Marlin M1895 survey

[Marlin Junky]

I would like to know how many out there own at least one old model Marlin 1895, what caliber it's chambered for; and, if you don't own one, would you like to if they were offered as reproductions in the original chamberings?

MJ

[dubber123]

1895 Cowboy in 45-70.

[NHlever]

I have an 1895 in 45-70. I don't think that the current model 1895 could be chambered in many of the original calibers because the action is quite a bit shorter than the original.

[Marlin Junky]

My question above pertained to the old model 1895 that came in .33 WCF, 45-90, 40-82, etc., and was discontinued before 1920.

MJ

[dubber123]

Aaah, old model, I need to read slower...

[Mumblypeg]

Got one,45-70. Right this minute I don't know how old, ser# B00####. Don't think I need another caliber, think I got too many guns already???

[Marlin Junky]

Got one,45-70. Right this minute I don't know how old, ser# B00####. Don't think I need another caliber, think I got too many guns already???

A "B" gun... sounds like post 1911. Is it a lightweight version? Got pics?

MJ

[NHlever]

Oops!

[Mumblypeg]

Lightweight? Explain. I'm not a guru on them, just like em. It's got a half mag, strait stock and curved black butt plate. Pictures? Well I haven't gotten around to that yet but I'll figure it out one day... dang, so many things to do.

[Dandy2fingers]

I own several... I only lack the 40-82. My 45-70 is a .462 diameter ! I use a .464 pure lead bullet and xmp5744... Extremely accurate. Since I am a Marlin collector, some of the very first reproduction rifles (the 1895's) ended up out here.

They were poorly made and we let Marlin know that. Heck, I had Marlin send me almost a complete 1894 and we re-built it... It was that poorly made: chatter marks everywhere, out-of-true bores, ill-regular and poorly developed rifling, etc.... Their customer service department hated me...

BEFORE SASS, we were shooting cowboy action and had told Marlin that reproducing the old 1893,4 and 5 rifles would be an extremely profitable idea... We recommended 1893, 38-55; 1894, 44-40 and 1895, 45-70... Go figure.

Marlin did not have the tooling nor the capital to do so at the time. Heck, it took them almost 10 years to get what they were just starting production-reproducing straight....

My experience is that most people buy whatever is cheapest... The average shooter doesn't really know the difference between a Marlin or a Winchester. They buy what ever they can afford. Winchester won the West !! Marlin, didn't they make 22's???

Of course, Marlins have fewer parts, are extremely easy to field strip and clean and very rarely jam... Winchesters are just the opposite.

So, would it be wise to reproduce the other calibers, no.... Should Marlin go back to weapons grade steel receives and bolts, return to late 19th century craftsmanship and build rifles as they were issued originally, YES.... they'd make a mint.