I escaped from Iraq a month ago, only to get sent to Fort Polk a week later. I was browsing through the local pawn/gun shop in Leesville, when I spied a tag saying model 28. I asked the young man to let me examine it, and I almost broke out in tears. The revolver must of been stored in a holster or rag. There was no rust but the blueing looked awful in large segments on both sides. The clerk had no knowledge of its history nor did it have a price tag. The owner will be there tommorow so I am going to stop back by (curiousity mainly) and see what the story is.

They also had a 38 special m&p 4th change there, it was nickled and had a lanyard loop on the grip. I did not know what to look for to verify that but it was in very good condition.

The item that almost made my wallet jump out was a Marlin 1894 in 44 magnum, it was older because it had no cross safety. The blueing was very good on it.

The last item aggravated me the most, a 1903-3 Springfield with bayonet in pristine condition. No price on it, I asked the lady about it and she said it just came in and the boss had to price it. The young man piped up and said it was "spoken for". To which I replied, how can it be spoken for if there is no price??

It means that either he or the owner already staked a claim on it when it came through the door. Sorry your stuck in diseaseville man.

Welcome home and thanks!
In 1969 Leesville was "Off Limits".
TSmith

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My epiphanies are temporary.

Sounds like somebody gonne be spending some money soon. The 28 sounds like a good canidate for a hotrod if the price is right. I'm a 1894 fan. If the price is right on it, get it. Crazy what they are asking nowadays.
Most established pawn shops also have established customers. A lot of what they take in never sees the diplay case because of a customer list they keep.

Years ago I found an M28 no dash in really bad shape. Both finish and dents and gouges. Sent it to S&W for their $50 revolver tune. Had them send it on to APW for a matte hard chrome. It came back looking like a factory stainless gun. Personal favorite now around my house.

Gregg

I stopped back by there, it is a 28-2 with a 6 inch barrel (just guessing). Still no price listed. The 1894 is $420.00 OTD and I looked all over for a serial number but could not find it. It does say that it has the micro groved barrel.

The SN is on the tang. $420 OTD for an older gun in good shape sounds right. Been a while since I've seen one go for less than FoFitty.

Thanks for the info, would it be on the topside or underneath? The tang is the thing that hold the rear stock to the receiver correct?

I have an 1894 44 magnum that I could not see the model no. or caliber on. I pulled the forend wood off and it was hidden under it. I guess it was made on a late Friday and someone stamped it a little low. Nice rifle though. I have 425.00 in it.

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J. Mark McCarver

On my "new" Marlin 1894 the serial number is on the top tang. If you pull the hammer back, your thumb will be sitting on the serial number.

Subtract the first two numbers from 100 to get the year it was made.

If the first 2 numbers are 24, then it was made in 1976.

That Model 1894 would be worth it. Got mine for a heck of a deal. Rear sight was gone and a Lyman receiver sight was on it. Some one missed up the barrel a bit. The front sight was gone when I got it as it was broken off. Some took a small drill to the broken screw and drilled a very small hole in to the barrel. I fixed it up and very carefully cleaned up the area in the bore. Shoots just fine. Looks great too.

Maybe that Model 28 can be had for a good price and be fixed up??

I finally got to talk to shop owner this morning. He was thinking of getting the model 28-2 reblued. I asked him what his sell price would be if I bought it as it is. He said he had to do some research on that.
The Marlin 1894 SN is 23160222 and it was on the tang, (can't figure out how I missed it before). So it must of been built in 1977.

A M-28 flat hard chromed would look pretty awesome. Have any pics?

The most neglected M-28 is the one of the forum members found in their backyard.
I have an 1978 vintage Marlin M1894 in 44 Magnum, a great gun. One caution is that the older ones have the Marlin Micro Groove rifling which is
often not satisfactory with lead bullets.

You can shoot lead, you just have to have an oversized boolit.

Well the shop owner decided on a price, he wanted (drum roll please) a Whopping $400.00 for a revolver with over 60% bluing loss.
Since my mom, dad and you forum members taught me, I showed good manners and did not yell "Are you out of your &&##$%^ mind!!!!"

Now the revolver was mechanically in good shape but I frankly expected a lower price.

Yeah. $400 is way too much. Get the 1894 Marlin??