seen some new Marlins that looked great. And I've seen some bad ones too.

 

[109Hammer]

Well, i've got one on order from Cabellas in East Hartford CT. I'll let you all know how the quality is. Thanks everyone.

 

[iamkris]

I have a Marlin 1895 GBL...basically the blued version of the SBL and without the rail. It is tight, reliable, good workmanship and accurate. The bluing isn't a deep "Colt commercial" style but it is perfectly utilitarian.

 

[MCMXI]

I have three Marlin 1895s including an SBL. No issues of any kind with any of them. I did have to send both 1894s back to Marlin to address some issues. Marlin CS was excellent and they corrected the issues very quickly.

 

[109Hammer]

Hello All, Just an update.

I received my Marlin 1895 SBL rifle yesterday and ran about 50 rounds of three different types of cartridges through it. Right from the start the action was smooth (my initial concern), this was a relief because one marlin rifle i looked at at a local fun store had a very rough action. The owner of the shop said this is typical of this rifle. This got me worried that the quality had gone down since the move in manufacturing. That being said all is good so far. Dead accurate, and a hell of a punch.

Shot at 1/2" steel plate today. WOW. wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of this round. Can't want to get my New dies and try some heavy hand loads.

 

[Benmathes]

I'm with the gang- mine is smooth- deadly- easy to carry and a bear our good ole southern hogs! The larger lever loop is a huge asset- I put ghost rings on mine- bought them at Midway- fit like a glove and are dead-on!

Go for it!

 

[109Hammer]

If it ain't broke.....

Don't fix it. It's a cartridge thats well over 100 years old and it still reigns. God bless America.

 

[oldfortyfiveauto]

I just got a new CT built 1895GBL. General fit and finish good. There were two small bare spots on the barrel. The rear sight was crudely pounded in.

I run my hawkeye bore scope down the barrel....not a pretty sight. They probably should have sharpened their tooling at least in the last year. Towards the center of the barrel it was hard to find the rifling in scored up areas.

It will be interesting to see how it shoots and how badly it leads.