[sheddoggie]

I have what I believe is a Model 36 RC 30-30. However, the serial number has no letter prefix and it has Model 1893 on the tang. It's a beautiful gun and in pristine condition. It also appears to have a custom stock. This was my Grandfathers hunting rifle. It was drilled for a scope at some point, I removed the scope. Anywhere else on the gun I can look for clues as to what it is?

 

[sheddoggie]

Greetings..

http://www.marlinforum.com/forum/f20/new-member-utah-3264/#post55210

 

[sheddoggie]

Any place else on the gun there might be markings? I can tear it down if there is.

I'm wondering if this is a transition gun. Maybe the last guns made in 47 before the 336 came out. I'll look to see what the 336 serial numbers look like.

 

[sheddoggie]

plugging the serial number into this dates the gun as 1900.
http://oldguns.net/sn_php/marlinlookup.php

That would match the Model 1893 on the tang...but not the Model 36 on the barrel.

I'm in process of tearing the gun down now. Looking at the screw heads, it's never been taken apart. This gun looks like it was just taken out of the box. I'll have to be very careful...

 

[sheddoggie]

The mystery deepens. I found a good, clear number on the inside of the tang. The stock was made by my Father. It matches his design on all the other guns. So I'm thinking this was a retrofit with a model 36 barrel to enable the use of smokeless bullets. Who ever did the work did an exceptional job. The gun was re-blued and completely refurbished. My guess...it was done by Marlin. Or, maybe it was the tail end of the 1983 model that evolved into the 1936/36 model. Since no one is alive to tell me more about this gun, I'll just have to be content with these explanations. For now, it will get a good cleaning and lube.

 

[sheddoggie]

That furniture is beautiful...

Treasure the firearm and the legacy it holds...and shoot it, will ya !!??

I'll see if I can find some light loads for it. From what I have read, there was some issues with the re-barrels. Since the receiver was made for lower velocity loads there was some "flexing" issues with the lower tang. Although this modification looks like it used the Model 36 lower tang.
One other mystery is the curved lever. It doesn't appear to have been modified. I know there were several variations of the Model 36, one being called a "Special" and it looks like the lower tang and lever came from that model. The original Model 1893 had a straight lever and tang. Really, this gun is in mint condition. the barrel looks new inside.

 

[sheddoggie]

I thought I'd contact Marlin just to see if they maybe knew something. I got a response asking for photos. Sent them some phots and got another response from them saying they didn't do the work and it is indeed a 1893 model with a model 36 barrel. Which was already known. They said: " The 36 RC barrel was installed outside of our factory, and is not recommend to be fired." Pretty sure Grandpa would disagree and fed the family for many years with this gun. I'll hang her on the wall in memory of Grandpa and if I run into a box of light load 30-30 shells, I'll take her out and shoot a few rounds. Sure is a pretty gun and Grandpa took very good care of it. I found a photo in the family album of the gun and a knife my Dad made. Not sure when the photo was taken. Dad did an excellent job on the stock, fits like a glove.