Hi, I'm getting back into the gun hobby after a long period of inactivity. I see already that some things that I "learned" awhile back have changed. I had a nagging feeling this week to go to a gun store that's about a 45 minute ride. I went today. I had looked through the whole store and had seen nothing interesting. I was on the last rack and saw 2 Marlins. The first was OK but on consignment and kinda high priced. I picked the second one up and looked it over. It looked kind of cobbed up with a shortened barrel. The tag said 18" with a y prefix. I put it down thinking with the rust spots on one side and shortened barrel it didn't appeal to me. Then it hit like a bolt of lightning! Wait a minute y prefix is 1964. I took my pocket tape measure out; barrel just over 16 inches. Everything looked factory. A Marlin Marauder! Bought it, got it home, cleaned her up. Wow, one mean looking gun! I guess that's why it pays to keep checking back you never know what will turn up!

You did good! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Good catch. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I'm looking forward to sighting it in tommorrow. I'm also looking forward to the fabled massive muzzle blast! I'll let you know how bad the blast is!

Took the Marauder out to sight it in. I had hearing protection on so I can't say that the blast was horrible. With protection it didn't sound much different from a 20" barrel. I suspect that without protection it probably is bad! Seemed pretty accurate. What was really a surprise was the "apparent" size of the front sight. It's the same big brass bead that would be on a 20" barrel. When it's on a 16" barrel it looks as big as a beach ball! This gun could really use a very small flat front bead!

Hey can you post a photo of of the Marauder? I've been looking for one every where here in WV and you can hardly find a lever gun in this state.I have a traders guide book that has a photo and the little marauder is a nice little rifle to carry in the thick timbers of West Virgina chasing Deer and Black bear.

Whoops, I haven't been on in a while and didn't see your reply! I don't have one on hand but I'll take some pics tommorrow and try to post them. Might take till Sunday for me to figure out how to post them. I'm not too good with posting photos. The only thing added to the gun, before I got it, was a Williams sling swivel base set. I don't like the clumsy look of the front band so I bought an Uncle Mikes set to replace the Williams. The Uncle Mike's set is a lot better looking. By the way, the accuracy has proven to be very good despite the short barrel. It does balance and handle extremely well. They are Extremely difficult to find , as it turns out, I actually dumb lucked into this one. Apparently, they made less than 1000 as I understand.

Lets see if these photos come up!

OK, I'm getting brave now. I'm going to try another!

Not my best photographic work but they're up anyway.
The 1894 is a 218 Bee completely rebuilt by Marlin with a new barrel (very accurate), new wood, action job (3# "glass rod" trigger) and a complete reblue. Made in the early '90's.
The Marauder is original except for the light pitting on the right side of the reciever/ barrel and the addition of Williams sling studs all courtesy of the original owner. Nice wood.

Both nice little rifles! Those 2 would have a permint place in the old gun cabinet!!

Looks just like my 35 Marauder except mine has darker wood. Neat little guns

I took the photos in the sun, so the wood appears lighter than it normally does. The Marauder actually has some nice larger fiddleback on the forearm and some finer fiddleback in the buttstock. I think the first photo is the closest to the actual color, although still light. Once you handle the Marauder a bit, the regular carbine seems very long! If I decide to keep the Marauder for a long time, I think I'll put on a Williams receiver rear and Lyman small white dot front sight.

I have an LTS in 30-30. Same gun, newer model. I love the balance they have. They sure carry nice in the woods.