Please help identify my Grandfather's old Marlin 12g...

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jefflooote
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Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2015 2:41 am

Please help identify my Grandfather's old Marlin 12g...

Post by jefflooote »

Hi everybody...

I'm trying to help my Dad identify my Grandfather's Marlin 12g shotgun; it is a family heirloom and hangs in my parents' TV room on display. My Dad last shot this gun when he was a teen in the 50's; he said it almost blew his face off so of course it's never been used again.

Anyhoo...my Dad was never sure what model the shotgun is. It is a 12g pump exposed hammer takedown; the barrel only measures 28" but my Dad is pretty sure his Dad cut the barrel down when he was a little kid. Researching tonight we are reasonably sure the rifle is an early 1898; for years my Dad though it might be a model 19 but we are finding out that's probably not the case.

The rifle doesn't have a model number stamped anywhere; it states on the barrel "Patented Nov 6 1894 May 12 1896 June 2 1896" and stamped on the barrel is the number 3781 (which I'm assuming is the barrel serial number). The receiver's stamped serial number is 4077.

The gun is missing the buttplate and has a forend that was made from scratch in the mid-80's by my Dad as the original crumbled away.

Does anyone have an idea what year this rifle was made and more importantly, what exact model is it?

Also, where could I find a replacement buttplate and forend?

Here are some links to pics...

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff23 ... zwyxfo.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff23 ... qykrjy.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff23 ... ou6s1c.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff23 ... g53iu7.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff23 ... c1bary.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff23 ... o94rqg.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff23 ... 8hu4x0.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff23 ... tsvnxx.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff23 ... x8iwbt.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff23 ... xjxria.jpg


Thanks everybody!!!
Jeff
Regnier (gunrunner)
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Posts: 4667
Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2002 2:33 am
Location: The Sunflower State

Re: Please help identify my Grandfather's old Marlin 12g...

Post by Regnier (gunrunner) »

Jeff;

You have an early Marlin Model 1898, "A" Grade, exposed hammer, pump action shotgun. It was made the first year of production, and is somewhat scarce in that it is an early gun made without the patented "Hang Fire Safety Release" that Marlin patented to make the gun safer to the user. Those guns made without the Hang Fire Safety release system are really NOT safe to shoot with modern ammunition. You are doing the right thing by hanging it on the wall for decoration.
Reproduction butt plates are available at www.gungrip.com You want the one for the "Model 17" with Marlin in script at the toe of the butt plate. You can check with Precision Gun Stocks of Kerrville, Texas to see if they make a new forearm for shotguns.
Marlin barrel serial numbers and receiver serial numbers will not match. What factory records that do exist show the model number, grade of shotgun if other than an "A" grade, gauge, barrel length and serial number of both gun and barrel. Too bad the barrel has been shortened on this gun. Most original "A" grade guns had 32 inch, full choke barrels, but it is not all that unusual to find 30 inch barrels as well.
I hope this helps.
Due to the increasing cost of ammunition, there will be no warning shot!

The growing federal deficit = generational slavery to the national debt.

If the world was perfect.......it wouldn't be.
jefflooote
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Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2015 2:41 am

Re: Please help identify my Grandfather's old Marlin 12g...

Post by jefflooote »

Thanks!

So since it is from the first year of production...what year would that actually be?

And, what is that little nipple dot just above the hammer? Is that original?

Thanks sgain!!!
Jeff

Thanks again!
Regnier (gunrunner)
Distinguished Expert
Posts: 4667
Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2002 2:33 am
Location: The Sunflower State

Re: Please help identify my Grandfather's old Marlin 12g...

Post by Regnier (gunrunner) »

Jeff;

It could be 1898, just depending on what month production of the shotgun started. The catalogs stated that the shotgun would be available starting June 1, 1898. It could even be 1899, but it would be early 1899.
The little "button" you see on top of the breech bolt is a retaining pin for the firing pin.
Due to the increasing cost of ammunition, there will be no warning shot!

The growing federal deficit = generational slavery to the national debt.

If the world was perfect.......it wouldn't be.
jefflooote
Beginner
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2015 2:41 am

Re: Please help identify my Grandfather's old Marlin 12g...

Post by jefflooote »

Hi again...

I bought the Model 17 buttplate from gungrip.com and it came in today. It is plastic. For a gun made in 1898, is this proper? Did this gun have a metal or plastic buttplate originally?

Thanks!
Jeff
Regnier (gunrunner)
Distinguished Expert
Posts: 4667
Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2002 2:33 am
Location: The Sunflower State

Re: Please help identify my Grandfather's old Marlin 12g...

Post by Regnier (gunrunner) »

Jeff;

Originally, the butt plate was made of a hard rubber material. The butt plate you got is plastic, but is the proper style. If you do not want it to look like new, shiny plastic, spray paint it with some black paint, wait for it to dry, then buff lightly with some very fine steel wool until it takes on a dull appearance. I have done this and it looks almost like the original hard rubber material.
Due to the increasing cost of ammunition, there will be no warning shot!

The growing federal deficit = generational slavery to the national debt.

If the world was perfect.......it wouldn't be.
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