It indicates a walnut stock.

 

As quoted from Brophys' Book on Marlin:

"In 1922 when the newly formed Marlin Firearms Corporation was formed, under the leadership of John Moran, a bull's-eye design became the new Marlin trademark. It not only was used on printed matter but also was inlaid into the bottom surface of the buttstock of each firearm. A statement about the bull's eye by Marlin Firearms Company was as follows:

Every single Marlin bears a "birthmark" which instantly identifies it. Customers in your store have but to glance at the butt of the gun to know it is a Marlin. The bulls'-eye-symbol of accuracy- is the most fitting kind of trademark for Marlin, make and breaker of World's target records. Inlaid in black and white on the butt of every Marlin arm, it makes not only a complete identification, but a beautiful accent of decoration.
You will realize what an enormous helpful thing this is, saving you time and paving the way for a sale. Your years of selling experience will tell you that merchandise which can be immediately identified has selling value almost beyond price.


The bull's-eye trademark is still in use today, and except for a year or two during the Depression years of the 1930s, the bull's-eye has been installed in the stock of every Marlin model of rifle and shotgun. It has not been used on "brand name" or Marlins' Glenfield line of guns.
The location of the bull's-eye in the stock is usually 4 to 4 1/2 inches forward of the toe of the stock.

Frequently, the bull's-eye is incorrectly thought to be the location where a lower sling swivel should be installed (lower sling swivels are usually about 3 inches from the toe of the stocks)

That about wraps it up, hope it helps. Understand that the above is from a book published in I think 1989, things have changed some since then. Mr fixit.

 

...... I was wondering the same thing , thanks for the explanation ! A little known trivia - "Marlin Trademark" - nice !:biggrin:

 

I think Remington has quit putting the Bullseye on Marlins of any kind.

 

Yea because it's a symbol of quality!

 

12. What is the small round black and white dot on the bottom of my Marlin stock?

• This is the Marlin "Bullseye". This trademark has been used since 1922 on all Marlin walnut buttstocks. Please note that this is not a suitable place to install a swivel for you firearm. Swivels should be mounted approximately 2 inches from the toe of the butt. Found here: Marlin Firearms - FAQs

 

If anyone comes across this thread like I did searching for the bulls eye on the stock, my December 2014 manufactured 1894 has the bulls eye.....FYI.

 

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I don't think that the bullseye is found only on walnut stocks. It's found on walnut because that is the type of stock found on most Marlins. What about laminate stocks or plastic stocks?

 

I don't know about current stock, but I had a link to the FAQ section of Marlin Firearms about the insert on an old post. The current FAQs state that since 2012 Marlin has been using mostly laminated wood stocks, cant find anything about walnut stocks anymore.

 

Thanks... That was a well thought out explanation. Who ever wrote it, did a good job of it.

 

From the "useless drevel" department...

Back in the day when GM decided to move away from the Indian trademark on Pontiacs (early 1960's - like my '63 Bonneville), some law required that the trademark appear someplace on their cars.

GM cleverly put Pontiac's profile on the face of the speedometer - the high beam indicator.

So the story goes.

 

My new (only a few days out of the box) walnut stocked Marlin 1894C has the bullseye.

 

I have a lead on a 1953 336RC that does not have the bulls eye. could this be a replacement stock? Any other reason it wouldn't be there?

 

I had a orangish-brown laminated model 60 stock that had the bullseye. Not sure about others.