Marlin 1895 GSBL

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Brian in Oregon

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Been interested in the Marlin 1895 GSBL for a project gun. The G stands for Guide, the S for stainless, the BL for Big Lever. The barrel is 18.5", unported, with a full length mag tube. Stocks are laminated with green paint and black spiderwebbing.

And yes, stainless. With a black finish. Perfect for Oregon fall weather without being shiny.

Been tempted to order one, but really wanted to see it up close first. A local gunshop special ordered one, but two showed up.

Examined the metalwork, and it was done properly. Sights line up, as they should. They are the fiberoptic style, which I'm not sure I care for. Will try them. I suspect the stocks are blems that wound up getting painted. I see imperfections in mine. But I'm probably going to install a set of well sealed walnut stocks anyway.

The bore is the critical part, and it has enough groove depth to work with cast bullets. I recently rejected a new Marlin 1894 in .44 Mag because the grooves were so shallow I thought the bullets might start stripping them after a few shots.

Not sure if I like their Big Lever or not, but compared to the regular reverse curve lever for a pistol grip stock, it doesn't feel bad. I can see its advantages for a gloved hand.

Have not shot it yet. Will have to see how it performs compared to the Marlin "Gold Standard" for the 1895, which is their first year production with a B serial number prefix, seen in the image above. These guns have conventionally rifled barrels, supposedly made by Douglas, and have a reputation and following for accuracy.

As for the project, going to have the barrel threaded for a Bowers VERS-458 suppressor for subsonic bullets. That's why I bought this rifle instead of threading the B model. My rule of thumb is if you get a really accurate lever gun, don't mess with it.

Don't know yet if it will wear iron sights or a low magnification optic. I prefer iron sights on lever guns, but my eyes are aging and don't have the focus range they once did.
 

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That's a great looking Guide Gun! I agree that stainless is pretty much the only way to go in the Pacific NW.

This is a newer SBL (2014). I avoid the 2007-2012 guns and everyone else should too. These are the dark days for Marlin. Since the big loop GGs started in 2010, get a newer one.

I bead blasted this one myself --- as you pointed out, it's too shiny from the factory. It looks a lot like Ruger matte stainless now, that dull gray color. The standard XS rail and a 30mm Ultradot red dot, these are actually very nice and made in Japan, not China. I've since added some paracord around the front of the loop to keep an ungloved hand from banging hard into metal when working the lever.

P.S. I'm interested to see how the threading works since there is so little barrel past the mag tube.

DSC_0361%20Copy_zps98f9znuk.jpg
 
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I've been interested in these for years.

Thanks for the detailed info about them historically and currently.
 
I have on of the early blue 45-70 Guide Guns with factory porting. Only 444 Marlin and 450 Marlin come with factory porting now. With factory 300 grain and 405 grain ammo, the recoil is quite minimal (I have had 44mag lever guns kick worse). My heavy load is 405 cast in the 2050 fps area and it will let you know when you pull the trigger. Even with stout loads these little guns are very manageable under recoil. In a test a few years ago the object was to fire 5 rounds of "High Impact" ammo into a 6 inch Bullseye at 50 yards, as fast as you can keep all the rounds on target and without a sling. I use a red dot scope with zero magnification, on A.O. Scout rail. With a loaded round in the chamber and the hammer at safe (half cock). My first attempt was a 1.5" group in 1.35 seconds. The second attempt was same size group but about 1.47 seconds, as the recoil was getting to me, I literally had tears running down my right cheek. (stupid me for doing this in a t-shirt!). The point of a guide gun is not hunting, but protection. For example while salmon fishing in bear country. That they make a expellant hunting gun is a bonus!

There was a gunsmith in the Pacific North-West that made a take down 6 shot version, but it was $2000+ on your gun! They usually were had Metal Life coating in your choice of color, with a dark grey being the norm.

The only changes I ever intend to make to mine will be a more durable finish and maybe a set of ghost ring sights. I keep a nylon sleeve with 8 rounds on the gun with a hole placed for the rear sling stud to keep it from walking up the butt stock under recoil. And I use a leather sling for carry and off hand shooting.

Ivan
 
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hkcavalier said:
....I'm interested to see how the threading works since there is so little barrel past the mag tube...
Click to expand...

The barrel is probably going to have to be shortened to the other side of the mag tube dovetail, and the mag tube shortened accordingly. Have not decided whether to cut a new dovetail for the mag tube, or just use a long screw. Don't know whether this may reduce the mag capacity from 6 to 5. If it does, small price to pay for the usefulness of threading the barrel.
 
I have had 1895 before they were cool. Last 2 years have been
into Marlin Lever Actions deeply. I went out of my way to get a
70 M94 and 80 375. All three of these rifles handle cast well. The
1894 does not feed SWC bullets smoothly, but shoots them fine.
Shoot the old Ideal Gould Express HP 330gr in 95,
I would not have a Rem made Marlin. The young guys here are
buying the Guide gun, as OPs. None of them I've had to fool
with will shoot cast. I have the idea they would shoot if loaded
with 405+ gr bullet at very low velocity. Maybe the latest guns
are better, I can't say. Unless you have a purpose for big lever
it's just bling to catch in brush.
 

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That's a nice collection. Been looking for a Marlin 375, but wow prices have gone stupid on them.
 
hkcavalier said:
...This is a newer SBL (2014).... I avoid the 2007-2012 guns and everyone else should too. These are the dark days for Marlin. Since the big loop GGs started in 2010, get a newer one.

I bead blasted this one myself --- as you pointed out, it's too shiny from the factory. It looks a lot like Ruger matte stainless now, that dull gray color. The standard XS rail and a 30mm Ultradot red dot, these are actually very nice and made in Japan, not China. I've since added some paracord around the front of the loop to keep an ungloved hand from banging hard into metal when working the lever.

P.S. I'm interested to see how the threading works since there is so little barrel past the mag tube.

DSC_0361%20Copy_zps98f9znuk.jpg
Click to expand...

BTW, I was considering that model, but did not care for the rail. I don't do well with optics in the scout scope position. Supposedly it's faster to get on target, but not for me. Waaaaay slower. Easy enough to take the rail off, but when the black stainless version came out, it made the choice easier.
 
I've got an older 1895 45/70. The manual says it's got a Micro-Groove barrel, which meant no cast bullets. Don't know if the newer Marlins have that feature. Better double check.
 
It should be GSBLBM to add "big medicine." Nice gun, I also have drooled over the standard guide gun and all its variations.
 
Brian in Oregon said:
BTW, I was considering that model, but did not care for the rail. I don't do well with optics in the scout scope position. Supposedly it's faster to get on target, but not for me. Waaaaay slower. Easy enough to take the rail off, but when the black stainless version came out, it made the choice easier.
Click to expand...

It's more rail than I need, but it came with the rifle (as it did with all SBLs I've seen).

I know it's intended as bear protection, but I use it as an elk gun. It's handy, points well, and the velocity lost with the shorter barrel isn't much really. Mine is a laser with Hornady 325gr FTXs out to any realistic thick woods hunting range in the Cascade Mountains.

All you Ohio guys with your straight-wall cartridge Marlins, for obvious legal hunting reasons :)
 
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