My new custom marlin 30-30 trapper.

[hornsurgeon]

I figured you guys might want to see my latest project. Marlin 30-30 cut down to a trapper. Still holds 3 in the tube. It’s light, handy, and quick to the shoulder. It’s pictured next to its more normal brother.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/msteenis/1F342537-F3EF-4B4B-B850-8535EDACDA9C_zpsgortapla.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/msteenis/media/1F342537-F3EF-4B4B-B850-8535EDACDA9C_zpsgortapla.jpg.html)
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/msteenis/58286449-5540-4796-83F0-EB7EB7FAD766_zpsgfaz1her.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/msteenis/media/58286449-5540-4796-83F0-EB7EB7FAD766_zpsgfaz1her.jpg.html)
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/msteenis/E5D978FD-93F5-4513-A952-1B9ECB5AA3B2_zps8vgazamz.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/msteenis/media/E5D978FD-93F5-4513-A952-1B9ECB5AA3B2_zps8vgazamz.jpg.html)

[Shawlerbrook]

Very nice. This is my shorty JES 356 Win.
215954

[dekeshooter]

Gorgeous rifles! I have a 336W that is destined to get chopped like yours and sent to JES to become a 38/55.

[FergusonTO35]

Very nice!! Love those half mag tubes and tenon forend caps.

[tigweldit]

Hey Hornsurgeon, that is one fine looking rifle. What rear sight are you using? Could you post a picture of the other side? Thanks,Tom

[nagantguy]

Very nice looking little brush busting carbine. Put a long forgotten/put off project back in my mind

[kens]

Well now, that's just plain sexy !!!!

[Cosmic_Charlie]

Very nice outcome! How did you secure the mag tube?

[MyFlatline]

I see I'm not alone on the short Marlins, here are mine.

215973

444, 35 Rem. 44 mag and 30-30
My 308 MX is not pictured

[three50seven]

Wow, I had to do a double take then check the safe when I saw that first pic....I thought maybe someone liberated my 30-30 shorty [emoji54]

Nothing like a short barreled Marlin[emoji106]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180311/e24e9d721bc9922aedb82a4e35b91bce.jpg

Sent from my LGLS775 using Tapatalk

[Buckshot]

.................Well, ya know as they say, "Back in the day", Marlin DID make lightweight versions they called (oddly enough) Light Weight models. I'd bought an old Marlin baseline model (26" oct bbl, full length mag, crescent buttplate) for a very reasonable price. The bore was beyond toast and the buttstock was cracked. It took awhile for the idea to gel, but having picked up an original 'S' type buttplate, and then remembering I had a NOS 22" tapered round Marlin barrel I'd gotten from GPC many moons ago I realized all I needed was a buttstock.

Ordered up the buttstock (cut for the 'S' buttplate) and began work.

http://www.fototime.com/0646D010EC3AB83/standard.jpghttp://www.fototime.com/44C96957E81EEFB/standard.jpg

Screwed on the barrel by hand so I could figure out where to cut down the mag tube and mill for the keeper wedge.

http://www.fototime.com/1E4724239E58BF0/standard.jpghttp://www.fototime.com/ACCA1A6355EE7FD/standard.jpg

The barrel was for the later 'CS' (I think it is) model (pre Micro Gruv, 4 groove Ballard rifling), the front sight had been on a ramp that was screwed to the barrel. No good for a 'Vintage' rifle, so I milled a dovetail into the barrel. Then I used a piece of keystock to rough out a front sight blade. The old machinist's lament (how am I gonna HOLD this thing) reared it's ugly head, so I installed it on the barrel and then finished it up. And here it is 90% done. Dovetail needs to be thinned down some (width-wise).

http://www.fototime.com/26928BA9FC376B7/standard.jpghttp://www.fototime.com/796D41814498BAA/standard.jpg

The front sight blade all finished up, and the old original rear sight installed.

http://www.fototime.com/435AFA98778F794/standard.jpghttp://www.fototime.com/0642990C499BF21/standard.jpg

The old barrel was octagon so the handguard isn't an 'Airtight' fit, but it looks good regardless. The 'S' buttplate installed on the new wood. I cold blued it and that's hard to see in this photo, but it looks just like real.

http://www.fototime.com/E07F9A427741764/standard.jpghttp://www.fototime.com/25D8C07365F37D3/standard.jpg

So here it is all finished up. The caliber remains 30-30, and a old/new version of the Marlin Lightweight.

................Buckshot

[Buckshot]

.................This is a PS: to the above, I sure wish that somehow, someway the powers that be would jump out there and re-release a flatbolt version again in original chamberings! I'd buy one or two of'em.

http://www.fototime.com/47DD87E404FADAE/standard.jpghttp://www.fototime.com/34A89A527939537/standard.jpg

This one is chambered 38-55 and came out of a gunshop in upper New York state.

http://www.fototime.com/1B284DC94ADF118/standard.jpghttp://www.fototime.com/9F5891A7D1FCEBE/standard.jpg

It was made in 1906, and still has vestiges of the color case hardening, especially in protected places. The gent who owned it, used it but took good care of it. Not bagging on the round bolt guns, just like the flatbolt Marlins :-)

..............Buckshot

[Jedman]

I really like that lightweight barrel profile, never knew that model existed. That's a beauty !

Jedman

[Outer Rondacker]

What is not to like about a lever. Sexy.

[nekshot]

hornsurg,very nice job. I did the same thing to a 30 Glenfield.

Buckshot, this a silly question but I assume that action is really smooth when it is levered?

[EMC45]

Great looking gun!

[jmort]

Hornsurgeon = Gunsurgeon
Sweetness

[flint45]

A lot of good looking Marlins here. Good job to all of you.