The wood looks to be walnut so the factory must have made a mistake.
I read that some of the birch stocks had been stained walnut coloring at one point on other models. I can tell you that the wood is noticeably different than the smooth stocks on my dad's 1895 LTDIII, which are walnut and have a bullseye (although that could be just the finish because the LTDIII is shinier). Maybe the factory just forgot, but I'm just wondering if these aren't the original stocks or if someone knows about Marlin putting birch on 1894 Cowboys...
I have read where birch stocks were used on some 1894Cs sold at a specific store but can't remember the company. The wood grain on your rifle doesn't look like birch to me. None of my birch stocked Marlins or Glenfields resemble the rich straight grain in your furniture.
That was Big 5 Sporting Goods.
First two are 92
That's a 2008 made rifle.
