Current Marlin quality?

[GhostyDan]

I'm starting to want a 45-70 lever action and would like a Marlin but, I am hesitant to buy one due to apparent quality issues. Can anyone tell me about the current quality of Marlin 1895s?

 

[peacebutready]

Some discussion of Marlin lever-action quality in the below thread.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=754794

 

[Valkman]

I just bought a 1894 and it is really nice in fit and finish, and shoots great too. I don't know what else Marlin can do to make people happy, but I am.

 

[Badlander]

I have seen god and bad ones recently. I would not buy one without personally inspecting it.

 

[back40]

i looked at a few lever guns the other day in a local shop. the marlins seem to be getting slightly better from what i've seen. wood to metal fit still leaves a little to be desired. the actions seemed about normal for a new one, and the sights seemed aligned properly.

however, i think it was the 2 guide guns that displayed the most hideous excuse for checkering i've ever seen. i mean it was downright unacceptable at any price point from any mfr. completely uneven, and so shallow in some areas that that it simply faded to the smooth wood.

 

[bobinoregon]

I have a new 45-70 guide gun and I love it. It shoots nice and the fit and finish is good as well. The fact that the checkering is machine presssed or cut doesnt bother me at all, it's a production firearm and I don't expect hand cut.

 

[115grfmj]

Like it or not the Marlins made before the closing of the original company in North Haven (and the takeover by the New owners), have achieved the same status as pre64 Winchesters have. A certain level of quality is implied with JM stamped rifles, especially the hand fitted ones, that for many, can't be matched by what a huge soul-less investment company caring only about the bottom line, can put out. Frankly a lot of people feel the quality of Remington branded stuff has gone down hill also.

Personally for me, having handled some of the new stuff, I love my hand fitted JM 1894c even more (as well as my older 870). It's not only a work of art but it's got Soul! The new stuff seems serviceable enough, for me however, just seems kind of like buying a 68' GTO, only a reproduction made in china by the lowest bidder. Obviously, this is quite subjective, and your results may vary.

 

[Cee Zee]

I have a Ky made Marlin .22 (an XT) that has superb quality IMO. It exceeds the quality of my earlier made Marlins in fact. It is just tight and well fitted at every turn. It shoots very well and operates very smoothly. I have some Marlins from 2008 that are also very good rifles but they aren't quite up to the standard of the XT I own. I realize this isn't a lever gun and that's what the question is about but people were also dogging all Marlin products for a while and it just isn't warranted IMO. The newest Marlin I own is the best made Marlin I've ever owned and I've had plenty of them.

 

[DPris]

The checkering has gone downhill, unfortunately.
On the new 1894C here it's poorly done & no comparison to the older Marlins I have in a side by side comparison.

Overall, the gun is an improvement over what I've seen from Marlin in the past 2 or 3 years.
Denis