I am assisting my young nephew in the purchase of a Marlin Model 336 in .30-30 caliber, with a 24" barrel. There is some wear on the bluing and wood, and a small repair (filled screw hole?) on the stock, so it is not a safe queen, but it is no beater either. It has been used, but everything seems tight and in perfect working condition. According to the serial prefix ("F") it was made in 1949.

The seller is a friend of mine, and neither of us knows what it it worth. I am hoping to get feedback from some of the knowledgeable folks here. Thanks in advance.

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$300-400.00

Great choice in my opinion. Rugged built and made to last. Much better choice than a lot of the budget polymer stuff out there. good caliber too!

In the late '60's I bought one lightly used and loved it. I traded it away, and wish I had kept it. Fine rifle.

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Oh well, what the hell.

I bought a pre safety Marlin 336 20" .30-30 from a pawn shop a few
years ago for $250. The metal is pretty clean but the stock has several
scrapes and scratches, mostly just in the finish. I would say $300 would
be fair to both of you. I would guess that the same gun with a 20" barrel
would bring a little more money in the market place.

I just recently sold my Marlin 336 JM 30-30 for $400. I think I paid out the door $360 at a pawn shop. It was in fairly good shape all over and it did have a cheap scope on it.. The old JM Marlins are much better than the new Remlin 336 guns.
I never went hunting with it so I sold it. I figured if I got $400 for it then I would sell it. First guy bought it.
Now I have quite a lot of 3030 ammo but no gun. I figure if times get bad then the ammo might be like having gold.

THAT'S A SWEET LOOKING OLD MARLIN......

THE TRUE VALUE OF A PARTICULAR ITEM, IN A FREE MARKET PLACE, IS DETERMINED BY WHAT THE HIGHEST BIDDER PAID FOR IT.....

I SUGGEST THAT YOU DO AN ADVANCED SEARCH ON GUNBROKER, OF COPLETED ITEMS, THAT CLOELY MATCH THE DESCRIPTON OF THIS RIFLE. HOPEFULLY, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DETERMINE A BALLPARK VALUE OF THIS ONE.....

THE OTHER AVENUE THAT YOU MIGHT PURSUE, IS TO SEARCH THE ON-LINE INVENTORY OF KITTERY TRADING POST, IN THE STATE OF MAINE. IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND OLDEST OUTFITTERS IN THE NORTHEAST.....

SINCE IT IS FAST APPROACHING WHITE TAIL DEER SEASON, THEY WILL PROABLY HAVE SEVERAL OLDER MARLINS FOR SALE, IN SIMILAR CODITION AS YOURS. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DETEMINE SOME RANGE OF ASKING PRICES, AND WHERE THIS RIFLE MIGHT FIT IN......

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

I always liked the fat forends on the older marlins,gave you something to grab a hold on.But I don't think it's fair to compare the 24" barrel on his Marlin to the more or less standard 20" barrels. There just might be something else going on with the 24" barrel on this one. Since I am less than a Marlin expert I'll defer further judgement until someone more knowelgeable comes along. I probably own about 8-9 lever guns and pretty evenly split between Marlin and Winchester. About 5 3030's Marlin and Winchester.One Win 375 Big Bore.then for Marlin 357 mag,44 mag,444 marlin Course the pistol caliber lever guns are 1894's.My newest one is a Canadian Centennial with the 26" barrel. With my 72year old eyes I need all the help I can get so maybe one of those old time long scopes like they use on the Sharps rifles. That is the one drawback regarding Winchester leverguns not easy to scope. Marlins on the other hand are simple to scope. Frank

Is the receiver freckled or just worn?

As for the 24 inch barrel, Tom Hayes wrote in a deer hunting book that those rifles handled well in the woods and give a little more velocity than the usual carbines.

I think his book was, Hunting the Whitetail Deer. Or, was that Larry Koller's book? Good volume to find, by either author. All of his/their gun comments made sense. Both admired Marlins.

In described shape I agree on $300. Marlin made a lot of models
of 336. I just sold a JM 336 of 1970s manufacture for $350 and
it was NIB. I've got 7 Marlin LAs, two turn of century and others
from 50 thru 70. I'm not into collecting Marlins as new as 336
but guns in good condition are bringing top dollar. Same rifle in
hi condition could bring $600. Seems like all the pistol grip model
have the chunkier wood, and most 1/2 magazines. I prefer the
Marlin to Win 94. The only draw back I notice on 336 is it weighs
a little more than a 94Win, for function and accuracy they are
about the same. Marlin quality was excellent until sometime in
the late 70s. The finish started to suffer then they went to cross
bolt safety. Mechanically these guns were ok but Marlin was in
trouble financially and fit began to suffer. Remington then bought
them and ruined the line. This and safety started the increase in
prices on the earlier guns. A good rule on them is a hi condition
336 of standard model will bring at least the price of a new gun
of Rem manufacture.

When did the M-336 replace the M-36? I think soon after WWII? I believe the 336 has a round bolt, and the M-36 a square one?

I would say 400 plus range . they do not make the good ones like that any more . I like it .

Nice looking gun!

That appears to be a Model 336A-DL (deluxe). They came with factory installed swivel studs and checkering, but the checkering on that pistol grip dosn’t look exactly right. The front border should have three points and the center point should be about half the length of the top and bottom. It could also be a 336A that was checkered after it left the factory. Pull the butt stock and see if it’s stamped with an “X” or “XX”.

A 1949 gun will have a matted receiver top (series of wavy lines) and they were not drilled for a scope base. Early 336A-DL’s in top condition are very desirable and can bring $1500, but this one obviously isn’t in that league. If it’s correct, a collector would probably be glad to pay $500 (maybe a bit more).

Between friends, it’s worth what the two of you can agree on!

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"I also cook."

Looks like a 336ADL to me.
1948 would be the first year mfg of the Model 336 (round bolt gun).

I think the checkering is factory. There are a few subtle differences in some.
The forend checkering pattern is a bit differnt than some, lacking an extra border and diamond pattern towards the bottom.

Maybe be a Model 36ADL forend from the prior production (?).
Or the outsourced checkering folks that did the work at the time simply did the Model 36ADL pattern on early 336ADL wood.
Who knows at this point.

The sling is most likely the original,,the ADL came with a 1" leather sling and detachable swivels.
I think there was a detachable hood on the front sight.
Factory D&T on the left side for aperture sight.

I'm not a big fan of the MArlin Mod 336 series, liking the earlier square bolt guns better. But this one would draw my interest being an early production and an ADL.
That small screw repair on the left side just ahead of the checkering pattern in the V could be fixed up with a little better plug. Then the check'ring pattern expanded with that extra 'point' that S&WChad mentions to cover it. The plug can be made to disappear in the new checkering with some artistic applications.
Match up the other side and there's your nice M336ADL.

Ballard style rifling too.
Micro groove in the centerfires came around in the mid 50's+

Betw friends,,you have to decide what's fair.

Open market with that one small repair, probably a $500 rifle in most areas.

I've got it's younger brother (G) prefix-1950. I love the 336A with the 24" barrel. mine is also my birth year and the only reason I bought it. I paid $300.00 a few years back but someone had drilled and tapped the receiver. mine is very accurate out to 100 yds with 150 gr loads. it will give him a lifetime of hunting if taken care of. lee

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VFW, NRA, VVA, S&WCA 1758

IMO, Marlin lever guns are more solid than the similar Winchester lever guns...the solid top is a better, stronger design, again IMO
The long barrel is a plus. and the original JM Marlin rifles are superior to the current Remington ones.
A fine bear and deer, even elk rifle very popular here in PA...
FWIW, they increase in selling price when hunting season approaches.

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Liberals made the USA

The checkering looks a bit shallow and appears to have varnish in it as
if the stock has been refinished.

First of all, it's beautiful.
Second, it's not a very common configuration, with the "short" magazine and 24" barrel, that's $450-500 for certain where I live. (I would buy that very rifle for that price personally were I to see it for sale in ME or NH).
Third, congrats on the rifle. Is the top of the receiver tapped for a receiver sight? Most of them are, with little brass or gloss blue screws in the tapped holes. If so, I think with a decent aperture sight on the receiver of that rifle, and that (very) long sight radius, you might find it an incredibly accurate rifle with the right loads. Up to you to figure out what bullet weight it likes best. (My Winchesters like 170 grain and my Marlins like 125)

Looks like a beautiful rifle with plenty of character.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

Long barrel and short mag tube both add to accuracy and desireability. No drilled “waffle top” reciever adds further value. No cross bolt safety adds value to some folks.

Excellent gun. I would think not below $450 especially if not drilled and tapped for scope.

Marlins 336 are easy to disassemble and reassemble. Winchester 94 not at all. Older win 94 were top ejection and not really conducive for scope mounting. while all Marlins were side eject and easily scoped.

I sold a similar one with no repairs, but drilled and tapped, last year for $350. The buyer and I were both happy. (That was in Pennsylvania prior to hunting season.)

Five bills minimum around here.

The receiver is neither freckled nor worn. It must be the way the lighting is.

Thank you everyone for the great information!

I have never had much interest in lever actions rifles, but after fondling this one for the past few days I have really gotten to like it. My nephew is very excited about it, and we will test fire it this weekend.

It has not been drilled and tapped for a scope.

The stock is walnut, and I don't think it has been refinished, just worn a little smooth, but I'm not sure about that.

I looked again at the barrel stamping, and it says it is a 336-A. I did not know the significance of the "A". Also, what is a "JM" Marlin?

Thanks again everyone, and I will post a report after firing it.

Edited to add: That is dust in the picture of the receiver; not rust! :-)

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You can use the predrilled screws on the left side of the receiver to mount an aperture sight.

Remington acquired Marlin in 2007 and took over production. Many of the experienced workers were lost and the quality declined.

A simple way to determine manufacture is to look at the barrel proof. Marlin made guns are stamped “JM”, while Remington made guns are marked “REP”.

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"I also cook."

The 'Model 336A' designation was for the 336 w/a 24" bbl.

The other models at the time were:
336RC,,that was the Carbine w/a 20" bbl and full length magazine tube.
336SC,,the 20" bbl Carbine w/a 1/2 magazine tube.

The checkered stocks, sling swivels and sling on the OP rifle make it a Model 336ADL ...336A,DL 336A De Luxe.
ADL was only avail in the 24" version at the time IIRC.
I don't think ADL versions of the 2 carbines (the 336RC or SC) were offered right at the begining of production in '49.
Might be wrong on that though and some searching might turn up some info on the early ADL models & production dates.

By far the bulk of production at the very start of mfg the Mod 336 were the Carbine versions followed by the plain 336A rifles.
You just don't see a lot of the ADL versions around. Those coming up on 70yrs old usually aren't in the best of condition either.

Wether the older mfg and ADL status means anything or not to a person certainly effects the price willing to be paid.
It's certainly worth more IMO than a 70's or 80's 336.
But either will get the job done just as well in the field.

Love the old "Waffle Top" Marlins. I have a 336SC Sporting Carbine in 30-30 from 1954

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

Marlins do not have the cachet that Winchesters do but the pre-Remington ones are just as well made.

I love a 24" Marlin. Although I only have two, a 336A and a 444. They balance good with the half tube loaded up. That rifle is easily a $600 rifle around here. Congratulations on finding one in such great condition! That one is a beauty!

Those are very high quality rifles. They were once very inexpensive on the used market, and a great value. Folks are now beginning to discover this and the prices are quickly rising.