I've handled at least a dozen of the Ruger stainless/laminates so far and can't detect any major difference between the three "vintages". I'll have a better opinion after I see one of the new walnut/blued 336s in the flesh. I personally wish they'd have gone back to uncheckered wood. Those uncheckered Marlins of my childhood just looked so much better to my eyes.
I think the difference is how they function.
Too many complained about function of the Remington built Marlins. I think if they were disassembled and deburred/polished and tuned up they were okay.
My buds boy had a big loop laminated 45-70 that wouldn't feed correctly about 75% of the time, factory loads and handloads. Something told me the back of the loading gate was rough or timing was off.
He swapped it for an older long barrel model and both parties are happy.
Has Ruger deleted the stupid QR code etching from the side of the Marlin receivers??
