Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers Year/model 45-70?

I bought this rifle on a whim off GB and likely won't have it for another week.
While I impatiently wait I was hoping someone might be able to tell me the year/model . I don't recall seeing 45-70's with straight stocks but it hasn't been until lately I've been looking.

That's a nice piece, FVA. Right purty wood, too. Don't the Guide Guns have the straight stcks?

The rifle in the picture looks like the "New Model 1895" when it was re-introduced in 1972. The 1895 in that style was run from 1972 to 1979 and was the first modern Marlin M1895. There have also been some special runs, but those have special serial numbers that begin "LTD-......" and cross-bolt safeties. Looks like you have a real nice rifle there.

Keith,
Yeah, the guide guns have straight stocks. I should of said 22" barreled ones.

Thanks. I was really looking for a clean pre safety 444 but came across this one and could not resist....or so I tell myself.
I notice it doesn't have a ramp front sight like most either. I'll have to wait for the serial number but I'm guessing it is a pretty early model.

I have a 1974 model like that in .45-70. The front sight is dovetailed into the barrel. They are beautifully made guns and real shooters to boot. I have an XS Sight Systems rear aperture with a Marbles flat faced gold bead front for sighting equipment on mine. It has accounted for quite a few whitetail bucks in the timber. It points and swings like a fine .20 gauge shotgun.

Glad to hear you think highly of yours MOGC, particularly how it points/swings.
I'm thinking of the XS Sights as well but will wait until I get it in my hands. Perhaps Shootist could use a Tasco and see through scope mounts for his Guide Gun to help me offset the cost(grin) I'll give a good deal.
The dealer I'm using for the transfer thought I was bidding on a gun a might need a FFL copy faxed rather than I won and did need the FFL faxed.
Cost me a couple days but the gun is getting shipped today and I have a tracking number. I am really hoping it makes it before the weekend.

I like the looks of the straight stock. A lot of people say that that with a pistol-grip stock they handle the recoil better, and aquire the target faster , but the straight one just plain pleases my eye.

I have a 1894 44 mag with straight stock and 308 MXLR with the pistol grip. Bit of a size/barrel length difference. I can see the pistol grip style handling recoil better. Not so much pointing though.
The MXLR also has a nice soft, thick pad on the butt which makes a huge difference over the red hard rubber one.
Think the only way to put one on the rifle I have coming would be to cut the stock so likely I am just going to have to suck it up. We'll see.

Here are a couple of pic's of my old knock around...

Very nice! If it was easy enough for you to do could you give me the height of the front sight?

From memory it is around .450"-ish from the bottom of the dovetail cut in the barrel to the top of the sight - overall height.

Yours is definitely a 1970s rifle. I would say post 1974 judging from the factory sling swivel studs. That will make it a microgroove gun, but no worries. I have had several of these rifles with Ballard and Microgroove rifling and the most accurate of the bunch was a 79 rifle with microgroove. That is my favorite configuration of the 1895 and seems to be almost perfectly balanced. As a rule, they have better triggers and smoother actions that the new make 1895s. Congrats on you find.

Thanks. I'll have to see what the factory measures but I imagine it would need a taller front sight for the XS.

Again from memory, the factory will run around .375" or so. The XS will more than likely need a taller front sight. A Williams Fool Proof usually can make do just fine with the factory sight.

I picked it up this morning and it looks as good in person as in the pics. Definitely lightly used. Via the serial number it is a 1978.
In anticipation I loaded up 7 cartridges with the 325 gr. Hornady FTX and 15 with Remington 300 gr. FNHP's last night. I had some IMR 4198 left over from the 80's so used 46 grs. in both cartridges. 325's=1900, 300's=1800 fps.
Gotta admit the Hornady load in particular in short sleeves does get your attention. Was a "did it fire" shooting my 17 mach II right afterward as I swapped the Tasco off the Marlin onto the 17M2 and put the Leupold 3.5-10x40 from the 17M2 on the Marlin, for now.
The Leupold was around 9 inches right and adjusted right in. The Tasco being the same 9 inches left on the 17M2 would go down about half as much as you adjusted windage or vice versa. Reminded me of pass Tascos and the #1 reason I hate them.
I shot a couple three shot groups at 100 yards and the hornady's went 2 inches, the Remington's close to an inch.
Think I have a keeper.