Year and Model

[paulownian]

I have a Marlin 12 ga. pump shotgun, serial number 219xx. No model is given on the gun. How so I determine the year and model?

[SteveW]

Post the precise barrel markings. A pic would help, too. SW

[paulownian]

23830F

How do I post a photo to the site?

[SteveW]

The barrel number only tells us the choke which is full in this case. There should be some patent dates and the company name Marlin was using at the time. These will go a long way to tell the model.

To post a pic you need to upload your digital image to a host such as hunt101 or photobucket. After you do that, right-click the uploaded image to get the URL.

When you are posting, ,you will see an 'img' prompt on the menu above the message text. Left-click 'Img', type the entire URL then left click img again. The pic will then appear in the message text when you submit the message. SW

[Regnier (gunrunner)]

Paulownian;

With a serial number in the range given, and a 12 gauge shotgun, you no doubt have a Marlin Model 1898 exposed hammer pump action shotgun. There were only a couple of models of shotguns that did not have the model number stamped on the upper tang, the Model 1898 being one of them. Your gun, (018) was shipped with a 30 inch barrel in mid-1901.
You should have patent dates stamed on the barrel as follows: November 6, 1894, May 12, 1896 and June 2, 1896 These are the markings Steve refers to. Different models of shotguns will have different patent dates stamped on the barrel.
I hope this helps.

[paulownian]

I appreciate the info. I'll try the photo thing.