Marlin Underlever Build

[HALODIN]

Hello,

Just thinking about the next rifle and I want a Marlin underlever that looks a bit like one of the "Wild West Guns - Alaskan Co-Pilots" without the cost in .44 magnum. This is what I think I want:

1) Stainless finish
2) Classic flat wooden stock
3) "Big Loop" lever
4) "Wild West Guns" hammer
5) Full length mag tube (with no bands)
6) Scout Scope Base with QD WWG rings + Leupold 2.5IER scout scope

This is the look I'm chasing but with a silver scout scope. Is this a project I should do myself or should I speak with a gunsmith? If so, who are the best people in the UK to do this work? I'd ideally like to buy a second hand Marlin and fit most of the parts myself. There seems to be so many variations of the Marlin it's difficult to know where to start.

I suppose the first question is where can I find a stainless Marlin in .44 or can I just have a standard Marlin bead blasted and polished? What should I look out for when buying a Marlin? I understand the older ones are better, but I don't specifically know what I'm looking for.

Can anyone help?

Cheers,

Craig.

[mag41uk]

Try South Yorkshire.
He has a lot of Marlins at the moment but not many stainless.

[HALODIN]

I can't find a website, do you have any further details?

[mag41uk]

http://www.rimfiremagic.co.uk/marlin_rifles.html

[Christel]

Definitely try Roger at Yorkshire.

Also marlinspares.com

[HALODIN]

Thanks both, I'll speak to him. Out of interest can anyone tell me which model it is in the picture above? Just looking at the ejection port it looks like it might be a 45-70 or is this just a feature of a particular model?

[Sim G]

Ah, Marlinitis..... Once the disease grabs you! I know, I have 17 of the little beasties now!!!

In the pic above, that's a Stainless 1895, in .45-70. Looking at your build list, you're going to be at the think end of 1500 quid, all depending on the donor rifle.

What you really could have done with is one of these.....

https://www.impactguns.com/marlin-1894s ... 04322.aspx

Only made 500 of them if memory serves.

[HALODIN]

That's just greedy... clapclap

I knew it wasn't going to be cheap, but even at £1.5K it's still £1K cheaper than the Alaskan Co-Pilot, sounds cheap...

Right OK, so the ejection port's different because of the length of the cartridge. Then I've got a problem, I really don't like the ejection port on that .44 rifle. In my world, the way something looks can be just as important as the way it functions. It's a curse I know... So do I need a variation for a .45-70 or is it possible to have that ejection port in .44 magnum?

[Sim G]

Well, funnily enough, you can, but it will be a hunt.....

In the 60s, Marlin introduced their model 336 in .44 mag. I have seen them in the UK, but never picked one up as I was more into 19th century produced models.

But Marlin did what Winchester should have done, which was drop the short cartridge in the long and reintroduce the 1894. So, a competent smith, a model 336 donor action, a 44 barrel, I suppose theirs a possibility.

Personally, I think I'd hunt for a 336 .44 first if the open port is the look you really want.

[HALODIN]

It sounds like it's good news, but I'm not sure I follow 100%. Surely the 336 Marlin already comes with a .44 mag barrel, does it not?