Welcome to MO, pics are nice. Looking like early 1890's. Some one more knowledgable will help you.

 

Welcome to the forum! Someone will be along directly who knows all about it. I'll second the pictures! Sure would love to see it.

 

Thanks Junkie. I have added some pics. If there is an angle or view that I should add, please let me know.

 

Thanks. pics added.

 

With your serial number showing a prefixed 'C' it should appear under the lever on the bottom tang which is part of the trigger plate. If so then I would place the carbine at around 1920. It is factory drilled and tapped to accept Hepburn's receiver sight. Notice the stamping 'Marlin Safety' is moved down the receiver to allow for the two drilled and tapped holes. The marking 'for black powder' indicates that the barrel is being used up by the company from old stock. Your carbine has a nice carbine rear sight and has the carbine type butt plate. The saddle ring is bent. It should be round. The receivers could be blued or colour cased and I would think yours is blued. It all looks in good shape. Marlin carbines of this vintage are relatively scarce, at least in my neck of the woods. Marlin only built about 5000 of them compared to the millions that Winchester put out.

 

Nice piece ya have there

 

I love the '93s. This Grade B came with a blued receiver. To clarify the OP's comment, these are for Black Powder only.

 

The Grade B guns with the "For BlackPowder" marking usually date to pre WWI era. I suppose this might be post WWI, but my guess is just before WWI.

 

Thank you all. The serial number is on the bottom of the steal under the receiver just in front of the start of the fore stock and not on the tang. I plan to hunt with this gun when conditions are favourable. Do you guys think I am safe using factory ammo. Is there anything you would recommend I stay away from or use. It will be used for white tail and possibly moose. I have a couple of boxes of old CIL Dominion 255gr ammo I got with the gun that someone paid $5.45 for. I think I will keep these as keep sakes.

 

The Black Powder marking was put on the rifles that were made with the old softer steel barrels. The action is the same as the regular smokeless actions. It is recommended that only lead bullets be used as jacketed will wear out the barrel faster.

 

I'd agree with "32-20" on not shooting much, if any, jacketed ammo through it. But if you don't reload and wanted to hunt with it each fall, a few shots each fall certainly wont wear the barrel out.The action is plenty strong for standard factory ammunition. Just don't abuse it with some of the specialty high velocity ammo available.

 

Thanks guys. I appreciate the feedback. Can I buy non jacketed loads?

 

Yes, but it's tough to find it with the right diameter cast bullet. Most 1893 Marlins in .38-55 Ballard will need a .380"-.382" bullet, and everything I see offered has smaller .377" or .378" bullets. Shooting too small a bullet will lead up the bore and give poor accuracy too.
You might want to find a friend who is willing to load the right ammo up if you purchase all the components.