Make: Marlin Firearms Co.

Model: 1893 Grade B "Trapper" Carbine

Serial Number: 403780

Year of Manufacture: ca. 1908-1909

Caliber: .32-40 Ballard (.32-40 Winchester), For Black Powder, Lead Bullets

"Firearms removed from the provisions of the National Firearms Act and classified as curios or relics"

"Marlin, Model 1893 or 93 carbine, cal. .32-40, S/N 403780, with 15-inch barrel."

https://www.atf.gov/file/128116/download

Action Type: Tubular Magazine Fed Lever Action Rifle

Barrel Length: 15"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to the barrel behind the front band. The rear sight is a folding ladder-style sight presenting a "V"-notch when folded down. There is a "V"-notched slider on the ladder arm which is graduated from 2-9. The slider is fairly loose on the arm. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none present). The top of the receiver is drilled, tapped and filled for a receiver sight (none present).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with banded forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel carbine-style buttplate. The stocks have some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is some discoloration around the edges where the wood meets metal. The left-rear of the buttstock has some odd crazing/bubbling in the finish with less on the right. The LOP measures 13 1/4" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly worn to white or gone to a light patina with some minor surface erosion. Overall, the stocks are in Good-plus condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original, serial matching on barrel, top tang, trigger plate, and stock inlet.

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is some light erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 7+ out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 35% of its metal finish. The receiver and magazine tube have mostly gone to a fairly uniform light patina with some finish remaining in protected areas and around raised features. The barrel has comparatively strong finish with some wear at the front and rear edges. There is distinct wear on the left receiver flat around the sling swivel. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches, most notable at the front edge of the loading port, on the top tang and a few around the front edge of the chamber ring. There are toool marks around most screw heads. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with usable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Printed photographs of the ATF FTISB response are included.

Our Assessment: This is the first rifle Marlin designed for, then new, smokeless powder cartridges. Marlin christened the improved lever-action Model 1893, and offered it as a rifle or a saddle-ring carbine, both featuring case-hardened receivers and sporting blued Ballard match-grade barrels. In 1905, Marlin introduced a Grade B which had a barrel made of a high-grade but softer steel, suitable for use with blackpowder and lead bullets, but not for the high-power smokeless powder or jacketed bullets. These Grade B guns were produced with blued receivers rather than casehardened.

While Carbines were offered with 15" barrels, they are particularly scarce. In the standard Grade, only 61 Carbines were produced with this short barrel, while we were not able to find specific production numbers for the Grade B. The little rifles' significance would increase in 1934 when some very silly people known as "Congressmen" decided that a rifle could have a barrel that was too short. Thankfully, an even sillier group of people at the ATF have designated this particular rifle, by serial number, as exempt from the NFA, so it can be sold without doing too much silly paperwork. It is in Good condition, showing wear consistent with its age, but retaining a strong bore and mechanics. This will make a fine addition to any Marlin collection. Please see our photos and good luck!