Rifleman Q & A: Marlin Heirloom

by
posted on February 25, 2019
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
marlheir.jpg

Q: I have an octagonal-barreled .30-30 Win. lever-action rifle with no definitive past, other than it belonged to my grandfather, who supposedly was stationed in the Philippines with the U.S. Navy. The rifle has the words “SPECIAL SMOKELESS STEEL” stamped on the left side of the barrel below the rear sight. It is also stamped “MARLIN SAFETY” and “MODEL 1893” on either side of the hammer. A stamped serial number, 384XXX, can be seen forward of the trigger guard. Can you help identify this family heirloom?

A: Nearly 1 million Model 1893 Marlin lever-action rifles were manufactured between 1893 and 1935. It was a highly regarded repeater available in the popular chamberings of the day, including: .25-36 Marlin, .30-30 Win., .32 Win. Spl., .32-40 Win. and .38-55 Win., with .30-30 Win. being the most common. Both rifle and carbine configurations were offered, as well as special-order guns. Your Model 1893 is definitely a rifle variant. Rifle barrel lengths ran from 24" to 32". The fact it is stamped “MODEL 1893” on the tang, plus the barrel markings, indicate that it was probably made between 1894 and 1916. --Garry James

Latest

Star Model B Ihtog 1
Star Model B Ihtog 1

I Have This Old Gun: Star Model B

Of the many Spanish-made firearms to emerge throughout the 19th and 20th century, one of the most recognizable is the Star Model B, largely due to its similarity to the Colt Model 1911.

New For 2025: Kimber Next Generation 1911

For its latest M1911 offering, Kimber Mfg. borrowed design elements from its double-stack 2K11 pistol to create what it calls the Next Generation 1911.

Review: Charter Arms Double Dog

Charter Arms is an American gunmaker that has offered its own versions of compact, double-action revolvers at fair prices for more than 60 years.

Rifleman Q&A: Mysterious “Broomhandle” Bring-Back

"My favorite gun is inoperable, so I have not shot it. It is one of two weapons that my dad brought back from the Philippines after World War II, the other being a sword."

New Jersey Town Supports CCW With Fee Refund

The city of Englishtown, N.J., recently made a move to reduce that financial barrier, sparking widespread optimism that a statewide, even nationwide, trend may be on the horizon.

Review: Savage Arms Revel

Lever-action rifles have experienced a revival in recent years, and Savage Arms is getting in on the act with its Revel series rimfires. To understand it, you may have to read (backward) between the lines.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.