Make: Marlin Firearms Co.

Model: 1893 Carbine Special Order

Serial Number: A1850

Year of Manufacture: 1916-1917

Caliber: .32 Winchester Special

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle with Full-Length Tubular Magazine

Barrel Length: 20” Half Octagon, Half Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Marble Sheard beaded blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a u-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the barrel. The upper tang has two drilled, tapped, and installed with modern tang sight.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a capped forearm, straight grip, straight comb, and steel buttplate. There is a sling ring banded to the mag-tube. There are mild handling marks. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 12 3/4” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stocks rate in about Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue & Case Colored

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 80% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish is strong. The case color is vibrant with light muting on the leading edges but overall looks great for its age. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. The marking is somewhat shallow on the top of the barrel, but this appears to be just bad roll die placement. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fine condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety position. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: This Marlin Model 1893 Carbine is a particularly rare and desirable example of early 20th-century American riflecraft, made in the final years of Marlin's original production before the company’s 1917 sale to Rockwell. Chambered in .32 Winchester Special—a cartridge developed as a slightly larger-caliber alternative to the .30-30—this rifle would have been an ideal choice for eastern deer hunters looking for moderate recoil and strong terminal performance. The 20” half-octagon, half-round barrel configuration is a special-order feature that adds both aesthetic appeal and rarity, especially when paired with the full-length magazine tube, sling ring, and tang-mounted peep sight.

Despite being over a century old, this rifle remains in Fine condition, retaining about 80% of its original blued finish and vibrant case coloring on the receiver. The bore is remarkably sharp and bright, a testament to both quality steel and careful ownership. The action cycles smoothly and retains its mechanical integrity, while the stock shows only light wear consistent with its age. For Marlin collectors, lever-action aficionados, or anyone drawn to pre-WWI American sporting rifles, this C&R-eligible 1893 represents a beautifully preserved, highly shootable, and hard-to-find configuration that is becoming increasingly scarce on the market.