Go with your gut, if it don't feel right pass. If it is a jmyou should good...

 

911xxxxx or 912xxxxx are Connecticut made Marlins with a JM stamp. Should be fine, I have several friends with 2009 JM rifles and they're good. 918xxxxx is a Remington/Marlin New York made rifle and will not have a JM stamp.

Some of the early RemMarlins were assembled in New York with genuine Connecticut parts, I've seen them and some are perfect, some not so good. It's up to the buyer to inspect closely, it's on an individual basis. BTW, my two close friends with the 2009 JM rifles report excellent function and accuracy. I own a 2012 rifle made from Connecticut parts, and while function and accuracy are top notch, it had multiple build/cosmetic issues that I had to correct.

Production in North Haven was suspended in Spring of 2010. BATFE authorized New York Remington to use the 91xxxxxx numbers until the very end of 2011.

 

I would probably be a little Leary about this one. Only because he is the owner of the rifle. If he were selling it for someone else I could understand him not being able to answer the JM question. You didn't mention if this was a conversation over the phone, by email in person or on a forum. If the sale was going to be in person then there are no worries. You will see it when you pay for it. However if you are mailing the money. I think Mike gave you the best advice. If you feel something is wrong, it probably is.

Jim

 

I wouldn't buy a Marlin made after about 2004 unless I plan modifying it or reselling. JM stamp means nothing to me because Marlin started slowly making crap well before the RemLin change.

 

Really? I’d like to hear more about this, maybe form some of the Marlin employees at the time. My 2008 1894ss is perfect and JM stamped with a later s/n than the ops.

 

Have him send you more detailed pictures. Maybe a short video/facetime of some rounds being cycled through it. $700 is reasonable for the gun with a scope.

 

This is owned by a older gentleman,,,no clue what a JM stamp is,,,,tried to explain it to him on the phone and txt,,,,,,,,serial # is 910....he bought it new,,,,just trying to thin out his collection,,,,,if it was a local deal then no problem,,i could inspect it in hand,,,,but we are about 2.5 hrs from each other....I hate to meet and then its not what i thought it should be....I have several pictures of which it looks really good,,,,but a good picture is not like when you are holding it in your own hands......i know a 910 is probably ok...i know they were inspected before they left the factory.....this would be a hand me down rifle to my kids......just cautious of the last year or so of production....some may be perfect,some may not,,,but that may go for all....if it was a later serial number then no problem....i may have to pass on it

 

have an '09 CT built JM stamped...

44 20" Cowboy......no issues what so ever.......

 

If you drive to meet him half way and it's no deal then all you have lost is your time. I know, easy for my to say.

 

$700 is really not that bad of a price if you can afford it and it’s a solid gun,JM stamp or no.
I have a 94xxx 1894c with JM stamp. Super smooth, super fun, never had a cycling, firing, or accuracy issue. The butt stock did have a slight wiggle that I detected while moving guns around in the safe, so I shimmed the receiver shoulders and ran the rear tang screw in an eighth of a turn tighter and it’s solid again.
I also have a 92xxxx 1894ss that is just as smooth and reliable, but some machining marks and scratched up screw heads are noticeable. Still a beautiful rifle for a picture though and it’s more accurate than I am. But no JM stamp on that one from 2008 makes me think that 91xxx you are looking at will have no JM stamp. But could be a great gun despite that detail.

Have you began negotiating yet? Go straight to $600 and see what he says.

 

2008 Marlins are Connecticut made by Marlin employees, all JM stamped. They have a 92xxxxxx number. Mine is a real laser beam. The JM stamp never made it to New York, so early 2010 is the cut-off date for North Haven made rifles. In addition to BATFE allowing the 91xxxxxx numbers, the barrel roll stamp "North Haven Conn USA" was allowed up until the end of 2011.

I think the OP was offered a good rifle at a real good price. 910xxxxx is a genuine JM Marlin, made in Connecticut. It's definitely worth a look. Don't pass up a successful buy for lack of info. Put an eyeball on it.

Here's my 2008 1894SS. She's a valued family member.

 

Agree with spsix, meet the seller halfway and inspect the rifle. The fact that he's an older guy and original owner lends me to believe that you may have a smoking deal on a sweet rifle at your finger tips.

 

That is a pretty good price in my opinion. I don't know how long it has been for sale makes me wounder why it didn't sell local to him. I have heard to many horror stories about the 91 and 92 serial numbers. If I couldn't fire a mag tube of rounds thru it before I bought it I would pass. Better to hold out and get the one you want than to be stuck with a lemon.

 

Do you have any links to the 92xxxxxx serial number horror stories? Do these stories concern 1894C or 1894 production? Please post them. Thanks.

 

I'd make the drive and look at it even if I had to drive all the way to him.
FWIW I have an 1895GS with a 912XXXXX serial # and nothing wrong with it.

 

I would walk a mile for a camel.lol and drive 2.5 hrs for a marlin..what have you got to loose? Little gas and time but what the hell, might end up with a nice marlin.

 

I own serveral 91XXX or 92XXX JM Marlins--no complaints from me! Now my 2012 Remlin 308MX--that lemon is long gone............

 

I have several 2009 JM rifles that are fine. I have a 1895GBL with a 2009 receiver, Ct. barrel and Ct. wood and perhaps all Ct parts inside. It has a Rem proof which IIRC is 2011. Gun is perfect in all ways which I attribute to the leftover Ct. parts used to assemble it.

 

There are some good remlins too. I didn't say ALL 2009 rifles are bad. I said I wouldn't buy a Marlin made after 2004 and I dang sure won't pay $700 for nearly any Marlin unless it's some sort of collector's item. I'd glad so many of you have good Marlins after most manufacturers gave up on traditional quality practices and materials...including Marlin.

 

No you said they started making “crap” after 2004. Sounds arbitrary to me. I have a like new 1967 Marlin that had a bad firing pin, off center rear sight, and a cross threaded screw. Things happen. Still looking for proof that 2004 is a definite cut off of quality. I would imagine the ex Marlin employees here might disagree. At least show examples of post 2004 rifles with consistent issues.

 

I find it funny that the members who post about quality issues in specific year Marlins always say "I've heard the stories" or "everyone knows that......", but they never say they personally owned the aforementioned troublesome rifles. No first hand horror stories with one exception, RET ENG had a bad 2012 308MX. I always ask them to post a link, so we can all read it. If you've owned a bad 1894 or 1894c from 2008 or 2009, here's your chance to tell us about it. Post a

 

I find it funny that the members who post about quality issues in specific year Marlins always say "I've heard the stories" or "everyone knows that......", but they never say they personally owned the aforementioned troublesome rifles. No first hand horror stories with one exception, RET ENG had a bad 2012 308MX. I always ask them to post a link, so we can all read it. If you've owned a bad 1894 or 1894c from 2008 or 2009, here's your chance to tell us about it. Post a View attachment 785789

Here is my original thread about my Remlin 2012 308MX breaking down when doing some hunting load testing. Sent my Remlin 308MX in for repair (locally)I ended up trading the rifle away after talking with the LGS gunsmith at length. He said the wearing down of the internal parts could very well happen again. Possibly wearing down faster the second time since a massive polishing job had to be done and those parts were not heat treated properly. This was a common occurrence on Remlins during the early years of Big R ownership--2010 to around 2015 or so. I remember posting threads or adding to threads about Remlin QA/QC issues we were seeing on NIB Remlins in the new gun racks prior to 2016 or so. I never saved any of those threads or posts.

 

Also, the 2008-2010 Marlins out there now are 10+ years old, If they had problems when new there's a very good chance they were taken care of a long time ago, and are now good proven rifles.

 

I have a 1894 .357 with S/N 910xxxxx. I gather this is a 2009 vintage Connecticut rifle? I haven't found "JM" on it yet though. Looks nice. I mean it isn't a high-end euro gun but it is good for what it is. Nothing loose, shoots pretty good. No complaints.

 

JM on left rear of barrel near receiver is Connecticut made. Remington New York made rifles (most) have an REP on right rear of barrel. I have personally seen one rifle with neither mark, my neighbor and good shooting bud owns one, I shoot it all the time. It's an 1895 GBL. Neither a JM or REP on his. Purchased in Spring of 2011.

 

Bought 2 2009 JM 91 serial numbers in early 2010. 444 and 45/70, Store was was in process of change over, and had several with rep NY rollmark fresh in. They let me look though there stock in back and found the 2 jm's from 09. I believe the last 2 they had left. I bought both thinking probably the last time I would see JM on the shelf new, hadn't wore them out shooting but both have been flawless. Just check it over good if you wanted I wouldn't be scared of 2009.

 

I have a 91xxxxxx 1894 in 44 magnum I bought off of another forum last year. He told me it had a feeding problem and was returned to Marlin to fix it. Once he recieved it back it ran fine. I have had zero problems with the gun. I don't have a problem buying JM stamped guns that were put out the last years that Marlin own the company. I just tend to check them out a lot closer. Or I need to know or trust the seller if I can't see it. I suppose that's a good practice no matter what gun it is.

Jim

 

My 1894 CB Ltd in .357 was purchased new in early 2009. Serial no. is 9100xxxx and it has the JM stamp.

 

forgot to look for the JM or REP marks last night... this CRS disease sucks.

 

Also, Remington NY made guns will have Marlin Ilion NY on the left side of the barrel as well as the REP.