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On another thread "My 1st 1895" Saddlering says his has an M in a circle. I have an 1895 26" round barrel SN 691X. It has JM in an oval under my forearm. Did Marlin mark the barrels both ways? Anybody know when they changed from one to the other?

They marked some with both.

I know most of my 1895's are marked with both the M and the JM stamps on them.

Whens the last time someone looked for a Mad Dog mark on their 1895's?

Found them on both round barrels and octagons so I don't think it was something in the tooling at the factory that did it unless it was some kind of nick in a vice when the barrel went through some kind of process. Can't get onto my desk top to post any pics of one for the new guys but hopefully soon.

I wonder, is there anything in the Marlin book about the barrel inspection stamp? Did the Marlin's use both stamps?

Rick,The 1895's i have have both marks on them. I have never pulled any forearms on my Marlins to check the barrel markings ,with the tubular magazines its not as easy as with the savages. Maybe a bit later i'll take a look on one made around the same time frame as the 1895 savages. Don

Marlin book page 620 is some info on the subject

Well i just went out and pulled the forearm off my Marlin 1895 octagon barrel 45-70 rifle, s/n 141235 made in 1896. The barrel has the JM in the oval stamped on one of the flats, it also has the "MAD DOG" mark!! it doesn't have any M in a circle stamped on it. Don

Well theres something new.

I'd love to know where that made it onto the barrels and at what process in the making of them. This more or less means that the Savage and the Marlin barrels were made on the same tooling as each other. I wonder if it was some wierd inspection mark or just a chunk of steel on the lathe or something. Whatever it was it was there for a long time. I should start getting a run down on the serial range the Mad Dog mark is on, it would bring it into a time period of when the barrels were made. Right down to the months if the 1895's were lettered.

Joe, I'm willing to bet its a mark from some sort of clamping device,like in a jig of some kind. I may go out and check a few Marlins earlier then 1895 and see if they have the same marks. I thought you would be happy. Don

Ya, more than likely but you would think that a clamping device for round barrels and octagon barrels would have been different.

I always thought it was just a round barreled thing until Elwood found one on his 1895B barrel.

In the marlin Book page 620 the upper left pic. shows the M in the circle, this is the one on my 1895 , the Book states this was the 1st type marlin proof mark!

! just looked at a 1889 Marlin rifle made in 1891 round barrel ,no Mad Dog mark and the only marking on the barrel bottom was "MH" whatever that means??? Don

Don,

That is the rare farmer's version MH = Mad_Hog

Yeah, I have no clue!

Blair

Here are 2 MD mark pics for those not in the know... Pics are not great but might help...!!!


Mike...

I think the top pic is one I took a few years ago, where did the bottom pic come from? Serial number?

The mark, IMO, is NOT an accidently placed pattern. As in a "chip dent" from manufacturing. A chip dent would be a compression in the metal and the edges would not be raised. This 3 impression mark seems to have raised edges which would be the result of "displacing" not "compressing" metal. I believe it is some sort of stamped inspectiors mark. This mars seems to be on both round and octagonal barrels. The same tooling probably would not have been used to manufacture both types of barrels. JMO>

Thanks Steve, coming from a tool maker your about the best bet I've got on an educated guess.

I think sometimes it was struck alot lighter than some others (as in my two in the pic) and others as you can see actually touch on the right side of the stamp as in the oct picture. I'm wondering if it was any clearer on any other barrels besides the ones we know of.

Don, is there a website showing Marlin proof stamps anywhere?

Joe ,not that i know of. I will ask over on the marlin owners forum. Don

I just took a piece of hex stock and stamped a #1 in it and took a chip off my milling machine and compressed a chip dent right beside the stamping to show the difference. I will post a picture when I get home.

How much did that cost your company????? Don