Marlin History - Bolt action .22lr

[alfsauve]

My S-I-L's husband past away recently and she asked if I'd dispose of his firearms.   Unfortunately, her son took the cream of the crop when he was visiting and all I have left is a Win 94, a NEF 12ga pump and a Marlin .22lr Bolt.

Having trouble finding info on the .22.   It's very plain Jane stock, magazine fed bolt action with no S/N.  The metal surfaces are rough, not brown rust but oxidized in places and I can barely make out Marlin....   and Model 30.  Action's a little gummy but easily cleanable. 

Anybody have any insight into its possible value and or a website/forum with more info?

Pictures to follow.

[alfsauve]

Here are the three guns.   I'm thinking $50 for the Marlin .22lr unless there's a large collectable demand.  $175 for the NEF Shotgun. And $750 for the 94.  It is a pre-64 if that means anything.

[MikeBjerum]

I took a little time, stress little, and all I found is that the model 30 is their cheaper rifle sold through chain stores (Montgomery Ward, Sears, K-Mart, etc.). Descriptions fit your rifle, until they talk caliber.  The model 30 talked by posters and articles were all center fire.  Oh yea, and it was a lever action. They are all saying that the Model 30 is the cheap line of the Model 336.

From your photo and description I would compare it to the Savage line sold through hardware stores and chains. Any working .22lr rifle, regardless of model, should fit in that $50 range. The single shot Savage I got from my f-i-l, and the Nobel Lever that came from my father both show up online for $50-$75.

[PegLeg45]

Are you sure that's a "3" and not an "8"?

Marlin made a Model 80 in .22LR and photos look like yours.
As mentioned in the video below, probably pre-'64 before S/N's were required.

[alfsauve]

<BTW - I can thank autocorrect, a primitive form of AI, for changing Marlin to Marline in the subject line>

After further examination, it appears to  be stamped Model 80.  I may try to clean up the barrel a little and see if I can bring that out better.
Fired a .22CB with it this morning.  Crisp, no creep trigger, but with a hugh amount of overtravel.  That could be corrected easily with a mod.

I may invest in the Marlin Forum and post it for sale there, or put it on the GA The Outdoor Traders site.  Then again I could clean it up really good before I sell it.  Hmmm, do I need another project?

I'm definitely putting the NEF 12g and the 94 on my ranges forum to see if anyone bites.

[Sponsor]

[Rastus]

Pre-64 is going to mean something even if it doesn't really mean anything for a particular model.  Compared to Gunbroker your Model 94 is priced to sell!

[alfsauve]

A new project it is.

Sanded the grip bottom and rid it of the hand carved Fleur-de-lis.  Fortunately it was only "skin deep".  Now to work on the rest of the stock getting off decades of soaked in dirt, sweat, skin cells and oils.    I may dabble at the action and barrel each day also. 

[Big Frank]

From Wikipedia, "Marlin Model 80 (and subsequent 80C etc.) Bolt action .22 rimfire using 7-capacity detachable magazine introduced circa 1939, the predecessor to later versions such as Model 25, etc.  Marlin Model 25M, .22 WMR bolt-action rifle. Marlin Model 25MG, .22 WMR, smooth bore, bolt-action shotgun. It was designed and marketed as a "Garden Gun".  Marlin Model 25N, now the Model 925, a .22 Short, .22 Long, and .22 Long Rifle bolt-action rifle." They made a magnum version of that one too. From the very little I read about it, the .22 LR was supposed to be a real tack driver, despite the trigger. Weren't serial numbers required as part of the GCA '68?

P.S. I don't let my computers auto-correct my spelling. They can tell me I made a mistake, and if I notice it underlined something, I'll see if I did or not, but a machine doesn't dictate what I say.

[alfsauve]

<long sigh>  as this project strings out.

Got the stock sanded, filler, sanded, filler, sanded, filler, steel wool, stained, steel wool, stained, light steel wool.   Not perfect, but much cleaner and feels nice to the touch.

Got a magazine in and got the mag catch, which was missing, from Numrich.  It didn't come with the necessary machine screw.  I did think about this, but the catch was part #42 and the screw was #41, however in the drop down list they didn't have a part #41 to order.  I was kinda expecting the screw to come with the catch.  Nothing I have fits.  Given it's age it's a cinch it is NOT metric.  Sure enough  3mm is too small and 4mm is too big.  A 6-32 starts but binds up so I'm thinking it's a 6-40 or 6-48.  Wanting to patronize local stores I went to ACE today.  No joy, because while they carry #2 and #4 fine threads, but not #6.   Decided to bite the bullet and ordered a Pachmayer screw kit with both 6-40 and 6-48 sizes, among others. 

Meanwhile back on the Numrich site, which is now branded "gunpartscorp" I discovered in the drop down price list the very last item is numbered "NP"... Not Pictured.  Well the screw was pictured but I wondered if these guns might have had a escutcheon plate under the grip.  One of the reasons for working on the stock was that a previous owner and crudely tried to carve a fleur-de-lis there.  Nope.  No plate, BUT that is where they had hidden the mag catch screws.   I could get a new one or an original used one.  Since I've already ordered an assortment, I'll pass.

And the days tick by, the parts eat up space on the work bench, I can't advertise it for sale yet until I know it all works, and I'd like to get this sold for my SIL.




On an unrelated note.  I've got the sin of pride.  Pride in that I saw an opportunity and took it.  Knew from the moment I saw it that I should take it.   #3 grand decided last week to join the band program in middle school and with encouragement from everyone decided to play trumpet.   Just happened on Friday a trumpet popped up for sale in FB Market palace.   Posted by a band director friend.  It's a Bach student model with 2 Bach mouthpieces for $300.  Even without the grand needing a trump, I knew to jump on it and would have resold it for a lot more money.  Had the cash in my pocket so right after my friend finished with classes I went over and picked it up.  He tried to argue me down to $275 because we're friends (he was also #2 grands elementary music teacher for 5 years) but I held firm and only let him lower the price to $285.    #3 grand is thrilled.  Her parents are relieved they don't have to worry about that.   

Father forgive me for my pride.  Pride that I knew a good deal and didn't hesitate.  Pride that I have such a good network of friends (you guys included). And pride that I had the funds to afford this.

New student grade Bachs, btw, was go for ~$1k msrp.

[Rastus]

Below are a couple of gunsmith screw sets from one of Michael's fine sponsors, Midway USA.  Midway is sure enough a supporter of the shooting sports...as I digress.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1007371670?pid=454524

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1007121975?pid=967567

Glad you made a deal on a trumpet that makes everyone happy.  I finally have my first grandchild who arrived this month...if he wants to play hopefully he'll be happy with my old clarinet....it's paid for!