Make: Marlin

Model: 1893 Takedown

Serial Number: 149186

Year of Manufacture: 1897

Caliber: Barrels are included chambered for .30-30 Winchester and .38-55 Winchester

Action Type: Takedown Lever Action Rifle with Tubular Magazines

Barrel Length: The .38-55 barrel is 20", the .30-30 is 22", both are half-octagon, half-round.

Sights / Optics: The front sight on the .38-55 barrel is a Marble Sheard brass beaded blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel, the .30-30 barrel has a Lyman white beaded blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. Each barrel has a dovetail for a rear sight, currently filled with a blank. The left of the receiver has been drilled and tapped with a Lyman 41 receiver sight installed, adjustable for windage and elevation. The top tang is drilled and tapped with a folding Lyman tang sight installed, adjustable for elevation.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are checkered select walnut with capped Lightweight (6 3/4”) forends, pistol grip with "S"-profile bottom, straight comb, and a checkered black hard rubber Marlin buttplate. There are sling eyelets in the belly and bottom of the forend caps. The top tang inlet is marked with the serial number. The stocks have scattered nicks, ding, scuffs and scratches. There are minor losses around the sling eyelet in the belly. There is a grain-line crack in the top of the comb toward the rear that does not extend to any edges. The checkering is well defined. The LOP measures 13 3/8” from the front of the trigger to the rear of the buttplate. The plate has scattered light wear with generally well defined checkering and lettering. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color

Finish Originality: Original to the parts. Neither barrel matches the records for this serial number. The records do contain a second shipping date, it is possible that the barrels and engraving were supplied when the rifle was returned to the factory.

Bore Condition:

.38-55- The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is some scattered light erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 6/10.

.30-30- The bore is gray. The rifling is worn, but visible. There is scattered light erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 4-5/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 65% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The receiver and barrel extensions have worn to white. The barrels have generally strong finish. The .30-30 magazine has strong finish, the .38-55 magazine has areas going to a light patina. There is scattered minor surface oxidation. There are some light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The markings are clear with good detail in the engraving. Overall, this gun rates in Very Good-Fine condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly with both barrel assemblies. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with a Cody Firearms Records Office records search indicating that it was produced as a rifle, caliber .30-30, 20" half-octagon barrel, pistol grip stock, takedown, short magazine and shipped July 2, 1897 and again January 5, 1906.

Our Assessment: The Marlin lever actions are often forgotten, but they shouldn’t be. Marlin was there, building great quality and reliable rifles alongside Winchester and in the glory days of American Manufacturing. Both on the frontier, and even today, many prefer the Marlin to a Winchester. With a side-eject action, the design was found to be quite superior after telescopic sights became popular and some users find disassembly and maintenance to be quite a bit simpler, as well.

This example is a desirable takedown Model 1893 made just before the turn of the 20th century. When originally produced, the rifle was a Lightweight .30-30 takedown with a 20" half-octagon barrel. At some point in 1905, the rifle was returned to the factory, and we suspect that explains the rifle's current configuration. It now has two barrel sets, one 20" .38-55 and one 22" .30-30, both half-octagon. The rifle also sports engraving with deer scenes and scroll, motif on both barrel extensions and on the chamber of the .38-55 barrel. We suspect that these changes were made when the rifle returned, but records are not available for the reason it went back to the factory. In any case, this is a beautiful Antique Marlin that will make a fine addition to any collection. Please see our photos and good luck!