1894 with 1889 extractor and hole all numbers match

[vytautus]

Hi, been a while since I was on here trying to figure this gun out for a friend. The number is 113XXX range. It also has the V. Kindler Saginaw mark. Everything matches stock floor and upper receiver. It has a screw in extractor with the through hole like an 1889. Upper tang marked 1894, Barrel has the 93 patent date. So were the early 1894's made with the same specs as 1889? If so what are the differences?

[marlinman93]

Some early 1894's were actually assembled using 1889 receivers, with 1894 lower tangs, and internal parts. I owned an 1894 carbine in .38-40 made in the first couple weeks of production, and it used an 1889 receiver, and barrel, with 1894 parts, and lettered as an 1894.
Your gun is late in 1894, and has the Model 1894 rollstamp on the top tang. Earlier guns didn't have any top tang marking. So yours is a transition gun and is using the screw like the earlier 1889 extractor, but rollstamped, so likely not an 1889 receiver.

[vytautus]

Ok, thanks. Looks in pretty good shape but I think the Barrel is modified by Kindler. It is 23 1/2 also has a 3/4 magazine tube. I asked him for the rest of the number. It is 380 if there is a way to check it.

[marlinman93]

Is that 23.5" measurement total barrel length, or to the face of the receiver? If it's total length then it's definitely cut as Marlin didn't build them with a 23.5" barrel.

[vytautus]

Yes, it is the full length. I have seen a few by Kindler like this. His newspaper ad states best prices and cheapest guns. I almost wonder if he wasn't buying damaged ones from the factory. Cutting them down and selling them. Like returns or stuff messed up in shipment.

[marlinman93]

Almost every 1889 or 1894 I see that's been cut down began life as a 28" barrel. With 24" being standard, and the most often barrel length ordered I think owners later after the original purchaser didn't care for the long 28" barrel and just chopped them down without regard to getting lengths and sight placement correct to factory specs. I see most shortened barrels also rarely have the front sight dovetail located the proper spacing from the muzzle to match what the factory did too.