I am looking for information on an old Marlin shotgun in my family. An uncle has it but knows little about it. The SN is 46178. It is a pump 12 gauge. On the barrel it says first patent year is 1894. I called Marlin but their records only go back to 1940 and they suggested I try this forum for more information. Hopefully someone can help me out.
Old Marlin Pump Shotgun
5stans01!
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I am looking for information on an old Marlin shotgun in my family. An uncle has it but knows little about it. The SN is 46178. It is a pump 12 gauge. On the barrel it says first patent year is 1894. I called Marlin but their records only go back to 1940 and they suggested I try this forum for more information. Hopefully someone can help me out.
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Welcome to the forum.
As stated earlier do not shoot modern shells in that gun.
Any other numbers that you can provide would be a help in aging it.
As stated earlier do not shoot modern shells in that gun.
Any other numbers that you can provide would be a help in aging it.
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We all want one.
I cannot see any other numbers on the gun, just the serial number and the First patent date of 1894. Thanks to all with advice of not shooint it, that was never the plan, just trying to know more about it and a value in case it is something that needs extra attention and care.
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Can't see the picture well enough, but I believe it may be a Model 1898 shotgun.
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Model number should be on the top tang behind the hammer...
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FOR HEAVENS SAKE DON'T SHOOT IT! really? why not? I have heard this for years about these guns. and it's not just with modern shells either. marlin put an add out a long time back warning not to shoot them. they shot them them back in the day with no problems, so what's the difference now? dose anyone personally know anyone injured or killed by shooting one of these guns? or has anybody ever heard of anybody injured or killed by shooting one of these guns? I am just curious. I have wanted one for years they are cool looking, but I have to admit all the hype about the danger in shooting it has stopped me from getting one because if I had it I would shoot it.......
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The warnings not to shoot old shotguns is due to several things. Some have damacus barrels that may be unsafe. Worse than that is folks drop in modern ammo which is longer than the old shotguns. Chambers are not 2 3/4" on old guns. Stick in a long shell and your playing a dangerous game.
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I don't believe they did either. I have a 12ga. mod 1898 made in 1900 and it's not damascus. It does however have the short 2- 9/16" chamber. So do my early Browning A5's. Just sold a WRA model 1901(10ga) that had the shorter chamber. Some guns have had the chambers reamed to accept new ammo and those are ok to use provided the rest of the gun is ok. Some old shotguns that have had the chambers reamed to accept "newer" ammo may be worth less to a collector looking for an original, unmessed with gun. If one aquires an old shotgun and plans to shoot it, it needs to be examined by a qualified gunsmith that can measure the chamber size as well as inspect the gun condition itself. If it has been reamed for 2 3/4" shells and is in good condition, then blast away but I would still use caution and stick with standard or light recoil loads. Also lead shot only, no steel or alloy. Now if you have a gun that still has the shorter chamber and it's in good condition, it can still be shot but you must get the correct shells for it. I am not sure if anyone is selling the older short shells anymore but plenty of folks reload them. I had a bunch of 16ga short shells years ago but used them up in my Browning A5's. Stupid me never kept the paper hulls.
There are plenty of folks who will say they shoot 2 3/4" shells on their old gun all the time with no problems. Well, they might have a reamed chamber gun and don't even know it, or they are walking the razor's edge and have just been lucky it hasn't blown up in their face. Yet.
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The old Marlin pump shotguns did not have Damascus barrels. But Marlin did indeed put out a warning not to shoot the old exposed hammer shotguns. It was Marlin's way of trying to protect themselves from legal action if some idiot fired heavy loads in their old shotguns. I figured they could have simply not endorsed shooting them, but they chose to publicly take a stand against shooting them.
The reason these guns are not strong enough for modern high base shells is the lock up mechanism's design. It simply will unlock and drive the bolt back if the load is too stout. I know a fair number of guys who collect and shoot the old Marlin shotguns, and poo-poo the "don't shoot them" statement. They say they load mild trap loads in theirs and shoot them regularly. But it takes common sense to shoot ANY old gun, and that seems to be a rare thing these days.
The reason these guns are not strong enough for modern high base shells is the lock up mechanism's design. It simply will unlock and drive the bolt back if the load is too stout. I know a fair number of guys who collect and shoot the old Marlin shotguns, and poo-poo the "don't shoot them" statement. They say they load mild trap loads in theirs and shoot them regularly. But it takes common sense to shoot ANY old gun, and that seems to be a rare thing these days.
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