Need Model 56 info please.

[Gator]

Hi to you all !!! I picked up a steel lever action 22 last week and it has no serial number.
Do any one have a bit of histery on these guns?
Thanks Gator

[Regnier (gunrunner)]

Gator;

The Marlin Model 56 Levermatic was made from 1955 to 1964. It originally sold for $49.50. The reason there is no serial number is that it was made prior to 1968. Prior to 1968, firearms were not required to have serial numbers, and Marlin did not serialize many of their less expensive gun lines. It was an extra manufacturing step that added to the final cost of the gun, so serial numbering was omitted.
Marlin made a total of 31,523 of the Model 56's, including 407 guns made for Sears, Roebuck and Company and some that were marked "Royal Canadian".
Steel receivers were made the first year of manufacture then changed to aluminum in 1956. The first steel receiver guns had serial numbers, but later dropped. Your gun must be one of the later guns made in 1955.
I hope this helps.

[Gator]

Gator;

The Marlin Model 56 Levermatic was made from 1955 to 1964. It originally sold for $49.50. The reason there is no serial number is that it was made prior to 1968. Prior to 1968, firearms were not required to have serial numbers, and Marlin did not serialize many of their less expensive gun lines. It was an extra manufacturing step that added to the final cost of the gun, so serial numbering was omitted.
Marlin made a total of 31,523 of the Model 56's, including 407 guns made for Sears, Roebuck and Company and some that were marked "Royal Canadian".
Steel receivers were made the first year of manufacture then changed to aluminum in 1956. The first steel receiver guns had serial numbers, but later dropped. Your gun must be one of the later guns made in 1955.
I hope this helps.

So your saying they serial numberd the first one's then droped it? That's crazy...
Thanks for the info !!

[Regnier (gunrunner)]

Gator;

You have to understand the line of thinking of the Marlin Firearms Company at the time. If a firearm was given a serial number, records had to be maintained and the extra cost of adding the serial number and recording and maintaining the serial numbers added to much to the cost of production, so it was cheaper to stop adding serial numbers and cease keeping the records that were required. It was a federal law that required serialized guns to have records maintained. After passage of the Gun Control Act of 1968, all firearms were required to have serial numbers and records maintained.