Rockwell 27-S,Not 40

Hunt4em · Post by **Hunt4em** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 12:07 pm

I just bought a rifle that is marked (Marlin-Rockwell Corp. New Haven,CT,patd.Nov.29,1904.Mar.24,1908.July 11,1911, special smokeless steel, 25-20M) on the barrel and Marlin N0 27-S on the tang. The numbers all match on the stock and both halfs of the receiver. I have never seen one marked this way and was wondering if anyone could tell me how rare it maybe? It is missing the sear,sear spring,safety block and springs. I would be interested in buying these parts if anyone has them to spare.
Thanks,John

Regnier (gunrunner) · Mon Oct 30, 2006 12:27 pm

John;

These guns are around, not common mind you, but there are a few out there. The guns marked 27-S are parts that were already marked by the Marlin Firearms Company before Marlin Arms, then Marlin-Rockwell took over. M-R created the new roll die to mark gun barrels in anticipcation of going back into the sporting arms business after the war. As we know, that did not happen when it became the Marlin Firearms Corporation.
It was very common practice for Marlin Arms, Marlin-Rockwell and the Marlin Firearms Corporation to use parts on hand that had already been marked to assemble firearms. They were going to use what was there when they could.
I hope this helps.

Hunt4em · Post by **Hunt4em** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:07 pm

I kind of figured it was a parts gun. I read everything I could find on it in Brophy's book and what it lead me to think all the Rockwell guns were marked as Model 40. I know they made this model between 1919 and 21,but it could be a Marlin firearms corp. start up gun. Any thoughts on date with serial #16327 ?

Regnier (gunrunner) · Post by **Regnier (gunrunner)** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 6:12 pm

John;

Chances are the serial number was applied at the time the tang was marked, so I would not speculate on this. Marlin-Rockwell existed from 1917 to 1921, so your gun should be somewhere in between if I really had to guess. But, since it is marked Model 27-S, I would suspect it is an early gun. M-R was trying to get back into the sporting arms business for a very short time before unloading the gun business to John Moran, to be come the Marlin Firearms Corporation.
There are a very few Model 39's marked Marlin-Rockwell, which is why I believe M-R was trying to get back into the sporting arms business. M-R was probably responsible for the start up of the Model 39 when the Marlin Firearms Corporation came along and took over.
It is just really to bad that the information regarding the era was not recorded somewhere. But, business is business, and they did not care what we are thinking now and trying to figure out in regards to the history of the company and how it operated at the time.
I hope this helps.

SteveW · Post by **SteveW** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 10:58 am

I have a couple model 38s with the M-R rollmark. I've always had a mental image of some production people sitting around the factory playing cards or loafing after finishing a run of machine guns, etc.

In the mental image, the shop foreman comes in & breaks up the card game by yelling at the employees to go make something from leftover parts & in this way, there are some rare rifles floating around out there.... like yours.

Ah, but it's only speculation. SW

Hunt4em · Post by **Hunt4em** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 7:22 pm

I guess there are mysteries that will never be solved. I've always wondered if these guns were made of stock left that didn't measure up during normal production.Marlin's were always praised as supperior by my family.All but one lefty uncle carried 30-30's or 35rem to the deer woods and even he owns a old 39A that he cherishes.My grandparents often talked about how things were rationed and in short supply during the war.Short supply of steel,down time retooling or just old stock? Who knows? Thanks, John