What would be a good price to pay for a Marlin 1895 GBL .45-70 lever action? Brand new, unfired, from a private seller. He has the docs and lock but threw away the box. It comes with 20 boxes of new factory ammo. 20 round boxes, I believe, various brands including some Hornady, etc. Any comments on the rifle itself welcome too. This one was made in North Haven, Connecticut not Ilion, N.Y. Thanks.

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'Merica!

Well, it depends on how bad you want it and how badly he want's to sell it.

The gun retails for $785, but can be found new for $600. So, if it were me, I'd be looking to pay $550 for the gun.

The ammo is the big question. 45-70 ammo ain't cheap and finding it for $1/round is a good deal. 400 rounds could run over $400 for decent ammo.

If you could get the whole package for $800 that would be a steal.

In this case the factory box is irrelevant. This gun will never be a collector's item in your lifetime.

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Freedom isn't free.

I'm pretty sure he's got even more than that into the ammo. Some of it was $35 a box.

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'Merica!

The JM stamped ones command a small premium, but all of them were made after the sale to the Freedom Group in 2007. They will never have the collector appeal of the early 2000s Guide Guns. Or, really, any pre-Freedom Group 1895 model.

No ammo, maybe a $500-$550 rifle, add $100 for a JM stamp. The ammo, as stated above, could be $500 or more. I for one have no issues paying full retail for boxes of ammo with a gun sale; I'm not paying tax/shipping and I don't have to make a trip to the gun store.

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Psalm 27:2

What's the deal on the JM stamp and where would it be located?

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'Merica!

On the barrel near the receiver. A Remlin is marked REP.
I sold a JM Guide gun, stainless for $650 a couple months ago.

Unlikely this is a JM gun. The mark will be at the chamber end of the barrel right where it meets the receiver and on the left side. Like this:

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Freedom isn't free.

That particular rifle, whether a "JM" marked or "Remlin" is a pretty hard sell around here in the Central Texas area. The "JM" Marlins usually sell better/easier than the Remlins, but still, they tend to linger on the local gun boards unless marked low/very low. I remember last year one guy sold his NIB Remlin for $350.00 and it sold within minutes. The .45/70 caliber is legendary, and would easily kill any animal on the North and South American continents. However, people are intimidated by the stories of its stout recoil, and the price of the ammo. (BTW - I hunted with an experienced shooter last year that was a Guide Gun fan, and he compared the recoil as being comparable to shooting a 12 ga. shotgun with slugs.) The rifles are neither target guns nor range rifles. A lot of people I know like to use them for hunting hogs.

I think the estimates provided by Rastoff and hkcavalier are accurate. At my age, I've decided to keep and use the rifles I have on hand and not acquire any new ones for my family to worry about once I pass - however, I do know my son has been drooling over the thought of owning a .45/70 for a long time.

BTW, the earliest Marlin Guide Guns had ported barrels. Now a days, on the more modern versions, the only barrel porting you'll see is done after it leaves the factory.

Good luck,

Dave

Here in Ohio we have had limited rifle season for 3 yrs. 45/70 is
a legal caliber. 1st year legal cals were sold at premium prices,
supply and demand. Now used market has a lot of Marlin 95s
For $500-$600 range. This doesn't include JM rifles, they are
bringing premium prices on all levers. I'm not up on all the new
variations from Remington but would go by lowest price that
was offered NIB and deduct $100. That would be if I wanted the
gun myself. If it was just dealing I would deduct $200. If it can
be bought NIB for $600 , you would have trouble breaking even
at $500. On top of that a lot of guys that bought 45/70s for
deer are now looking for more practical cal. rifles. The 45/70
is a lot of gun for eastern white tails. That's why there are a
lot of them on used market.

Grab a gun has them priced close to $500. New Do a bundle price for the rifle and ammo for $475.

I like the cowboy “CB” model.

For a brand new rifle and 400 rounds of ammo? That would be an insult to even the most desperate of sellers.

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Freedom isn't free.

$475 for the gun then half the cost of the ammo? I didn’t know it was 20 boxes of ammo that’s 400rds.

I complained when my 338 win mag ammo was $24 a box. Now it’s like $70 a box.

Just came across this old listing......these guns are going for more than double retail right now....WOW!!!
Hope you grabbed one back in 2018!!!

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

Well people are impatient, obviously Remington and Marlin are in turmoil. I don't get paying $1200 for these guns, but some people are. I've owned both a GBL and an SBL and now have neither one. Classic, heavy, but the application is limited. My much cheaper Ruger American in .450BM does the same work.

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Psalm 27:2

If it is not a JM rifle you would be better to buy one that was made the last year or two before Remington bit the dust. A JM model a good deal would be anything less than $900. One made by Remington a lot less and I would not take a chance on one myself as many have problems and there is no factory fix or warranty. The best thing to do is find one made before Remington and pay the extra unless he will let it go for like $400. That is just my opinion though and I have many Marlins but none made by Remington.

if you price the ammo versus the rifle, the ammo would cost as much as the rifle. By todays ammo cost, the ammo would be approx 900.00 per Midway pricing. I think you would do OK if you could get it for less than 1000.00.

I think that I gave about $475 for my Remlin 1895GBL a couple of years ago.

Four Marlins, a Rossi, and a Savage in this picture.

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Only a cold warrior

Concerning Recoil: I have an early Guide Gun w/ factory porting. Two were bought by 2 best friends with one box of ammo, The very next day they were sold as used Unfired and used 2 shots fired! The buyers complained of unbearable recoil! I ended up with the box of ammo those guys used. It was WW 45-70, 300 grain JSP. Those guys must be the worst gun handlers in the world or have only shot 22 as small children! The 300 grain factory load in a guide gun is less felt recoil than a factory 240gr 44 Mag in a Model 92! or a Marlin 1894!

The Guide Gun was intended as a quick handling gun for hunting or fishing in BIG BEAR country. I load mine hot with 400 gr hard cast bullets at 2150 fps. Yes that load has real recoil! It isn't a plinking load, but when you actually need it, you won't feel it until the next day and it will bring a smile to your face, because you are alive and some large carnivore isn't!

I also have about 200 loaded up with 300 grain RNFP soft lead loaded about 800 fps, that is a mild plinking load that will clover leaf at 50 yards (if your eyes are up to it!), that is my load for helping people get familiar with how to use a lever gun.

Rules for proper operation (forget what you see in movies and on TV!)

1) Have spare ammo mounted on the outside of clothing!

2) Once mounted do not take the gun from shoulder!

3) keep sights on target at all times!

4) shoot at least 3 rounds before stopping, reload according to rules 1-3

This requires practice, so practice!

For those so inclined: If it works on bears, it will work on whatever ails you!

Ivan

You guys do know you are beating on 2018 thread?

Some threads "Mature" with age like fine wine. Some just turn sour like vinegar!

Ivan

If you had read the first guy's post, you would have seen...Yes, they know it's old. Some threads, like this one, the age doesn't matter.

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Freedom isn't free.