Finally got a Marlin camp carbine.

[Noxx]

Nabbed up a Marlin Camp 9 today, ANIB, unfired for $350. I've been wanting to get hold of both the 9 and the 45 so this was a nice little surprise. My only regret, is that I'm thinking of buying another one rather than losing this ones "mint" state.

Marlin serial # question. I understand that post 1973, the year of MFR can be calculated by subtracting the first two digits of the serial from 100, is this correct?

Either way, thats one more down from the "Always wanted me one of those list"!

 

[Reid73]

Glad that you found what you wanted.

If I were you, I would go ahead and enjoy it and not worry about losing its virgin status. Life is short and you will likely be in the ground within 50 years ... too late then for regrets.

I never could see the sense in tying up money in a 'safe queen'. In any case it has little if any 'collector value'.

Still, do whatever you think best!

 

[Noxx]

I don't think it has much long term value either.... try telling that to the guys selling the .45's on GB tho. Yuck.

 

[rangerruck]

Wow!!!1 very nice price. I would still shoot the crap out of it... this is a bit different of a weapon, as far as collectibles go...it will continue to go up in value no matter what, as long as you keep it in good shape. People expect these to be shot.

 

[wrs840]

Noxx,

I got a fixer-upper Camp 9 a couple months ago for cheap. I replaced the disintigrated recoil buffer, the broken hammer-strut bridge, and bent hammer strut with parts from Numrich, and put in a in a stiffer (16.5#) recoil spring from Wolff.

My understanding is the factory recoil buffer tended to disintegrate on their own, and the combination of that defect plus the fact that the factory recoil spring was too soft (12#?), the chain-reaction to the rest of the damage mine had was very common. Luckily, mine didn't have a cracked stock, which I understand is the next domino in the chain of failure common to the Camp 9 and Camp 45 because of the the weak recoil-buffer and spring.

My repairs (learned largely from the kind advice of some folks here at THR) worked great and it was a hoot to shoot until I managed to bend the bolt-stop spring reassembling the action a few weeks ago. I bought three replacement springs (they're cheap) from Midway, but haven't replaced it yet, because it's a "captive" spring and I haven't found the courage to just grab it with pliers and yank it out yet (it still works, but unreliably) and the replacement springs seem ever-so-slightly larger in diameter than the one I'm contemplating yanking out... Sooo, I don't know what I'm doing so maybe I better not push it. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Mine seems to be a early model with the single-plate bolt stop.

As far as keeping it virgin, I'll share something I ran across reading while I was still in the "find-out-everything-I-can-about-this-Camp-9-I-bought" mode: Paraphrasing: "A Camp 9 is a outdoors tool. It should be well-worn just like your camp frying pan is". ...Or something like that.

I really like this rifle. Enjoy it!

Les

 

[Avenger29]

Replace the recoil buffer (blackjack and somebody else makes 'em) and possibly a heavier recoil spring. The Camp 9 will function with the 21lb Wolff recoil spring- it just makes cocking the action harder. I have a couple of 16lb springs that I have not tried yet, too.

It disassembles much like a Ruger 10/22. Watch the feed ramp on reassembly, and don't screw with the trigger group.

 

[memphisjim]

get it integrally suppressed

 

[Noxx]

Thanks Les! I did some of the same reading up and already ordered a new buffer and a wolf spring. Apparently a Camp cracking at the wrist is a pretty common failure.