Here is a close up look at my Marlin stocks as an example of some of the wood they used over the years. The top rifle is a '78 walnut stock with Mar-sheild finish. Mar-sheild is an electrostatically applied lacquer finish that they used in the mid-late '70's, I'm not sure exactly when they started and stopped using it. I've always thought the late '70's were some of the most beautiful Marlin rifles. Some people don't like Mar-sheild.
The rifle in the middle is an '89 30AS, It's the budget model, that did not have walnut furniture. I think its birch wood. Very similar to the Glenfield Marlin rifles and other store brands. I think Western Auto and K-mart were some of the store brands. They are great rifles 100% JM Marlin and even though they were budget versions, now are sought-after by some collectors because they are believed to be more accurate because they have only one barrel band, unlike the regular carbine that has two barrel bands. I like my 30 AS just as much as my other Marlins. It has the smoothest action I've ever seen in a lever action rifle. It feels like the bolt is sliding through butter.
The rifle on the bottom is a '50 SC 35 rem with a walnut stock. It is an example of the finish that were on JM rifles from the '50's to the early '70's
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