I have 4 Marlins from 60s-70s. JMs. These Marlins have nice fit
and finish and are basically trouble free. The drop in fit & finish
started in 80s while still JM. I suppose when they started into
financial problems. In spite of this mechanically they were still
dependable. The guns made under Rem makes you wonder if they have QC at all. My experience has been mostly with the
new 1895s. Due to Ohio's new rifle deer season the 95 is the
number 1 seller in this area. Some guys luck out and get a gun
with no issues but they aren't the norm. I've had several 94s,
95s and 336s brought to me, I won't fool with them. I tell them
to send them back to Rem. Their CS leaves something to be
desired too. Rem is suppose to be improving on quality but they
have already damaged the Marlin brand. Now that Rem is going
into bankruptcy they are going to have to reorganize. They are
probably going to have to sell off some of the companies they
have gobbled up. Maybe Marlin will be bought and brought back
as a Independant co. They will never be made the way JMs were.
There is money to be made in Lever action market, Henry has
been able to profit in large part to the failure of Marlin under
Rem. A lot of us older guys are going to have to face the fact that
milled parts guns are a thing of the past, forced out by cost of
production.