Home Forums Lever Action Central Marlin Talk Strange 1895 45-70

I have a strange 1895 Marlin 45-70 that I am looking for a little info on. It is JM marked, pre-cross bolt safety and pre-micro grove barrel. The front sight is dovetailed into the barrel and the checkering and butt plate are not like any I have seen before. Is this a very early rifle? Any info would be appreciated.

Looks like one of the early first introduced M98's except for the checkering. If It has a serial # starting with BO(top of tang) it was made in 1972.

Mine was made in 1972 and has that putt plate and front sight dovetailed into the barrel.

Go to the Marlinowners site to get more info and year of mfg.

Hip

This is part of the reason I am confused. The serial number is all numbers, no letters at all.

The serial number starts with 24 so if I am reading it right, that is 1976?

It’s good looking rig. The serial number suggests a 1976 build. The stock style and buttplate are from that era.

How many lands and grooves does the barrel have?

I’d say the checkering was not applied at the factory.

The checkering looks good to me with no over run on the edges. If it is NOT factory someone did one heck of a job on it. I am wondering if it was some sort of limited run being 1976?

Not sure how many years they made those, but that is what the 1st batch of 1895's looked like after Marlin reintroduced them in 1972. I had one that I bought used in 1976. I'm thinking they only made them like that for a year or 2. And not many made period.

The SN on those are different and won't work with traditional code's used to date Marlins. Of course, the checkering isn't from the factory, and the hard, curved butt plate kicks like a SOB with anything other than original black powder level loads.

Thank you! I would have lost money betting that the checkering was factory. It sure looks good.

Yes it’s the original edition Freaking awesome

Thank you.

Great rifle! I've got two Ballard rifled and two Micro in that configuration. Well other than somebody cut the stock and put a pad on one, I know why but it just looks so good when original like yours!

That is a really cool looking old Marlin. The “Ballard” rifling was only used on 1972 rifles. A 1976 gun would have microgroove even if it is not marked as such. I have found no different in the accuracy of the two with jacketed bullets. It is definitely not a factory checkering job but very well done by whoever did the work. Very cool old rifle any way you slice it.

Yep, a 1976 would be Microgrooved. And the checkering and sling studs are not factory.