marlin Lever action .30-.30 from 1890's + worth...

[SilentStalker]

Does anyone have any clue how much an early 1890's (possibly earlier) Marlin Lever action in perfect shape might be worth? I am just curious. I know someone that is researching them and so far he has not had much luck on determining what one would be worth today. Apparently, he has two of them in excellent shape and he may be interested in selling one. Oh, and I am not talking about the models that some of which are still produced today. I mean that these were actually made like over 120 years ago.

 

[DMH]

Are you sure they are in 30-30 cal. ?

DMH

 

[Abel]

The Marlin Model 1893 wasn't chambered for 30-30 until 1895? or 1896. Worth will vary from 500 to 2000 dollars depending on the exact configuration and condition. Pictures will be needed for further assessment.

 

[Slamfire]

That is an interesting question and one would have to look in a Blue Book for an idea, or search Gunbroker.

You have to get an account at Gunbroker to determine how much one actually sold for. I just looked and there are lots of M1893 Marlins asking $1200 or so and no bids.

All the time people confuse asking prices for value, when the value is what someone "will pay for the thing", not what someone "wants" for the thing.

I got into this at an estate sale, the people looked at Gunbroker but did not have an account. They made their price estimates based on the highest asking prices. My bud and I gave them offers based on our evaluations, the differences were hundreds of dollars off (about 70% of the asking prices) and there was unfortunately "no sale". When I got home I got into my Gunbroker account and looked at what these firearms actually sold for, and my bud and myself were "right reasonable" as you might say, nothing was selling at the hugely inflated asking prices. I will bet the sellers finally took the firearms to a local pawn shop and got half of what we offered, if they sold them at all.

If his rifle has 99% original blue and 99% period case colors, then the Marlins will have much more significant value. Looking again at Gunbroker, there are a lot of roaches for sale, only one had any of the case left. Lot of those asking $500 and no bids.

I saw some M36 and M1893's at the JM Davis Museum OK. My recollection was they were like new and the case colors were to kill for! http://www.thegunmuseum.com/jmdavis2010/currentevents.html

 

[texas chase]

Lots of folks over at marlinowners.com can help you out. Great site with tons of info

 

[MrDig]

oldguns.net

http://oldguns.net/sn_php/marlinlookup.php

Here is a link to a site for serial number look up. Getting the date it was made is a place to start for finding value.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Does anyone have any clue how much an early 1890's (possibly earlier) Marlin Lever action in perfect shape might be worth?

I'll give you $50.00 for it....


Older original lever guns in great shape can be VERY valuable make sure and do some serious study before selling it.

 

[Slamfire]

Older original lever guns in great shape can be VERY valuable make sure and do some serious study before selling it

Condition is everything.

I was watching Pawn Stars. The shop had bought a Cy Young baseball card from the early 1900's. It had crease marks and a corner gone.

The expert said these cards are very rare, one in excellent condition had sold at auction for $10,000. Which is a lot of money for a piece of printed paper.

But this card, with creases and a corner gone, worth about $200-250.

Too bad the shop bought it for $300.!

Same for rifles. My older Blue Book had pictures of 97%, 99% guns. The grading criteria for almost perfect firearms is very picky.