JM marked Marlin 1894c .357/38

Bafflingbs · Mar 16, 2015

What is the most you would pay for a JM proofed Marlin 1894c, in .357 mag? The guy I am buying one from says it's in 99% condition. I looked on G/B, and the amounts these rifles are going for, are astronomical. One buy it now price was around $3500. Now I know, that that is way too much. But, at what point did it become way too much? I did commit to the sale, and hope I didn't get taken. Until I hear from some of you leaver guys, I won't reveal what I am about to pay. Also, where can I look up the serial number, so I can get the date of manufacture?

JBinDC · Mar 16, 2015

Wow! Did you add an extra 0 in there? What kinda provenance did they mention to justify that kinda price? That gun has been on my radar and I'm always looking for one at a gun show here and there, but the pricing I've seen has been $400-600 for a "well loved" example, to upwards of a little over a grand for a low round count JM.

fidelity · Mar 16, 2015

I don't know the Marlin market, but the upper threshold that you suggested may have everything to do with rarity and speculation vs quality. The 1894 mechanism is really well suited for longer and more powerful cartridges than 357. In fact, some 1894s can have feeding issues with pistol calibers. If you're more interested in the caliber than getting a Marlin per se, at $900-1100 there are a lot of excellent options from Winchester (new Miroku production or used Connecticut production) in both 1873 and 1892 models. There are also beautiful Taylor/Uberti 1873s chambering 357 in the same price range. When the Marlins were being produced pre-Remington buy out, they would not have been considered superior to Winchester or Uberti options in 357, nor were they ever as pretty as a Henry (although these might lack a side loading gate). As you probably know, there are many Rossi 1892 options that chamber 357 in the $500-600 range. Unless the Marlin is a bargain or you are a committed JM collector, you owe it to yourself to take a look and handle the Winchesters, Taylor/Ubertis, and Rossis. As mentioned, the 1873 and 1892 mechanisms may also be more suitable for 357. With a Winchester 1894 or Marlin 1894c, the quintessential chambering is more in line with the 30-30 cartridge.

Cheesehead · Mar 16, 2015

Don't confuse a Marlin 1894 with a Winchester 1894. The Winny 94 is designed for longer cartriges (30-30, 32 Special). The Marlin 1894 is a completely different design, and is specifically designed for pistol calibers, .357, 44 mag, 45 Colt. I bought an 1894c at Chantilly last summer and paid $875. More than I wanted to pay, but they are hard to find and I wanted one. Somewhere between $700- $1000 seems to be the going rate. JM proofed Marlins built before the Remington takeover are what you want. It's similar to the pre '64 Winchester divide. They will always be worth more. Even after they "cleaned up their act" after the move to Ilion, the Remlins, as they are called, still don't compare to a JM rifle. Check out the Marlinowners forum. Lots of good info there, and they occasionally have an 1894c in the classifieds.

lee2 · Mar 16, 2015

link?

fidelity · Mar 16, 2015

Cheesehead said:
Don't confuse a Marlin 1894 with a Winchester 1894. The Winny 94 is designed for longer cartriges (30-30, 32 Special). The Marlin 1894 is a completely different design, and is specifically designed for pistol calibers, .357, 44 mag, 45 Colt. I bought an 1894c at Chantilly last summer and paid $875. More than I wanted to pay, but they are hard to find and I wanted one. Somewhere between $700- $1000 seems to be the going rate. JM proofed Marlins built before the Remington takeover are what you want. It's similar to the pre '64 Winchester divide. They will always be worth more. Even after they "cleaned up their act" after the move to Ilion, the Remlins, as they are called, still don't compare to a JM rifle. Check out the Marlinowners forum. Lots of good info there, and they occasionally have an 1894c in the classifieds.

Appreciate the correction (fellow cheesehead

).

Baffling, still think you should handle a few options before deciding. There are desirable aspects of the 1873 and 1892 designs.

Jimbob2.0 · Mar 16, 2015

Sadly, unfortunately, for no rational reason the JM 1894s in the popular .357/.38 caliber are easily going for $800 to $1000 pretty regularly. Some outliers go through the roof and don't ask what a stainless example goes for.

Bafflingbs · Mar 16, 2015

The guy had it listed on gunsamerica, for $999. I just found out that sold it out from under me. Even after I hit the commit button. Is the way you would find a manufacture date for the 1894's, by taking the first 2 numbers, and subtracting them from 100? I found another one that starts with 18051xxx. But it has the cross bolt safety. Supposedly, they weren't added until 1983. But this serial number, puts it at 1982. If that logic holds true, something seems strange.

Jimbob2.0 · Mar 16, 2015

Bafflingbs said:
The guy had it listed on gunsamerica, for $999. I just found out that sold it out from under me. Even after I hit the commit button. Is the way you would find a manufacture date for the 1894's, by taking the first 2 numbers, and subtracting them from 100? I found another one that starts with 18051xxx. But it has the cross bolt safety. Supposedly, they weren't added until 1983. But this serial number, puts it at 1982. If that logic holds true, something seems strange.

That sucks but it may be good in the end, that's a lot of coin for that rifle.

As noted by Fidelity above, you may want to get a Rossi to use until you find a more heirloom quality gun. Lever guns were tools and Rossi is the only one making one in tool price range. They work well with a little tweaking.

jimbobborg · Mar 16, 2015

These occasionally show up on the SASS Wire. People are quick to snap them up. They're tough guns and are pretty soft shooting in that caliber.

lee2 · Mar 16, 2015

Bafflingbs said:
The guy had it listed on gunsamerica, for $999. I just found out that sold it out from under me. Even after I hit the commit button. Is the way you would find a manufacture date for the 1894's, by taking the first 2 numbers, and subtracting them from 100? I found another one that starts with 18051xxx. But it has the cross bolt safety. Supposedly, they weren't added until 1983. But this serial number, puts it at 1982. If that logic holds true, something seems strange.

I'll sell you mine for $1000.

Schwabe · Mar 16, 2015

I bought the Marlin 1894css in .357 with JM stamp in the summer of '13 in the middle of the buying frenzy. I wanted a matching pair to my SW 627PC, just like the Camp .45 with the SW1911PC.

I paid back then for the harder to get stainless steel model $1,399 which I thought was outrageous and sure to be the top of the frenzy. Now they start at $1,500. They are very sweet shooting guns, almost no recoil whatsoever. A few tweaks and polishing and you have a very nice trigger pull.

Every gun I did not buy when I had the chance at the end cost me more money when I finally got around to it. Now many might say this is way too much for a Marlin lever but I enjoy it very much and they do not make them anymore in this quality.

Jimbob2.0 · Mar 16, 2015

Schwabe said:
I bought the Marlin 1894css in .357 with JM stamp in the summer of '13 in the middle of the buying frenzy. I wanted a matching pair to my SW 627PC, just like the Camp .45 with the SW1911PC.

I paid back then for the harder to get stainless steel model $1,399 which I thought was outrageous and sure to be the top of the frenzy. Now they start at $1,500. They are very sweet shooting guns, almost no recoil whatsoever. A few tweaks and polishing and you have a very nice trigger pull.

Every gun I did not buy when I had the chance at the end cost me more money when I finally got around to it. Now many might say this is way too much for a Marlin lever but I enjoy it very much and they do not make them anymore in this quality.

Isnt that the truth, I picked up a Rem made 336Y over the weekend because its compact, its 30-30 and a decent truck/brush gun. Everything seems to function fine but I would put the quality of the machining and fit in the same category as Rossi. My JM 1894P is a piece of art.

Bafflingbs · Mar 16, 2015

Schwabe said:
I bought the Marlin 1894css in .357 with JM stamp in the summer of '13 in the middle of the buying frenzy. I wanted a matching pair to my SW 627PC, just like the Camp .45 with the SW1911PC.

I paid back then for the harder to get stainless steel model $1,399 which I thought was outrageous and sure to be the top of the frenzy. Now they start at $1,500. They are very sweet shooting guns, almost no recoil whatsoever. A few tweaks and polishing and you have a very nice trigger pull.

Every gun I did not buy when I had the chance at the end cost me more money when I finally got around to it. Now many might say this is way too much for a Marlin lever but I enjoy it very much and they do not make them anymore in this quality.

BEAUTIFUL!!!!

fidelity · Mar 16, 2015

Schwabe said:
I bought the Marlin 1894css in .357 with JM stamp in the summer of '13 in the middle of the buying frenzy. I wanted a matching pair to my SW 627PC, just like the Camp .45 with the SW1911PC.

I paid back then for the harder to get stainless steel model $1,399 which I thought was outrageous and sure to be the top of the frenzy. Now they start at $1,500. They are very sweet shooting guns, almost no recoil whatsoever. A few tweaks and polishing and you have a very nice trigger pull.

Every gun I did not buy when I had the chance at the end cost me more money when I finally got around to it. Now many might say this is way too much for a Marlin lever but I enjoy it very much and they do not make them anymore in this quality.

I like your guns. :whoa:

The stainless S&W 627 pairing with the stainless Marlin is appealing. Are those Skinner sights on the Marlin?

Schwabe · Mar 16, 2015

Yes, I like the skinners, very robust and easy to pick up target.

fidelity · Mar 16, 2015

Cool.

Was looking at options on their website for my 1892 (although considering a tang sight for my 1873).

Bafflingbs · Mar 16, 2015

lee2 said:
I'll sell you mine for $1000.

SOLD!!!!!!!!(for 900) :patriot:

P.S. LEE2, I already ordered the top filler screws of off EBay.

fidelity · Mar 16, 2015

Congrats.

Blued rifle? You have a 586 to match, right (or was it a Model 29)? Look forward to the pics.

Bafflingbs · Mar 16, 2015

You got it right! a 586... Good memory. Hell, Lee2 can show the pictures now.

JM marked Marlin 1894c .357/38

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