Marlin 60 / 99 accumulators: what do you look for?

[MatthewVanitas]

I recently picked up my second Marlin of the tube-semi variety (any easier name for that large family of numbers and names)? Got a Marlin 99 M1 Carbine for $60 OTD, will post pics and writeup in a couple weeks.

That got me to thinking: I see the Marlins all over the place for low prices, and know that we have folks on THR who pick them up cheap wherever they go, use them to train newbies, give them as gifts, stack them like cordwood, etc.

Those of you who pick up used Marlin .22 tube-feds at every opportunity: what is your priority list for the various models? What's your cut-off price? They're $99 for the brand-new 14rd/boltstop model at Academy, but even in pawnshops I don't see anyone trying to charge over retail.

I paid $50 for my Marlin 60 (18 round, before they went to 14, but after they added the bolt-stop). I don't think I'd go much higher on this model, as it's so long as to be clunky, uncomfortable stock, and the entire trigger assembly is plastic. Don't get me wrong, it's accurate and holds 18 chunks of lead on tap, but it's not a comfy rifle.

I'm pretty happy with the $60 for my M1-lookalike. I think in general I'd be willing to pay more in the $60-70 range for the carbine Marlins, the higher end for the full-tube ones (10rds? 12rds?). I much prefer the 16" length over the 20" or so on the 18rd, seems a lot handier.

Any input from those who've been buying Marlins since my father was in short-pants would be much appreciated.

-MV

 

[rangerruck]

this is a regional thing, a perfect m99 down here in houston would go for 200 bucks. also we(I) look for the perfect stock , and if it has got power wolf or super squirrel on the stock, then you must pick it up. there are some good squirrels stocks around here, but not in perfect condition. so if you find the wolf or squirrel in great condition or better, you pick it up no matter what the cost on it is. because you know it will go up in value. i've seen a perfect squirrel go for 150 bucks here pretty easy.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

How do I tell if it's a "super" squirrel, or is it just that checkered stock with the engraved squirrel in general? A local shop had one for $69, maybe I'll drop in and see if I it's still around.

What is significant about the wolf? Do those just correspond to certain desirable serial numbers, is it just that the stocks themselves are cool, or did those rifles have particularly interesting features?

-MV

 

[runninmike]

One reason that they are so inexpensive is because they are mostly a no frills rifle that have been made literally by the millions. I have one I paid $70"ish" new in 1987. It is super accurate and really a pleasure to shoot with it's long heavy bbl and it clips the heads right off gophers with hollow points. Mine is the M60 plain stock with the full length tube that I can get 19 rounds into. As far as the squirrel goes, I see them around once in awhile, and I think they have an impression of an acorn in the pistol grip and more impressino on the forearm area-kind of a fancy version from the 60s and 70s.
Best-MC

 

[mnrivrat]

You might want to take note of the ejector system in the Marlins. The old style ejector was molded into the feedthroat of the gun and wore out rather quickly causing jams.
They can be changed out with the new style throat and lifter spring who's tail acts as the ejector on the new style. This is not a job for the faint of heart however , and I would not pay much for a gun with the old style ejector.

ps: I'm refering to the tube feed models only

 

[MatthewVanitas]

@mnrivrat:

Is there any serial# range for identifying the early extractors? Any clues I should look for?

-MV

 

[mnrivrat]

Slide the bolt to the rear and and look to see if the ejector is a piece of wire (bottom left side of bolt face) . If it's a wire, it is new style - if you don't see the wire, it is old style.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

@rangerruck: now you've done it... Driving back from New Orleans to Austin, I took some backroad shortcuts, thus hit backroad pawnshops. Picked up a 16" Marlin 75C carbine with squirrel stock for $60 OTD in Dayton, TX. The bad news: the external metal is crusty on the steel and worn on the aluminum, but the bore looks good and the trigger is great. So I'll clean it up and shoot it, and then take a brass-brush and oil to the old corrosion. The squirrel stock is in pretty decent shape. Carving of squirrel with nut, but no separate acorn.

So now I've paid $50 for a 1980s Marlin 60, $60 for a Marlin 99 M1 carbine, and $60 for a Marlin 75C carbine. I'll have to put them all together and take a pic. Perhaps alongside my $175 39A. Not the best bargains on THR, but not too bad overall.

-MV

 

[rangerruck]

mmm...marlin stocks, . me likey. just saw on another site aguy picked up a perfect stock squirrel with the bunny logo coin imprint on the other side....
'scuze me drooling.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

@rangerruck:

Though in danger or sounding ignorant, I'll ask: what is it about the stocks? Do they signify something special about the rifle itself, or do you just enjoy the ornamentation?

I will, of course, keep the stocks as are, as none of them are so destroyed as to need refinishing. Just wanted to know if there was something magical about the squirrel and such, or whether they're just cool.

Off to run errands, and pick up some fine brass wool to remove the encrusted scale from the blued steel. Nice thing about a $60 rifle, I'm not too worried about making it worse than it is. Bought these as plinkers to eventually hand off to newbies, so as long as they're functional I'm happy.

Any tips on on a non-intrusive way to make the stocks look a bit slicker? Was there some trick with Pledge or Murphy's?

-MV