Marlin Factory Letter

[Retired W4]

I have a Model 1897 that came with a factory letter dated July 10, 1985. I am wondering if that service is still available, seeing that Marlin has changed hands a couple times since the letter was produced. As for my particular 1897, the letter states that the rifle came with the 24" round barrel. However, it has an octagon barrel marked The Marlin Firearms Corporation, New Haven Conn, USA Patented. Either the letter is wrong, which I doubt, or it went back to Marlin for a barrel change.

I know my chances are pretty slim that the service records on the barrel swap still exist but I would like to know. I also have a few other old Marlin lever guns, including two 410 shotguns from ~1930, and I would like to get them lettered as well. Their new customer service page does not tell me much of anything.

[marlinman93]

I have a Model 1897 that came with a factory letter dated July 10, 1985. I am wondering if that service is still available, seeing that Marlin has changed hands a couple times since the letter was produced. As for my particular 1897, the letter states that the rifle came with the 24" round barrel. However, it has an octagon barrel marked The Marlin Firearms Corporation, New Haven Conn, USA Patented. Either the letter is wrong, which I doubt, or it went back to Marlin for a barrel change.

I know my chances are pretty slim that the service records on the barrel swap still exist but I would like to know. I also have a few other old Marlin lever guns, including two 410 shotguns from ~1930, and I would like to get them lettered as well. Their new customer service page does not tell me much of anything.

Or it could have been done much later by a gunsmith who got hold of a nice factory barrel and swapped it on. When Marlin moved operations back around 1970 the factory personnel found a huge number of old Marlin new parts stored in corners and neglected. Those parts were mostly sold to Numrich Gun Parts in New York and for many years they offered NOS Marlin barrels cheap to buy. I've seen a number of them used to repair worn out bores on old Marlins over many decades.

The records for letters are still available to Marlin Firearms Collectors through the club to check what records show. Also the Cody Museum has the records too and can issue you a letter like what was issued back when your original was issued. Neither will show anything different than what your letter shows, so you'll waste money paying for another letter from Cody.
Anything made after 1906 wont show in the records. The records stopped at 1906 so your 1930's Marlins wont letter at all.

[Retired W4]

Thanks for the insight on my 1897, and about the 1906 cutoff, Ref: records. My gun show partner got me started on the old Marlins. All most as addictive as my S&W's.

I'll post some pics of the 410 lever shotguns here in a bit.