Marlin 1936

[LedShed]

Help!!!:confused:

I have just had a Marlin 1936 handed down to me by my 92 year old grandfather. I'm itching to pull the trigger on it, but there's a problem. I have no idea what it's chambered for. I don't see anything on it telling me, and what I've read on line is that it's been chambered in about 4 or 5 different calibers but no mention as to how to tell the difference. Can anyone help?

[Hickory]

I must say something on the barrel.

[Wayne Smith]

Take a closeup pic of the writing on the barrel. Post that. Someone can help you. The next option would be to do a chamber cast. If you don't know how, do a search on this site and you will find a number of ideas. Cerrosafe from Brownells is my preferred method, but Rotometals has a similar alloy.

[Jim]

LedShed, the caliber should be stamped on the left side of the barrel, just ahead of the receiver. If you find nothing there, you might wanna take some pics of any stampings you find and post it. Might be something there that someone will recognize and be able to help you with.

If that fails, you may have to take it to a KNOWLEDGEABLE gun smith(if you can find one!) to have the caliber determined. Just my opinion, but I wouldn't trust a gun shop counter clerk to tell you that.

[richhodg66]

Try to post a few pictures of the rifle, seems like it would most likely be a .30-30 which on some old guns is called the .30 Winchester Center Fire or .30 WCF, so look for something like that.

Is your grandfather still alive? If so, he could probaly tell you a lot about it and that would be some interesting listening.

[Rimfire]

The 1936 was only chambered in 30-30 or 32 special.

[.30/30 Guy]

Mine is stamped 30-30 upside down on the right side next to the receiver.

[pls1911]

Barrel stampings should indicate 30-30, or 30 WCF or look on top of the barrel just in front of the receiver...
It may be like one of my '36s, and be marked "32 HP " for .32 High Power which is the same as .32 Win Special.
Markings on my barrels are about 10 point in size and pretty faint.

[BruceB]

My Model 1936 is chambered for the .32 Special.

The caliber marking is on the LEFT side of the barrel, about 10" in front of the receiver....just under the "Marlin Firearms Company...." stamp. It's in VERY tiny print, maybe only 1/16" high, and very lightly stamped, in the bargain. Mine reads ".32 Special".

I had to SEARCH for it, so don't feel badly!

[LedShed]

The cal. stamp on mine was on top of the barrel just in front of the receiver cleverly covered by the scope that had been installed. Thanks guys!![smilie=w: