An old friend gave me this Marlin 25-20. It's been around forever & not very well maintauned. Ser. # 276,5xx. Any info greatly apperciated as to date of manufactue. it's a octigon barrel rifle.

try marlinowners.com they have many sections, including ser nr data bases. lee

Many Thanks Lee. Will do. Still soaking the barrel with Break Free & using the wire brush. Getting years of gunk out. I see rifling but still dark bore.

Having just bought one yesterday myself, I have found that you subtract the first two digits of the serial number from 2000 to get the mfg date, so that puts yours at 1973. Mine is 1978 and it's a 44.

I've been trying to get an 1895 GBL or SBL since last November, but so far no go. Wandering around the store, I saw the 1894 sitting in the used bin, tossed out a fair figure, owner accepted so I bought it.

Still want that 1895, but the way it's going, it'll never happen.

Got my GBL in April at a PA Cabelas, best price around here. Actually, NJ doesn't know what a .45/70 is.
A whole lot of fun. Just loaded up some test rounds as my first reloads and will be at the range tomorrow.
Great guns, and for the OP, like was said, go to Marlin Owners. Not anywhere near as good software running the site. But a lot of good info and people none the less.

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Pete.

Snapping Twig that formula only works for newish Marlins. Marlin was not making 1894's in 25 WCF nor were they making octagon barrels in 1973. I expect that when the serial number is compared to the charts, assuming the charts exist, the OP will fine his rifle was made shortly before WW1. OK, I exaggerated about them not making octagon barrels in 1973. Marlin made a small batch of 1894's in 44 Mag with octagon barrels in 1973, but I've never seen one.

Are you sure it's actually a 1894? There were a few preceding models that looked similar.

Hey Twig; This rifle is older than I am. 79 tomorrow.