Thanks for all the compliments and kind words. Even being from a pawn shop, I think I got it for a few hundred under what I see the few on gunbroker bringing.
I've had a few Marlin lever guns, but I'm no expert by any means. I'm assuming the rubber buttpad was added to the gun. Am I on the right track? Figure that will take some of the bite out of the recoil, but I do prefer original/unmolested.
Still, it's in good shape, and maybe if it is indeed a non-original buttpad, I may be more inclined to actually shoot and hunt with it.
Choot It !!
A friend told me of a pawn shop that he found had a pretty good supply of firearms, so I stopped by last Wednesday when I was in the area to take a look around. Not looking for anything in particular really. Have a small wish list, but just browsing.....
They had several guns. Not a lot that I would consider very high end, but I can be a bit of a gun snob. I handled a Sig P290, and considered it.
But I noticed a lever action rifle on the rack and asked to see it. Was a Marlin 1894 in 44mag. With the exception of a couple handling marks and small dings, and the Marlin bullseye being loose in the stock (but was there so I'll glue it back in), it looked very good. Not even a scratch on the loading gate, so I'm pretty sure it's unfired.
Guy helping me even said they even had the box for it.
Well, I hesitated. Just wasn't sure about the price. And didn't take it with me. But came home and did some research and went back this afternoon hoping it was still there. Yep! I got it!! Wiped it down good when I got home, and can barely see a mark on her. Now the dilemma will be - do I shoot her or not?
Serial number starts with 18xxxx, so believe that makes it manufactured in 1982. JM proof mark on the barrel. And what served as a manual was in the box too.