Home Forums Lever Action Central Marlin Talk Marlin 93 and 94

I recently bought two interesting Marlins. One is a Model 93 Carbine in .32 Special with a 3-digit serial number (924) and factory sling swivels. Can anyone tell me what year this gun was produced?

The other Marlin is a Model 1894 Rifle with a 1/2 octagon and 1/2 round barrel, in 25-20 Winchester, serial number 196282. I would guess the barrel configuration is scarce. Any thoughts?

Peter

Hey Pete:

Just read 'yo thread. Marlin 1894, 1/2 Oct/Rnd., 24"bbl. in 25-20. Don't know what serial # is, haven't seen it in over 18 yrs. Back of a spare rm w/wife's clutter,clothes, sweaters, and sewing projects blocking the way. Good woodchuck shooter & I deer hunted with it, but never got a deer with it. Still have some 60 grainer H.P. & 80 grainer jacketed bullets.

I bought it from a olde deer hunter/collector 30+ yrs ago. I know it was made befo WWII, somewhere in the 30s ?? Boy that man offered me quite afew guns years ago, but money was the prob. I know, not much to go on, but that's my story.. 99 LL ..

Peter, You don't see 1/2 oct.'s everyday. For some reason I see more 1/2 oct. Marlin 94's in 25-20 than other calibers. I have two, and there's another close by. Dave

I got a 94 32-20 with a Weaver 330 that's been on it since the 30's. It came from an old timer in Vermont. He said he'd killed a pile of deer with it. He said he liked it because it was quiet. Not valuable, but I like it alot. Dave

The barrel on my Marlin 94 rifle is really more a 1/3 octagon and 2/3 round.

On my 93 carbine, I've dated it to the early 1920s, after Marlin started stamping the star on the upper tang, but before the "bullseye". Probably early 1923.

Peter

Peter, I've always called them 1/2 oct. They're my favorite. In Brophy's Marlin book, he refers to them as half-octagon. In Maadis Winchester book, he sometimes refers to them as "part-round",sometimes "part octagon", and sometimes "part round-part octagon. [with and without hyphens] I guess "part" is more accurate than "half". Dave

Dave, I have a Winchester 1895 rifle in .30 US and a Winchester 1892 carbine with a special order rifle crescent butt in .25.20 Win -- they're nice, but I LOVE my Marlins!

As you know, I was lucky enough to get a Stevens 425 High Power lever gun (.32 Rem), and they look a lot like a Marlin.

Peter

The Serial number for the 94 would make it 1900, give or take a year. 196,000 is listed as the starting number for 1900. The barrel would probably make that a special order. What is the barrel length?

The earliest numbers in Brophy's book is a 4 digit number for an 1893. Does it say model 1893 0n the tang or 93? Carbines were only made in .30-30 and .32spc.

The 94 has the stock barrel length for a rifle - 24 inches.

The Model 93 carbine is in .32 Special, with serial #924. It has the star on the upper tang but no bullseye. I think this dates it to 1923.

Peter