I won't talk you into it... sorry.
Just me but I would not alter such a fine specimen.
Good luck with whatever decision you end up making.
Just me but I would not alter such a fine specimen.
Good luck with whatever decision you end up making.
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Not sure I can help you there either Jerry, think I'd suggest picking up a clunker and tapping that one instead. I'm far from a purist but wouldn't dream of tapping that gun myself so have trouble encouraging someone else to do it.MtJerry said:
That said, it is not my gun and if it pleases you.....................................
I'm not wanting an arguement either,robs said:
you may very well be correct. I seem to recall that during an earlier discussion over this subject some people had 55's that werent tapped, matter of fact I'v been told mine couldn't have been factory by people who's words about Marlins prior to that were like gospel, maybe somebody with an untapped 55 will chime in.I'm going to try & set something up at Wooster Mtn range in May. We wont be opening until April, likely late April due to the muddy conditions. I stopped by last week because I'v got a couple unfinished jobs I was doing before winter hit and everything not snow covered was mucky. I'm thinking mid to late May to let things calm down a little. Its usually very busy the first few weekends.
Well, I say do what you need to do to make it work for you.
Yes, I know it is a waffle-top and they are somewhat special but not nearly special enough that you shouldn't be able to use it! Are you really going to care if it is worth $1000 in 30 or 40 years?
I know a line has to be drawn somewhere and for sure there are guns out there I wouldn't dream of altering and I don't know where exactly I draw that line, but I do know that if my eyes forced me to use a scope and I already had a waffle-top that I very much liked and didn't have (or want to spend) the money on another rifle, then I'd tap it, scope, shoot it, and enjoy it.
I remember my grandpa's shop. I don't think there was a type of tool made that he hadn't altered to suit his needs. He bought quality tools and granted these days there are all kinds of choices out there for special tools but he bent wrenches, altered screwdrivers, ground some tools all the way down into chisels and punches, shortened the handles on his hammers, modified a rotary saw into a table saw, and on and on.
He's been gone a long time now but nearly all of his tools are still in use within my family and many have been altered since then. I think he'd like that a lot more than the idea of us treating them with kid's gloves because they were grandpa's or particularly rare tool.
But what do I know? I just lopped the barrel off a 36G and there were less than 6000 of them made.
Yes, I know it is a waffle-top and they are somewhat special but not nearly special enough that you shouldn't be able to use it! Are you really going to care if it is worth $1000 in 30 or 40 years?
I know a line has to be drawn somewhere and for sure there are guns out there I wouldn't dream of altering and I don't know where exactly I draw that line, but I do know that if my eyes forced me to use a scope and I already had a waffle-top that I very much liked and didn't have (or want to spend) the money on another rifle, then I'd tap it, scope, shoot it, and enjoy it.
I remember my grandpa's shop. I don't think there was a type of tool made that he hadn't altered to suit his needs. He bought quality tools and granted these days there are all kinds of choices out there for special tools but he bent wrenches, altered screwdrivers, ground some tools all the way down into chisels and punches, shortened the handles on his hammers, modified a rotary saw into a table saw, and on and on.
He's been gone a long time now but nearly all of his tools are still in use within my family and many have been altered since then. I think he'd like that a lot more than the idea of us treating them with kid's gloves because they were grandpa's or particularly rare tool.
But what do I know? I just lopped the barrel off a 36G and there were less than 6000 of them made.
I dunno about the statement about how many there are Hal. I'm pretty sure that theres relatively few built between 1948 & 1954 or 1955 compared to between 1955 & 2011. At best theres only 7 or 8 years worth of untapped 336's vs 56 years of D&T'd guns. I'm not saying he shouldn't do what he wants with his gun, I sure would. But I'd keep in mind that at one time none of the guns that are collectable today were collectible. Theres alot of D&T'd model 1893s out there that werent collectable when they were D&T'd but would be worth much more now if they werent. At least when those were done there wasn't a billion others already done. Some day, maybe not so far in the future given whats going on right now with Marlin, nice examples of old 336's will be collectible.Halwg said:
But I do agree a guy should do what he wants with whats his, God knows I do, I just want to make sure he has thought about it. Given the fact he came here to ask instead of just doing it I imagine he has second thoughts. One thing for sure, once them holes are there you cant go back.
If the holes arent perfect then the factory didn't do it and I'd have to say the smith who did didn't know what he was doing. Should be a simple thing for any competent smith. I'v got a 1951 thats drilled & tapped, I think Ray Charles did it. ;Dwrench man said:
Looked fine until I dropped a base on, the holes arent just out of line slightly but not even drilled square. I had to start all four screws at the same time & tighten a little at a time to get the base down flat on the reciever. I'm certain that most are done competently, but I'll NEVER buy another one thats not done at the factory. But, like I said to Hal, the guy should do what he wants, its his gun. Just seems a shame to me since it might be worth a bunch unaltered to his kid someday and D&T'd guns are a dime a dozen.
That all makes a lot of sense to me Ken. Especially when you consider it from the pre-55 and then 56 to date terms as you laid out.Leverdude said:I dunno about the statement about how many there are Hal. I'm pretty sure that theres relatively few built between 1948 & 1954 or 1955 compared to between 1955 & 2011. At best theres only 7 or 8 years worth of untapped 336's vs 56 years of D&T'd guns. I'm not saying he shouldn't do what he wants with his gun, I sure would. But I'd keep in mind that at one time none of the guns that are collectable today were collectible. Theres alot of D&T'd model 1893s out there that werent collectable when they were D&T'd but would be worth much more now if they werent. At least when those were done there wasn't a billion others already done. Some day, maybe not so far in the future given whats going on right now with Marlin, nice examples of old 336's will be collectible.
But I do agree a guy should do what he wants with whats his, God knows I do, I just want to make sure he has thought about it. Given the fact he came here to ask instead of just doing it I imagine he has second thoughts. One thing for sure, once them holes are there you cant go back.
And I think you're very right about the way things are now, even if Remington goes on to make superb rifles, I reckon the CT guns will be that much more sought after and I shudder to think about the alternatives but they surely would drive up prices and desirability. I tend to forget about that when I respond. :-\
I reckon this is the same as the ages old car debate between the purists and the hot rodders. ;D
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