The sad quality of Marlin firearms nowadays

[Mosin Bubba]

Two pounds, not eight ounces and I hunt with a 10lb rifle every year. Leave the macho nonsense out of it.

What gets me is that the Henrys are nearly twice - twice- as heavy as a 16" Rossi in the same caliber.

What does the Henry do to justify that much weight?

 

[someguy2800]

The steel big boys are much lighter than the brass and silver ones with the heavy octagon barrels according to there website. 7 lbs for the steel model vs 6.5 for a marlin.

 

[montess85]

Two pounds, not eight ounces and I hunt with a 10lb rifle every year. Leave the macho nonsense out of it.

According to both companies websites the difference is 8oz. The 1894 in 44 magnum is 6 1/2lbs, and a Henry Big Boy Steel is 7 lbs. That is 8oz. I agree the Big Boy with the brass receiver and the octagonal barrels are tanks. The again the Marlin CB models with octagonal barrels aren't light either. Like I said if Henry only made those my opinions would probably be different. I was also just busting your chops. I'm sure you're tough enough.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I'm not talking about preventing defects. I'm talking about offering a higher level of fit & finish than Marlin has historically provided. But there is also a blurred line here as well. Because of all the valid issues that have come up during the Remlin transition, people are much more critical than in the past. Flaws that would have been overlooked or not even seen as flaws in the past are now grabbing folks' attention. Which was the point I was trying to make in my first post. Marlin has never bothered to match forends to buttstocks. They have always left machine marks on receivers, had uneven finishes on the receiver sides and spotty wood to metal fit. It was always acceptable for their price point. Now that they are more critical, they think these issues are new when in fact, they were always there. They just didn't notice before, or care.

Do I need to take detailed pictures of my JM Marlins to illustrate?

I even remember when the anniversary 39 came out with fancy wood and an octagon barrel. I was appalled that it had the same rough machine work as the rest, for double the price I paid for my 94/22's.

Good points I hadn't considered.

 

[CraigC]

According to both companies websites the difference is 8oz. The 1894 in 44 magnum is 6 1/2lbs, and a Henry Big Boy Steel is 7 lbs. That is 8oz. I agree the Big Boy with the brass receiver and the octagonal barrels are tanks. The again the Marlin CB models with octagonal barrels aren't light either. Like I said if Henry only made those my opinions would probably be different. I was also just busting your chops. I'm sure you're tough enough.

Octagon to octagon the difference is two pounds. I haven't bothered to look since. I'll take a Rossi 92 over a Henry any day of the week, or spend a little more for a new Winchester.

 

[CraigC]

What gets me is that the Henrys are nearly twice - twice- as heavy as a 16" Rossi in the same caliber.

What does the Henry do to justify that much weight?

I know that on their octagon barrels, they use way too heavy a profile with no taper. Marlin uses a lighter contoured, tapered Badger barrel.

 

[Speedo66]

My 20" round barrel Rossi is about 5lbs.

 

[montess85]

Octagon to octagon the difference is two pounds. I haven't bothered to look since. I'll take a Rossi 92 over a Henry any day of the week, or spend a little more for a new Winchester.

You have't looked at Henry in a few years then. The new Big Boy Steel models are round barrels. Those ones aren't much heavier than Marlins. They even have all weather models that are hard chromed. They also offer their rifles in 41 magnum ,327 federal magnum, and .410. They even have a detachable magazine series of rifles similar to the BLR called the Long Ranger. They have been coming out with a whole bunch of new stuff. Including single shot shotguns and rifles.

 

[bikemutt]

As someone who's spent a fair amount of time in the industrial automation business the saddest comment concerning quality I've come across is "I only need to be as good as my closest competitor". Not saying that sentiment pervades American industry but, to this day, they are still a successful enterprise. I've seen the complaints, they are part of being in business. You deal with the complaints, keep pushing out product and smile, all the way to the bank.