Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Herb Houze
on their relative importance and rarity.
Values indicated are for calibers and barrel lengths in most common production. Prices may be increased according to their relative rarity. The following production totals are shown in factory records:
Calibers: 25-20, just 34 made; 32-20 = 15,441; 38-40 = 18,635; 44-40 = 20,934.
Standard Rifle. 24" barrel standard. Total 46,285 manufactured. Barrel lengths from production records: 15", just 40 made of which 10 were octagon and 30 round; 20" = 676; 22", just 10 made; 24" = 39,363; 26" = 3,729; 28" = 2,268; 30" = 165; 32" = 99; 40", just three made:
5D-024
| 5D-024 | Values—Very Good $500 | Exc. $1,400 |
Carbine. Saddle ring affixed to left side of receiver; special carbine style buttplate. Total made 8,685. 20" standard with 8,354. Other lengths rare and will bring premium (327 made with 15" barrel and four with 24" barrel):
| 5D-025 | Values—Very Good $900 | Exc. $1,750 |
Musket. 30" barrel with full stock, forend and magazine. Total production just 68 of which 62 were in caliber 44-40 and just 3 in caliber 38-40 with calibers of the three remaining specimens unknown. Very rare:
| 5D-026 | Values—Very Good $3,500 | Exc. $6,500 |
Marlin Model 1891 Lever Action Rifle
Model 1891 Lever Action Rifle. Made c. 1891 to 1897. Total quantity 18,642, includes all variations.
Calibers 22 rimfire and 32 rimfire/centerfire. Tubular magazine made in three lengths (half type, three-quarter length and full). 24" octagon barrels most often encountered. Buckhorn rear and blade type front sights.
Blued finish with casehardened hammer, lever and buttplate; flat shotgun style buttplate also seen. Plain walnut stock. (Shown in illustration with pistol-grip stock, a feature which is worth a premium.)
Serial numbered in range 37492 to 118000 (overlaps with other models).
Barrel markings, First Variation: MARLIN FIRE-ARMS CO. NEW-HAVEN, CT. U.S.A./PAT’D NOV. 19. 1878. APRIL 2. 1889. AUG. 12. 1890. Top of frame marked: MARLIN SAFETY.
Barrel markings, Second Variation: Identical to above, but patent date of MARCH 1, 1892 added.
Marlin’s first lever action chambered for 22 cartridges, the Model 1891 was also the first repeating rifle made to accept 22 Short, Long and Long Rifle cartridges on an interchangeable basis. The new gun helped round out the company’s offering in lever actions by adding the small caliber to the medium and large caliber arms already in production. The Model 1891 has a separate trigger and sear with a safety system which requires the lever to be closed to fire the gun. This feature was dropped on all subsequent caliber 22 lever action rifles.
Values are for the most commonly encountered 24" barrel lengths. Prices may be increased according to relative rarity of other lengths. The following production totals are shown in factory records:
Barrel lengths: 20", just two made; 21", just one made; 22", just one made; 24" = 18,086; 25", just one made; 26" = 283; 27", just one made; 28" = 259; 30", just four; 32", just one; 40", just one made.
Barrel styles: Octagon most common. There were 3,435 also made with round barrels and just 233 made with part octagon/part round barrels. Engraved and deluxe styles extremely scarce in this model.
First Variation. Caliber 22 rimfire only. Side loading, made with short magazine only. Approximately 5,000 manufactured:
5D-027
| 5D-027 | Values—Very Good $750 | Exc. $2,000 |
Second Variation. Calibers 22 rimfire (worth premium) and 32 rimfire and centerfire. (Not illus.) Identical to Model 1892. The latter caliber more often encountered. Tube loading with full length magazine underneath the 24" barrel. Tang markings MODEL/1891 are found on specimens after serial range 112000 (approx.). Round barrels are scarcer and worth premium:
| 5D-028 | Values—Very Good $300 | Exc. $875 |
Marlin Model 1892 Lever Action Rifle
5D-029
Model 1892 Lever Action Rifle. Made c. 1895 to 1916. Total estimated quantity approximately 45,000.
This rifle is the same as the Model 1891 Second Variation, tube loading, described above with the following exceptions: Upper tang marked MODEL 1892 (later changed to MODEL ’92); receiver blued, improved ejector, wider firing pin and improved safety feature. Has one-piece sear and trigger.
Calibers 22 rimfire (scarce) and 32 rimfire and/or centerfire. Barrel lengths 24", 26", and 28" round, octagon or part octagon/part round; half and full magazines.
Serial numbered in range of 90000 to 412000 (overlaps with other models). Some have “A”, “C”, or “D” prefix for new number series c. 1912 to 1915.
Crescent style rifle buttplates with heel (or tang) were used until 1906, after which the “S” curved buttplate (made without a tang or heel) was used.
Numerous extra or special features were available (including a casehardened receiver) which will add to values depending on the nature of the special feature and condition of the gun. Not made in take-down. (See the improved version of this model— the Model 1897 which was made as a take-down only.)
22 caliber:
| 5D-029 | Values—Very Good $350 | Exc. $1,000 |
32 caliber:
| 5D-030 | Values—Very Good $250 | Exc. $825 |
Marlin Model 1893 Lever Action Rifle
Model 1893 Lever Action Rifle. Made c. 1893 to 1935. Total quantity estimated from 850,000 to 1,000,000.
Calibers 25-36; 30-30; 32 Special; 32-40; 38-55. Full length tubular magazines standard. Octagon or round barrels in lengths from 24" to 32" (at 2" intervals). 20" carbine also made. Buckhorn rear and blade type front sights.
Finish: