Here is a Marlin 1892, in .22LR. The serial number gives a manufacture date of 1892, so a first year production. Sports a 24" round barrel and a steel crescent stock. An accurate little rifle, but, only use standard velocity ammo. High velocity stuff will shoot it to death in short order.
This rifle has seen a life! It's the only way to describe it. In 123 years, goodness knows how much ammo it's had through it. Finish? It's like a brown patchy patina, that has thumb prints, animal blood, dings, knocks and scars in it. The barrel has been screw cut, but I doubt very much if this was done at the factory as Marlin didn't start screw cutting for the Maxim silencer till 1908 and this one was made 16 years earlier. I don't have a clue what the thread it, but, it has some sort of thread protector that is not unattractive.
The bore is in super condition.... well, it has been sleeved after all! When? Haven't a clue, but a gunsmith mate reckons sleeving rimfires stopped being profitable in the 50's and you probably couldn't get one done today as the skill and the machinery is long since gone.
Stock wise, it's not too bad. Actually, it's probably off a Winchester judging from the shape and the steel but plate. The fore end has had some repair, but by whom or where..... yep, you guessed it, who would know?
I have replaced the magazine spring and the extractor.
The rifle will, when rested on your elbows, tear out the center of a PL20 pistol target at 20 yards. It feeds, fires, extracts and ejects well. It has a fondness for CCI Quiet.
What I have here is not just a rifle, but a bit of history. Who knows where it's been, or who has owned it. It's going because I have a slightly different 1892 and that .38-40 carbine is going to need paying for!!
So for the paltry price of £375, put a real "cowboy rifle" in your cabinet....
