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Beyond Depressed over 336

3K views 38 replies 28 participants last post by  northmn 
#1 ·
Well, my Marlin 336 that I inherited from my dad chambered in 35 REM has been disgraced. The gun was from 1958 and was in excellent shape. No rust and some minor scratches.

The gun did not have any studs for a sling so I opted to use a local Gunsmith who had excellent reviews from all kinds of people. I have drilled guns before but I have messed up a couple and didn't want to take a chance with this old stock as well as search for the right barrel band.

I picked up the rifle and didn't pay much attention to it as the guy was talking my head off. When I got it home, I was very depressed and mad at all once. He had drilled into the bullseye in the stock for the rear swivel. I recall him mentioning that that is what the bullseye was for but then he said he would drill the stock 2 inches back from the butt plate so I never questioned him on it.

He also removed the front barrel band on the gun so he could slide the swivel band on the mag tube. It appears that the band maybe had a burr or something as you can see it scratched/gouged the mag tube for the 2 inches where he pulled it off the gun.

I would normally go back in and demand a fix or my money back but in this case the guy is a local police officer who I believe is on the SWAT team. He knows me by name now and while I am sure he would probably be understanding and remedy the issue, there is also the chance it could go the other way and I could piss him off and life for me around the township could become more interesting.

I am inclined to just count my losses and just drill the rear stud myself, buy a replacement bullseye from midway and fix that and then try some fine steel wool to remove the burr on the mag tube and touch it up with the blue pen from birchwood.

I dont want to shell out anymore money to another smith. Just curious to hear some opinions.

Anyone have advice on the bullseye install as well as what bit to drill the rear stud with?
 
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#36 ·
Joel Lee..it is a Marlin trademark for mainly Walnut stocked firearms, it made it easier for the consumer to ID a Marlin gun among the Winnies etc. at the store. It should not be used as an anchor for a sling stud as it can become loose and fall out.....your gun with it!
 
#37 ·
I don't get too bothered by a few dings and scratches. A Marlin is a working gun (presentation grade and such excepted) and if a working gun doesn't show evidence of use it thereby doesn't show evidence of fulfilling its destiny. I like to consider and/or remember how each bump and bruise came to be, as I wipe them down and remember younger days. Even the fancy ones should be fired once in a while!

John...
 
#38 ·
I totally agree with you. I don't mind a ding from climbing tree stand or a scratch from crossing a old fence. When a reputable "gunsmith" adds two fairly obvious and long gouges from a sloppy pull of a barrel band that bothers me. I read a bunch of reviews on this guy and everyone said he was top notch.

I can only assume that he passed this easy job off to a apprentice or son working in his shop and they wacked it up.
 
#39 ·
If the guy is working as a cop and doing his smithing part time he is not a top notch smith. My guess is he probably is specializing in some type of work like customizing pistols or some such work. Many of the "top smiths" are specialists anymore anyway. Tom Baker overbored shotguns, Wilson went into cutomizing pistols etc. Gunsmiths make errors but usually know how to cover them up. Still one runs into some interesting ones. One guy told of paying to get one caliber and getting another in a custom rebarrel. Who knows maybe the Akeley improved calibers were a result of a screw up:D Probably not but who knows.??

DEP
 
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