Marlin 336 mystery

K

KBP75

New member
I just bought a Marlin 336 in 35 Remington from a guy that told me his father hunter with it years ago. Its in like new shape and does NOT have the lawyer safety. The problem is when I put the serial number in the on line Marlin DOM look up, it has NO answer. If I use the Marlin DOM chart and subtract the first 2 numbers from 100, I get an 11 ! The rifle was not made in 1911 or 2011. Maybe someone on this site can give me the date of Manufacture? 89 120XXX Thanks! Ken
 
Marlin Mystery

Wow! 154 people read this post and none know how to get the DOM for my Marlin 336! I don't feel so dumb anymore! This is really a hard thing to figure out!:eek: Anyone know how to get the DOM for MY rifle? Please don't send me a chart- they don't work on my rifle!(at least none that I have seen)
 
Could it be a 1988 model (based on the 120XXX) and the 89 isn't part of the serial number? I don't know when they introduced the cross-bolt safety.
 
ScottyG59; That what I will do! Since the charts I have seen seem to be wrong, Marlin is the place to call. The serial number is stamped very clear- an 89 -then a skipped space then 120XXX Maybe the 89 is the DOM(1989) or if I subtract the first two numbers after the skipped space, (12) 100-12= 88 so it could be made in 1988. Subtracting the first two number from 100 is not right. I did read that some rifles for some reason, did not fit into the charts. My rifle, by the way does NOT have the "lawyer" safety and it has the good walnut stock like we expect from older Marlins. Thanks for your thoughts- all you guys are great!:D Ken
 
Disregard my previous post. I believe all Marlin leverguns had the cross-bolt safety by 1984.

Does yours have a screw head where the safety would be? Maybe it's had a safety delete kit added.

I don't know if I'd call it a lawyer safety. It could just as easily be referred to as a marketing safety. Some like 'em, some don't want them. Many who don't want them on their on gun hope everyone around them uses it on theirs. :)

They don't affect the hammer fall or trigger pull in any way when disengaged.
 
Hi Sport45! Thanks for your thoughts. You are most likely right about all Marlins having cross bolt safeties by 1984. They started adding this "safety" in 1983. No, my Marlin does not have a screw or anything where a cross bolt safety was removed. It never had one. This nixes the idea it was made in 1988 or 1989!:confused: It had to be made prior to 1984. I just can't find any chart that works with this rifle my friends father hunted with! I will try to contact Marlin tomorrow and see what they say. Thanks again! Ken
 
Marlin 336 mystery- NOT SOLVED by MARLIN!

Marlin mystery continues! I called Marlin today and when I gave them the serial number, they were stumped!!!!!!!!!! They cannot figure out when my rifle was made! I am told to send them pictures to the Historian and he will try to figure it out! If I am reading it wrong and the "8" is really a "B" then the rifle was made in 1941. "Not likely, because back then, the serial numbers were much lower. "- Marlin rep. :confused:
 
When you take the pictures can you post them here? Is the serial on the top or bottom tang? Post a picture of it with a bit of masking tape over the last two digits. Round or square lever? Straight or pistol grip stock? Does the bolt have the same serial number as the tang?
 
Hi Again Sport45 and all interested! I am going to the gunsmith to pick up my Marlin 336 today. As of now, I can tell you it has a round lever, pistol grip and a good walnut stock with no checkering. It has no cross-block safety or signs of ever having one( no screw or anything where the cross bolt safety was installed starting in 1983), and The top barrel sticks out about an inch forward of the bottom barrel. The serial number is on the top and VERY clear. I will do my best to post more pictures of the rifle and its serial number. Its just interesting that some rifles were made that did not fit into Marlins DOM chart. Since the rifle was used by the father of the guy I bought it from,(he is in his 50's- the guys father is dead) Its reasonable to assume the rifle is at least 30-40 years old. Other than that, maybe the Marlin Historian will figure it out! Anyone else with a Marlin that has a serial number starting with "89" then a skipped space? Ken
 
"Well thats Marlin for you."

That's Remington for you. Marlin is just a name owned by Remington/Cerberus. Sad.

John
 
Marlin 336 mystery- solved!

After a close exam, by the gunsmith, the 89 turned out to be a "69" it is truly hard to see the 6. I am sorry to all that I misled! I guess the rifle is a 1969 beauty! The gunsmith removed the small dent in the ammo tube and polished the scratch out. The rifle looks NRA excellent! Now to see if it shoots! Thanks to all! Ken
 
Here is a picture of the serial number. Its very hard to make out the 6 ! Ken
 
Hi PetahW! I think you are 100% correct. Finally, I know when my rifle was made. Its really a thing of beauty! Perfect bluing, no scratches on wood or metal and its mechanically like new. Not bad for a 43 year old rifle! Marlin(Remington) just sent me a bullseye for free and its now put into the hole where the original one once was. Now, its going to the target range! Whoopie!!!!:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top