Depends on what you like. I have the GBL, SBL and the ABL....and I like them all! Regardless of the one you end up with however, if they are Remington Marlins, you need to inspect them carefully! Fit and finish (how the wood meets the steel), sights on straight. Mine are all JM stamped Marlins (Pre-Remington made Marlins), but function between them is pretty much the same.
Main differences between the models beyond color though is that the SBL comes with the XS Rail and sights, that is part of the $300 difference and only you can answer if that is worth it to you or not!
Here are mine!

Oh, the one on the bottom was customized with the full length mag tube, otherwise a 1895G.
Good luck with the decision!
mazer

 

Thanks for the heads up...I will check the fit and finish. In my case, I am not considering the SBL which has a rail. I'm considering the GSBL which has no rail.

Marlin Model 1895GSBL

 

I like Mazer have the GBL and SBL. The GSBL is kind of a cross between the SBL and the GBL. It does have a stainless barrel and fittings to be stainless but they are coated, so they don't give off as much glare as the SBL I suppose. The green stock is painted and I have not heard how well it holds up because it's relatively new. My GBL and the SBL are both extremely accurate and a pleasure to shoot. The GBL got my elk for me last year. This year I'm trying the SBL with a different load. Hopefully I can have the same luck again. The GBL does not have a rail, that is true. I did put a short rail on it so I could mount my scope. (My tired old eyes need the scope now). I guess it would matter what type of environment you hunt in. Guys up in Alaska most use the stainless as it is a little easier to take care of. But even stainless you have to clean like the blued and give it a coat of oil so it doesn't develop any rust. Good luck with your decision and quest for finding your perfect rifle to fit your needs. When you do get one a picture is a must of course and then a range report. :top::hmmmm:

 

I've just bought the GBL, still going through it, cleaning and checking it out in general. Not even a full box of ammo through it yet although I did put 6 down the pipe yesterday. I'm happy with it, sights seem to be straight and the furniture is fine. It loads and ejects with no issues. Not sure what else I can ask of a rifle, it goes boom every time, so far.

 

Ah yes! Forgot about that one!! I've never seen one in person so I can't compare them. Only thing I can compare to are the 4 pictured!
Looks like a nice rifle though!
45nut -> if you can take it apart and inspect the internals, you are looking for tool marks and factory grease. Remove all of the factory grease, lightly lube and you are good to go, if there are tool marks where the moving parts connect, you can use a nice set of sanding stones (very fine) to smooth things out, usually doesn't take a whole lot of work, you don't need to get all the marks out, but it does help to just smooth things up, you'll fine it helps the lever action be a lot smoother. Once you use it enough it will break in on it's own, but this is easier on the internals and gives you a much nicer action. The other option of course is to sit in front of the TV and work the action a few hundred times! That works too!
Either way I love the pistol grip and big loop combination! So make sure if you get the GSBL you get us some nice close up pics!
Cheers!
Mazer

 

Down here the prices are a bit different. I myself have a GBL, I just could not justify spending an extra $500 on a stainless rifle. I have other brands of stainless rifles and there really is not much difference in price to their blued models. ie Tikka. My GBL is a JM Marlin.

 

Alas, if you were asking about Guide Guns, I'd have some input! Either way you should be happy with the round!

1895gunner

 

There is a significant cost difference ($125) of buying a Marlin GBL through the internet (Buds, Kentucky Gun, Hinterland, etc) as compared to buying at a local gun dealer. If examining fit and finish is a concern, does that mean my only option is to buy locally?

 

I bought both the GBL and the SBL from Gun Brokers and got a good deal on both of them I think. If there is not enough pictures I ask for more and study them as closely as I can and it paid off on both guns. But then again I'm kind of a tightwad and if I can save $125 per gun after 2 guns I can buy a lot of reloading components and shoot a lot. It's up to you and what you feel comfortable doing.

 

I would say yes, shop locally if fit and finish matters that much to you. I've held a Remlin in 35 Remington that had great fit where the wood meets the metal, and I've held a Remlin SBL 45-70 that had lousy fit between wood and metal. I've read numerous complaints about the front sight/barrel being canted to the left or right, as if the barrel was screwed on too tight or not tight enough. These are problems you can only detect if you're actually holding the rifle.

But again, it's strictly up to you where you buy, based on individual expectations and standards.

 

Glad I found this thread. I cant decide which model to buy either. If I add the full length rail and sights to the GBL model it still comes in $150 cheaper. Decisions.....decisions.

 

I have a GBL and it good enough for me. The extra 300 buy the stuff you need to reload the 45/70 S'S is operated in my opioned.

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Overated

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I ordered the GBL. Buds has a good price on them. Can always add the rail and sight later if I decide to go that route. Might install a red dot sight on this rifle. Hope I finally get a good Marlin because the 3 JM's I purchased during the early 2000 period were junk.

 

...."1895 GBL vs GSBL"

maybe not so much a "vs" as much as it might be an "or.."

the reason i say this is because it may be as simple a matter as making an mdmp matrix, weighting out what the desirable characteristics might be by the requirements you have defined - high score wins..

ref the eternal remarks and lamentation over jm guns as opposed to the new gen of marlingtons - i've got a pile of both - guess what - they both have good points and both have points that needed addressing....