Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General project gun/parting out questions

Hi all,

I'm contemplating having a custom lever gun built up on a Marlin 1894 action. I would not need the barrel, stock/forearm wood, or sights. I'm having trouble finding an affordable project gun. A friend suggested buying new and parting it out to belay some of the cost.

How hard do you think it would be to sell the parts and what do you think the return would be?

Thanks in advance.

I do not think there would be much market for this stuff as it is awfully hard to wear out a baarrel in 44mag and few of them are so bad from the factory that they will not shoot as well as one needs a 44mag to shoot. Most people buying sights for a levergun are going to go with peeps or glass. Factory sights not so good for most folks. Might find a buyer for the wood if someone broke thiers somehow. I think that if you buy a gun for a parts gun you will end up owning the extra parts, which is not all bad. If you are worried about the cost of your build and need to recoup the cost of extra parts I would caution you to thik long and hard before staarting such a project. These things almost ALWAYS end up costing a lot more than the original estimates..... don't ask me how I know this

Thanks for the input safariman. I'll continue to look for a reasonably priced used rifle, knowing I'm probably paying whatever I pay for the receiver. A gunsmith friend of mine specializes in leverguns and unfortunately I think I've been infected with the need to have one of his rifles.

A friend suggested buying new and parting it out to belay some of the cost.

Not all of my ideas make sense...

Good luck! I looked for a reasonably priced 1894 to use as a truck gun for about ten years. Finally retired, so I quit looking--don't need one anymore...

Heck Supercrewd, that may end up being the cheapest way to go anyway. Your ideas usually make sense and most importantly haven't gotten me into any trouble yet. Can't say that for all my friends.

Safariman has spoken a great truth! (don't ask how I know, either)

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The only downside I see with the new receivers is the crossbolt safety. I replaced mine with a dummy bolt that looks like a screw head so it fills in that unsightly void. If you color case harden you can do some contrast with that and it would look good. Even if you can only get a few bucks from the parts, it does defray the cost. The used guns seem to be selling for slightly less than wholesale these days.

This reminds me of a moment that I didn't have a reply for. I was picking up a Winchester 1895 in 270 at the gunshop, and was telling the guy behind the counter about my plans for the rifle, I am going to rechamber and rebore it to 375 Hawk among other things. His reply was, "why didn't you just buy the 405 and be done. Do you know how much that is going to cost?" I'm still going to do the project, but just because I'm not always entirely rational.

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Ryan