Academically I get why the market on lever actions, both new and used, is through the roof, but it annoys the crap out of me. You’re basically looking at $1k for a new Henry 30-30 or 45-70, and well north of that for a Marlin or a Winchester. I enjoy deer hunting with these old classic rifles, but I’m old enough to remember when a 30-30 was 2/3 the price of a Remington 700. On the action sites, Marlin 336Ws, which are literally a Walmart special rifle, routinely go for eight bills.
I’m lucky enough that these guns are in my budget, but philosophically it really annoys me that the basic lever gun has lost its “working man’s deer rifle” place in the market. What was a really blue collar design is now a luxury purchase. While we’re really spoiled with bolt guns, which is great for hunters and shooters, I hate that some of these classic designs have really priced themselves in to a collectors or enthusiasts market.
Years ago (15-20) I liked looking for used JM Marlins in gun stores, pawn shops, and gun shows. The were often $300-$400 and plentyful. I am so thankful that I scored these 3 rifles just before the prices skyrocketed. IIRC I bought these between '18-'21. Paid $450, $550, $650. The one that I paid $650 for was made in 1950 and looks almost brand new. Its the more sought after model and caliber 35 rem. Now days when i find one that old for sale, its scratched up and price is $1k. I dont know if I would call the current production Marlins “walmart specials” they are now made by Ruger and I hear they are quite nice. Much better than the previous Remlin version. Also I would much rather have an old JM Marlin than any Henry. Thats just my preference. Im sure Henrys are great guns.
The Ruger made Marlin’s are great rifles. They’re expensive, but it you want a gun that will last a life time from my observation of them they fit the bill. It’s just a steep price tag.
The 336W was a model that the old Marlin Firearms Company released with a specific distribution deal with Walmart, hence the W. The idea was basically a retread of what they did with the Glenfield Model 30–a basic 336 will a slightly cheaper stock made to be sold at a slightly cheaper price point.
I should have bought more of them when you did. I grew up hunting with Marlins but later in life pivoted to Winchester 94s. Now as I get a little older a scope is a big help on a hunting rifle and I am appreciating the Marlin design more.
I think the 336W was Marlin rifle made when Remington owned Marlin. Remington Marlins were garbage. They call them Remlins. JM Marlins were made by the original Marlin company and even there value models with birchwood stocks are good guns. If you look at the rifle in the middle, that i posted, it is a 1989 “value model”(30A). They are found to be desirable to many collectors because they seem to be more accurate because they only have one barrel band instead of two like the regular carbine has. Same goes for Glenfield, one barrel band.
I wonder if, in this age of polymer and forged steel guns, the machining and precision needed to make a *reliable and fully functional * lever action is what drives up the price. That type of craftsmanship was the norm but maybe in today’s mass produced world that has changed. Revolvers the same- pricing is ridiculous. IDK, just my thoughts.
I think that has a lot to do with it. There is probably also not enough demand to allow anyone to produce at the scale that would drive the price lower.
flenna, I think you are correct. Thats one of the reasons there are so many polymer frame handguns. They are cheapand easy to produce. I think thats a reason lever guns have become so expensive. A beautiful wood and steel rifle, now days is expensive to make. Ive never owned a Henry but from what ive seen, they have beautiful craftsmanship and thats probably a reason they are not cheap.
When Remington acquired Marlin in (IIRC) 2007, most of the knowledgable oldtimers that had been making the Marlin rifles for years, did not continue with Remington. Remington Marlins (aka Remlins) often had horrible fit and finish. Thats one of the reasons used pre-Remlins prices went up. People were looking for used JM Marlins (pre-Remlins have JM stamp on barrel) instead of buying the new Marlins.
When Ruger aquired Marlin, there was a lot of pressure from Marlin fans to produce good quality rifles like the old JM Marlins. I have never owned one of the current production Marlins but from what Ive seen, the are beautiful. The reason their price is high is because the quality, fit and finish is good. Henry and Marlins are not cheap, but they are great rifles.
I just think lever guns are the “New” thing for a lot of people. We all have more than we will ever use or shoot out of ARs M1a, old M1s, etc I just think a lot of people (me included) wanted something different Before Covid and all the BS you could find Henrys in the high $600/low $700 on GB all day long. When I finally decided I wanted a Henry 357 I paid a little over $1200 off of GB with all the fees and transfers. That was a year or more ago, and it seems like prices are settling down. I bought/won a new Marlin 357 for $880.00 off GB, with all the fees and such it was a bit over $1000, but not terrible.
As with anything it is supply and demand, seems like lots of peeps are liking and enjoying something different, I know I love both of mine. I’m kinda of looking for a 44mag now but need to sell something now that I’m retired. Both my Henry and the new Marlin are solid rifles, the Marlin seems a little more robust but both have functioned great and are accurate enough. I have a buddy who just bought the wood-stocked S&W 44 mag but I have not held it or shot it yet. I handled an S&W synthetic at a local FFL and was not a fan of it, action and trigger were very nice but I’m not a hunter anymore so the plastic did not appeal to me. There is a market for them for sure, just look at all the accessories for them and all the Youtubers doing vids on them,plenty out there. Hey try one ya mite like it. I’ll grab a couple pics of mine and post them if I can figure it all out,LOL
Over a decade later I purchased this Marlin .38/357 new for over $600. At the time I felt I paid too much. I regularly shoot it. I never use the JM (don’t hunt).
Used single barrel shotguns are another that got crazy high a few years back when the new market was primarily Henry(upwards of $500) and the $99 one from WalMart that often had jungle workshop level QC.
They aren’t making any more JM Marlins, and the people who want them are probably the type of enthusiast to pay $800-$1000 for one in decent shape. And I don’t think that many people selling old 30-30s are really in a hurry to move them, so they’ll sit on Gunbroker until someone hits the right number. The new production rifles are popular, but are never going to sell at the volume of ARs or popular bolt guns, so there’s no economy to be gained with scale, and the tooling/supply chain for them is specific. Henry and Ruger are selling plenty of rifles at their current price point, so they’re probably happy to maintain that market.
Many people talk badly about the remlins and i am one of them, but i am thankful that Remington atleast saved Marlin and kept them in production. I don’t know if Ruger would be making the Marlins they are making today if Remington hadn’t kept the Marlins in production. I already have two JM 30-30 and one JM 35 rem, I would like either a Ruger made 1895 (45-70) or a JM 1895. I understand that they are well made and highly sought after and therefore have a high price, but when I could get a Springfield M1A for the price I would have to spend on a good lever action 45-70, I can’t justify spending that much on the Marlin. Someday maybe I will be able to buy both rifles.
