Home Forums Lever Action Central Marlin 336 Lever Actions Not very knowledgable on the 336.... what should I look for before I buy

I was in a pawn shop that is closing up and they have their guns discounted. Their prices have been higher than people will pay for a long time and most guns just sit there. Now they are down to the point that people will show interest and ask to negotiate, but he wont budge. Going to take them all to auction if they dont sell. Will probably get his price too, auctions have been high around here.

I saw an older Marlin 336 with the JM stamp in .35 Rem and I was thinking of picking it up. I would say 80% condition or so. Wood is not cracked, not really beat up, just worn finish. The metal is pretty good, with some bluing loss around the muzzle and a faded spot where it may have spent a little time in a gun rack in the back of a truck. It is not all worn off though. I did not get a look at the model number, didnt think to look since I knew it was a 336, not sure on the age either. The show owner is stuck on $300 for it and I was thinking of picking it up, just to have. My gut says it is probably a 70's model, maybe a touch older. The magazine is as long as the barrel. There is a swing swivel on the barrel band. There is a little missing bluing / pitting along the bottom edge of the reciever and just a touch around the loading port. It does not look like rust, but missing bluing in a rust patter. Only spot is shows up though. When he would not take my offer of $250, I walked away, but I have been thinking about it quite a bit.

This seems like a fair deal still over all and would be a fun, quality older rifle to just have. What things should I look for that may have it be worth a little more than normal?

First off, Marlin serial numbers are arranged to make it easy to determine year of manufacture. For the most part. Older guns had a letter sequence.

"2000" minus first two digits give age. "24xxxxx" was made in 1976. "10xxxx" was made in 1990. "91xxxxx" was made in 2009"

$300 for a Marlin 336 in 35 Remington is cheap...
When you offered $250, I would have thrown you out of the shop...

Been thinking about it over night. I think I am going to go pick it up. Its a nice rifle in pretty good condition. It falls in the no-mans land... not good enough shape to be in the collector market yet, in a caliber that doesnt do much in the open prairie of Wyoming, maybe some Black Hills white tails etc. It is pretty much just a gun to buy and have, just because. Looneyism is a disease.

Here in NY a JM stamped pre safety Marlin .35 would fetch 400.00 in the condition you describe. The .35 Rem. is a good deer/bear cartridge for the woods and we have plenty of woods here.

I've seen that rifle priced around my area for 4 to 5 hundred. If you want one, you'll not find one better than 300.

From your description I would have bought that gun on the spot. Hopefully it is still there when you go back.

We will find out in about 20 minutes when I finish eating my lunch. Chances are, I misrepresented the condition based on my memory because while I dont know much about Marlin Lever guns, those guns I do know about are just now at the price I would start looking to buy one, if I needed one. It could just be that the .35 Rem is only a seller to collectors. I will keep my fingers crossed that it is still there.

It was still there. So there is a sling swivel installed in the buttstock. It is right where the bullseye should be, but is not longer there, if it ever was. Says it is a model 336, no other designation with it. Full length magazine. I even found a few very minor rust speckles at the bottom of the barrel by the action, no depth to them at all, cannot feel them. Wood is probably better than I thought. Serial number was 71 16xxxx.

i'd skip lunch! don't come better then a JM 35 rem

WELL DID YOU BUY IT?

you can get the replacement bullseyes on ebay.

Yep, I sure did. It will be fun to have around.

I was going to ask for you to buy it for me and I would pay shipping. And give you a 50. LOL

Nice gun to have around. Have fun.

What else in Marlin JM stamped? Or better yet PM there phone #.

Thanks,Fred

Recheck the serial number....

Sending you a message

He did have a couple of Browning BPS 16 guage shotguns for $475. I would not mind having one of those

Went outside and rechecked it. It is down the tang of the action, 71 with a space, the 16xxxx. From the table, that makes it a 1971 model? Drilled and tapped, Microgroove barrel and no crossbolt safety. Not a perchbelly, not a waffle top

It is a 1971 gun.
It was in the series that they used before going to the current numbering system.

Congratulation on the find and purchase. I found one locally and he wants $450. I don't need one, but it is tempting at that price.

Then I would have to rotate that .35 Rem with my Ruger 338 Federal, a Marlin 1894SS, Springfield Trapdoor carbine, Sharps conversion carbine, and a Winchester 1886 Extra Lightweight. I can argue that the Ruger and the 1894SS are stainless for rainy days, but still...

That is about all the deer hunting days I could get for a season.

good snag.......how much ?

$250 offer was an insult to the Marlin...

https://marlinspares.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Marlin-Date-codes-ver8-396mb2-1024x791.jpg

$300 was the tag. That is what I paid.

good deal !

I have a JM stamped Marlin in 35 Remington. Nice rifle. $300 is cheap. I think I paid somewhere around $450 or more, plus shipping etc.

Does not glenfields serial numbers start with the year of manufacture?

Were glenfields offered in 35 R.E.M?

$300 for a jm 35 R.E.M. R/C is a GREAT deal in my book!