jessie,
According to th Marlin Firearms book by Brophy, your rifle was made in 1906.
Regarding low pressure smokeless loads in a rifle marked "For Black Powder", I don't know the answer to that one.
Certainly by 1906, low pressure smokeless .38-55 cartridges had been around for at least 10 years so it would appear that they either did not run tests on the low pressure smokeless cartridges to see if they were safe or they just did not want to take the chance.

I'll see if I can find any low pressure smokeless data and will post the information if I can find any.

w30wcf

 

I'm no expert, but somewhere in the past few years I read that the "For Black Powder" stamping was on guns that had barrels with a slightly softer steel.

Some body correct me if I'm wrong.

C.S.

 

Carolina Sorillo is this what you saw? I found it on the Precision Gun Works site under 1893 Marlin Stocks.

Marlin did make a later Grade B model with a softer barrel specifically marketed and marked "For Black Powder". Model 1893 serial numbers are stamped into the bottom front end of the trigger plate; the highest reported s/n to date is 448,355. A total of 69,100 Model 1893 rifles and 4,086 carbines were produced from 1893-1906. After 1906 the "S" crescent, or sporting carbine, model was introduced.

 

I think what I saw was from one of the more knowledgeable members here. Maybe Parley? But it was pretty much the same info.

C.S.

 

Jessie,
The original .38-55 BP cartridge probably generated pressures in the 15,000-16,000 C.U.P. range. (Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook shows 14,400 -16,400 CUP for a .45-70 with 70 grs FFG).

Low pressure smokeless powder used in the late 1800's early 1900's in the 38-55 was DuPont No. 1 bulk smokeless. Todays 4198 has a similar burning rate. Hodgdon's current data shows 250 cast bullet / 18.5 grs. / H4198 / 1,404 f.p.s. / 17,100 C.U.P. which would be a be about 10% higher than the est b.p. pressure.

You could try reducing the load by that amount, but you are on your own in this endeavor.

I will say that I have fired about 2,500 rounds of smokeless .44-40's through my '73 WInchester made in 1882 with no problem so far. I'm using mostly H4227 which has a burning rate similiar to DuPont No 2 bulk smokeless which was the original low pressure smokeless used in the .44-40.

w30wcf

 

250gn cast and 9gns of Unique. Around 1100 to 1200fps, and low pressure.

Have a smith look it over before you shoot it for safetys sake, have him slug the groove to get the proper size cast bullet.

 

Marlin didn't actually make those "For BlackPowder" barrels of softer steel, they just used up their remaining stock of softer black powder barrels that they had around after they started making up barrels marked "Special Smokeless Steel". They definitely were softer, but not softer than those that are not marked at all.
Every 1893 barrel that is unmarked is a blackpowder barrel, and as such it's the same softer steel as those marked for blackpowder. Use of lighter smokeless loads is not a problem as long as these reduced loads do not use the faster burning powders in reduced charges. Use slow burning powders in lighter charges and always use a cast lead bullet in any blackpowder barrel.