stagpanther
New member
Decided to take a break from trying to blow myself up with a 350 Legend AR project to catch-up on a back-burner project, friend of mine found this 336A 30-30 marlin which I've dated to 1979-- and yes it's JM stamped non-safety.
He told me it hadn't been used in 20 years, and at first glance I thought it was hopeless, the stock finish was stripped off and damaged in many locations, and much of the metal was covered in what looked like "rust fungus." I didn't ask, but I'm guessing it's a family heirloom piece--probably owned by a father or grandfather. The rifle also had lots of "goo" on it which, for lack of better description, looked like axle grease but smelled like dead fish. Somebody added an aftermarket base at some point--but the weaver 1.5 micro-track scout scope that was on it I think is a perfect period match for the rifle. The owner told me he wanted to replace it with a new scout scope--I told him I had just bought a new loopy scout scope for my 336 which costs much more than this is worth--but that I would trade it in a heartbeat for his, at which point he had second thoughts. My mistake.
As I got the gun progressively cleaned I realized just what a sleeping beauty it is, the burled walnut is magnificent and even though I didn't take out all of the worst gouges I refinished the stock and foreend instead of replacing it, you can't see them now unless you're looking mere inches away. The insides were of course filthy and I've cleaned them as best I could, I don't yet know to what extent the micro-groove rifling may or may not be damaged. I figure I'll test fire (the owner is only interested in using it as a hunting tool) before getting really deep into improving the action etc.
The hardest part of doing this is resisting the temptation of telling the owner it's a piece of junk and offering to buy it off him. I do believe in Karma though.
He told me it hadn't been used in 20 years, and at first glance I thought it was hopeless, the stock finish was stripped off and damaged in many locations, and much of the metal was covered in what looked like "rust fungus." I didn't ask, but I'm guessing it's a family heirloom piece--probably owned by a father or grandfather. The rifle also had lots of "goo" on it which, for lack of better description, looked like axle grease but smelled like dead fish. Somebody added an aftermarket base at some point--but the weaver 1.5 micro-track scout scope that was on it I think is a perfect period match for the rifle. The owner told me he wanted to replace it with a new scout scope--I told him I had just bought a new loopy scout scope for my 336 which costs much more than this is worth--but that I would trade it in a heartbeat for his, at which point he had second thoughts. My mistake.
As I got the gun progressively cleaned I realized just what a sleeping beauty it is, the burled walnut is magnificent and even though I didn't take out all of the worst gouges I refinished the stock and foreend instead of replacing it, you can't see them now unless you're looking mere inches away. The insides were of course filthy and I've cleaned them as best I could, I don't yet know to what extent the micro-groove rifling may or may not be damaged. I figure I'll test fire (the owner is only interested in using it as a hunting tool) before getting really deep into improving the action etc.
The hardest part of doing this is resisting the temptation of telling the owner it's a piece of junk and offering to buy it off him. I do believe in Karma though.