War Wagon, Im sure Marlin like every other manufacturer has cut back on Quality Assurance Inspections, its the down fall of American Quality as far as Im concerned. I worked for 40 years at the largest Private Jet manufacture in the world, 33 of it in the experimental Quality Assurance Dept. They kept down grading the inspection points until, I personally felt there wasn't any integrity left any more and I retired.

 

Marlin was bought by i think remington. And they laid off all the marlin workers so now they have remington workers working on marlin guns. So bolt action people working on lever guns. My buddy had a 336 in 30-30 and for two years the gun would shoot and then get jammed. Eventually he figured out that it was not operator error and sent in back. Now his 336 is good to go. But for anyone wondering that is the problem. The remington people dont care as much about the quality of marlin lever guns.

 

Just transferred a Marlin 44-40 Cowboy. This time I looked at the gun before the guy bought it. No chips in the action, they sent me a good one.... :yes:

 

For every penny a manufacturer spends on a piece they have to charge six cents more. In order to compete the quality control suffers as does attention to detail. I suggest to anyone who buys a firearm new or used, clean it and inspect it well. Better yet give it to a gunsmith before you fondle it. As there were chips in the barrel I'd bet the rifle would be more acurate after the barel was polished. New guns are never cleaned or adjusted well and used one with a history usually need a good cleaning and re-lube. In addition "Bubba" thinks there's nothing to installing a scope and can't tell you what a torque wrench is.