Marlin model 1893 circa 1910

[ATCDoktor]

Went to a local Gunshow yesterday and found a Marlin Model 1893 chambered in 30 30 hidden on the backside of a rotary rifle rack and figured I’d give it cursory look.

I eyeballed it pretty hard, working the action, checking the trigger pull/checking to see if the hammer would drop when pushed vigorously, checking the crown/bore and sights etc.

It appeared to be all there (the bore has strong rifling but is dark and frosted) and the action was tight and un molested, no splits or cracks in the wood and (although a little rough finish wise) I figured I’d see what the owner would take for it.

Now, I need another 30 30 like I need the piles but what I didn’t have up to this point was a Marlin 1893 and figured if I could get it cheap enough I could justify adding one more to the stable.

So, me and the owner dickered back and forth for a while and I managed to talk him down from $575 to $475 and he threw in two boxes of his 40 year old jacketed handloads with the deal.














I got it home and scrubbed the bore for about an hour and got it clean enough to shoot, loaded up some fairly mild rounds using 170 J-words at about 1900 fps and took it out to see how it shot.

I set a paper target up at 25 yards and fired a single round to see where it was hitting and the bullet struck 2” left of center and dead on for elevation.

Used a brass mallet and punch and tapped the rear sight to the right, fired another round and it was dead center.

I switched over to a steel swinger at 100 yards and fired another five rounds and the result was fairly satisfying:



I dropped the rear sight one notch on the elevator and fired another 4 rounds and that just about centered everything up:



I shot up the rest of the ammo I loaded and I got to thinking about the handloads he threw in with the deal.

Normally I’d break them down and reuse the brass and bullets but figured I’d see what they would do and again I was fairly surprised:

6 rounds at 100 yards with 4 grouping into 2 inches (starting charge of IMR 3031 and 150 JSP).


That’s about the best I can do with a full buckhorn sight with a tiny notch, thin front blade and 55 year old eyes.

All in all I’m very pleased with the rifle, I don’t think I got beat up too bad on the price and for a 110 year old rifle it shoots good and it scratches the itch I had for a vintage Marlin.

[rcslotcar]

I think you got a good deal on one hell of nice shooter grade rifle. Congrats!!

[Michael J. Spangler]

Looks like a junker. Send it to me and I’ll dispose of it for you.
Heck of a score!!! I’m super jealous. I need a square bolt 30/30 so bad I can taste it!

[380AUTO]

I would’ve snatched that up in a heartbeat I’ve slways wanted a full length rifle 1893.

[WehrmannsGeweher]

You made a score. I love Marlins cause you can scope them. (ancient eyes). Had I found that it would be on the way to JES to become a 38-55 !

[Shawlerbrook]

Great old Marlin ! You did very good.

[pietro]

.

Excellent grab !

Don't you wish it could talk, and let you know where it's been ? .

.

[osteodoc08]

That's awesome. Love those 93/336 marlins.

[Baltimoreed]

Nice rifle and good shooting, at the Md Antique Arms show i came across a Marlin take down in .32-40 I think but with an extra bbl with a full length mag in 30-30. Nice checkered wood, a used but handsome rifle. I’ve always liked a Marlin over a Winchester. Never saw a Marlin takedown before.

[50target]

Marlin 93 shooter that has clean patina, full wood at metal and tight with a bore that shoots like that, what's not to like. Did I notice the barrel is tapered? They are on my 1897, early 39 and original 94. Marlin'are sweet.
Enjoy
Bob

[Buzz Krumhunger]

Neat old gun. Nice catch.

[TNsailorman]

I have always like the square bolt marlins and also I love octagon barrels on about any rifle. Really nice rifle and a great price on it too. What's not to like? james

[Eddie Southgate]

Sounds like a deal to me , Congratulations .

[Winger Ed.]

You'll put your eye out kid.

You need to send it over here for your own safety.

[ATCDoktor]

Thanks for all the kind words, I really appreciate it.

Sometimes things just kinda work out reference this kind of stuff.

I spent the first part of the week scouring Gunsinternational for a shooter grade Marlin 1893 and couldn’t find anything that I really wanted to take a chance on (at the pice I wanted to pay).

I’m kinda skidish when it comes to buying something like this off the internet (110 year old working/ranch gun) sight unseen and I was fairly fortunate to find it at the show for the the price I paid (and I almost didn’t go).

As previously stated, its all there, unmolested, used but not abused, 26 inch tapered barrel (.900” at the breach and approximately 605” at the muzzle) no cracks in the wood and even the sights are original (you don’t know how many leverguns I’ve looked at with the either wrong rear sight or no or improper rear sight elevator or a front sight that wasn’t right).

I was concerned about getting it to shoot and my backup plan was to send it to JES for a rebore to 38 55 if the original bore wouldn’t group but I feel that’s not an issue now that I’ve fired it.

I need to slug the bore to see what size bollit it’ll take but for right now I’m content shooting 170 grain Jwords at around 1850-1950 FPS (I have a couple thousand of those laying around).

[50target]

A little time on those screw head slots &brown them and she will be lookin good. That rear sight elevator is a dead give away if it is wrong. Nice nice 93
Bob

[Thumbcocker]

Boolits please.

[John Taylor]

I have one that was passed down from my father. Story goes that it was found in an old miners cabin. The roof had fallen in and the barrel was damaged so the finder sent it back to Marlin and had a 30-30 carbine barrel installed ( originally it was a 25-36 ). My father picked it up for fixing the finders car. I found a rifle barrel in 25-36 that was shot out and rebored it to 38-55 then installed on the gun with new mag tube and forearm wood. There are three notches on the bottom of the stock, three claim jumper?

[Maine1]

excellent work sir!
LOVE seeing people take these old " obsolete" rifles out shooting.

Often makes me wonder how many of the current crop of AR's will still be in working order come 2119.