Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Question for Marlin 336 owners.

What is the significance of a rifle being stamped JM ? I've seen several ads for them that says "JM" stamped. Are they supposed to be better made ?

I think that stamp was used on Marlin Guns before they were bought out by the Remington Group, and yes, in my opinion they are better rifles.
I own one in 35Rem. that I bought back in 1975.

Yes

They were made before Remington and that conglomerate took over, hence the JM proofmarks. An awful lot of us think the older 336s were better. When Freedom Group took over the manufacture of them, the first several thousand were crap. Sights installed crooked, rough actions, some parts weren't heat-treated that should have been, etc.

I am told the newest ones are "okay". I don't care. I already have all I need or want (one).

Remlins suck

I would get pre-safety model in .45-70. Those are not overly heavy and handle well. The ones made in New England state are more highly regarded and sell better with higher asking prices. Americans do not like "Rem-lins".

Remlins and Rooney.....
They both eat it....

LOL!!!

Jorge just bought a Remlin 444 not long ago. I'll be interested in his followup on that. I only have JM stamped Marlins.

Yes they are better quality.

I own several JM Marlins I also own a few Remlins as they are known the JM runs the price up on used Marlins and little more. Yes when Remington first took over the product was not what a true Marlin fan expected but they straightened that out pretty quickly. Today's rifles sold under the Marlin name made by the Freedom Group are vry nice firearms.
Learn to read the date code on the end of the rifle box before you sign the papers there are several sites to be found by doing a Google that explains how to do it.
Last week I bought a new 1894 45 LC the date code read September 25, 2019 the fit and finish as is good as any Marlin stamped JM I own.

Basically ..........

JM stamped Marlins were built prior to to Remington buyout.......pre 2009 (ish)

Don't be scared to buy a Marlin with the X/bolt safety......post 1983.......

These were still built by the real Marlin craftsmen that gave a schidt......

pic.......not so common round barrel 45 Colt.....2007

Debatable. I'll put my recent production 1895SBL up against any Marlin ever made.

I was window shopping at Rual King and they had a lot of them priced at $500.00

64 Marlin Glenfield 36G
5930 made in 64 and 65 while Glenfield was waiting on model 30 licensing stuff
2 yr interim model between the 336 and the glenny 30,s.
1st 500 had no G after the roll mark
Instead was on lower tang inside hidden
Also 1st 500 had black walnut stocks and serial# inside buttstock to receiver.

You know you need a gun back when you have dreams about it.

Horse traded it back from slumlord for a Bersa 380 combat plus.

Never have had dreams about a specific gun in my life till this one.





Had a really nice 1980 .375 marlin I sent down the road last summer
at a decent profit/ horse trade.
Slumlord has a really nice one also.

Not many guns make it to my core group never get rid of status.
The 36G is a core group gun.
Also accurate as hell with 160gr leverevolution ammo.

You can find a really nice pre safety for that price also if ya look around.

From what I've heard, they finally got their act together on Remlins. I suppose the transition period could have been a little rough. With all the bad publicity they got it had to be a choice between "do it right", or "go out of business". I'd be willing to risk it on a new one as long as I could look it over real good beforehand. Although I really don't need one right now because my 1991 production, economy model, 30-A-S in .30-30 is very sweet, and its even got the prestigious "JM" stamp, (grin).

I agree with the above. Truth is every manufacturer puts out a rifle that's not up to par from time to time. That includes handguns.

Are they supposed to be better made? Yes they are supposed to be better. Truth is some are and some aren't just like any other product. Back before Remington bought out Marlin you could go on the Marlin Forum and listen to all the complaining about quality. If you are looking for a lever gun, spend some time looking it over and operating it. Same goes with used ones.

Buying a Remington made "Marlin", or "Remlin" as many call them is a crap shoot. Some are fine, and some are garbage. If you are a gambling man, by a new Remilin and cross your fingers, if not, fine a nice "JM" stamped used Marlin. The date they started with Remington is around 2008 when they were bought out and moved a year or two later. (without their skilled labor). There was a period during this time when there were still "JM" Marlins being produced, but I've heard there were problems with some from the transition period. To be sure check the serial numbers for the year of manufacture.

I've had a bunch of JM Marlin 336's, 1894's, 1894C's and 39's over the past 40 years. All functioned perfectly and were accurate to exceptionally so. Can't say the same for the Remington's I've owned. JM Marlins were about the best bang for your buck out there. I wouldn't buy a Remlin with monopoly money.

You learn a lot in here!