Marlin QC...A Joke

Guys a lot of you might remember recently I posted that I decided on a new Marlin 336C from an LGS here local.

Well guys, the 336 they had in store had a severely crooked rear sight. I thought “go figure”, and that of course Marlin (or Remlin, as some call the new ones) has had quality control issues but supposedly the ones made very recently are supposed to be good guns. I chalked it up to my bad luck.

Well I point out the crooked rear sight to the employee behind the counter, and he says he can order another one from the warehouse. I’d have to pay in advance, but if the gun had any problems, he’d give me a full refund. Thinking this one in the store might just be a fluke, and with optimism in mind, I agreed to it, paid the money, and a week later came back to the store after getting notified the rifle had arrived.

Well guys, it was a virgin specimen, never opened. The sales associate carefully cut the seals on the box and we unwrapped it, removed the paperwork emblazoned with U.S. flags and “MADE BY AMERICAN CRAFTSMAN” and so on, and he handed it to me.

I noticed immediately glancing at the brown rubber buttpad, there were pieces of “flashing” dangling off the pad. Keep in mind again, this rifle hadn’t seen daylight or human hands since it was boxed up at the factory. “No biggie”, I thought. “That’ll come right off with a razor blade”.

Then, an instant later, I noticed a massive 1/8” or so gap in the metal to wood in front of the barrel band on one side. Sure enough, as I’d feared, the magazine tube was completely cattywompus and cocked off the the side by several degrees!! It was immediately noticeable, horrible!! I pointed it out to the guy behind the counter and he shakes his head, and he takes it along with the box to the back room.

He comes out with the manager and we all chat a bit. He is well aware of the inexcusable and hideous quality from Marlin, and we decide to pursue a full refund instead of wasting time with another example of trash quality from this once great American rifle maker.

Guys, I’m sure to get blasted for being a whiner and attacked for posting this, but I don’t care. I won’t be looking at any new Marlins for a LONG time. Just glad my Henry .22, a gun half the cost of the Marlin and also Made in America, is a fantastic gun. At least ONE truly American company still knows how to build a decent levergun!!

Marlin might be made in America guys, but they are NO LONGER built by “craftsmen”, despite what the printed cardboard would have you believe. I think the more bad reports on the new Marlins, the better. Someday they might actually start to listen, but fat chance honestly. These guns are made either by people with no ability or training to make a quality product, or they just flat out do not care.

Thanks all, just passing my experience on.

-Jay

Assembled by stoners and drunks in somebody's garage from parts stamped from beer cans. But they are American stoners and drunks in an American garage, so it's all good.

Sad to read this about what used to be a wonderful rifle. My "made in 1947" Marlin .22, 39A, still works great. Heard nothing but good about the Henrys. Hitchcock has a recent video comparing a new Marlin and a Henry side-gate .30-30, comparable in price. Of course the Marlin runs smooth as butter, but the Henry is obviously a better built gun and nicer looking. He did point out a few minor flaws, but they would be unacceptable to most; especially buying for a long-term hunting rifle or someone's gift to a son or daughter, etc.

Too often lately, I walk into a gunstore, look at the plastic, cheap alloy, sheet metal stampings and just get a hollow feeling in my gut. (I know, I know, cranky old guy, the good old days, etc.)
There is no craftsmanship. That would require a skilled workforce. Instead, they're just assembled from parts. Whatever's next in the box gets slapped on.
Of course, the display cases, glass counters, decor, and lighting try to make it look like something special, but that just makes the experience all the worse.
It's like someone set up a museum at the Dollar Store.
I usually just walk out feeling bummed.

Don't feel bad. They're not exactly giving this stuff away. You got a right to expect your money's worth.

The older 30-30 Marlin's that are of good quality can be found at every gun show, pawn shop, Armslist, you name it for less than or equal to the cost of a brand new one. Problem solved!

No blasting , you did exactly the right thing .
Inspected both rifles , they had problems and refused to accept either one. Good on You !
When dealers can't sell the firearm it's going to make a bigger impact on the company than me and you writing letters on a forum.
The mfg. company nor the dealer doesn't get your money ... OUCH ! That hurts them and then you buy a Henry... Ouch again.
If everyone would buy from a local dealer , inspect before bringing a firearm home , refusing to accept any and all shoddy workmanship , just maybe the mfgr's would get their act together and go back to only shipping out properly manufactured firearms . We pay for quality .
Gary

I bought a 336W a few months ago. Fit and finish were just fine, and the lead goes where I point it. Had to tighten a few screws. It's not a pretty as the one I had 50 years ago, but it seems to work just as well.

No criticism from me. You did exactly what I have been telling people to do since Remington took over production -- LOOK AT the gun you're about to buy, for Pete's sake! At least 90% of the flaws people have been beeyotchin about with Remlin rifles have been things they could have seen plain as day before purchase if they had only done what they should do with ANY firearm purchase --examine the gun before you take it home. If a seller won't let you do that -- don't let him have your money.

The second thing I always tell them to do, READ THE MANUAL BEFORE YOU SHOOT IT -- well, I have completely given up on that...

They certainly aren’t what they used to be since their acquisition by the Freedom Group. Same goes for Remington as Pisgah pointed out.

6string said:

Too often lately, I walk into a gunstore, look at the plastic, cheap alloy, sheet metal stampings and just get a hollow feeling in my gut. (I know, I know, cranky old guy, the good old days, etc.)
There is no craftsmanship. That would require a skilled workforce. Instead, they're just assembled from parts. Whatever's next in the box gets slapped on.
Of course, the display cases, glass counters, decor, and lighting try to make it look like something special, but that just makes the experience all the worse.
It's like someone set up a museum at the Dollar Store.
I usually just walk out feeling bummed.

Don't feel bad. They're not exactly giving this stuff away. You got a right to expect your money's worth.

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My sentiments, exactly.....

I only have a modest number of handguns in my "collection" and most are S&W revolvers from the 1960's through 1980's. The only exceptions are a 1999 Kimber Ultra Carry Series I (my only semi-auto) and a 2015 vintage Model 60-15.

When I go into my local LGS's, shooting range, or Cabela's and look at the display case offerings (new and used), I rarely see anything of interest and just walk away counting my blessings for what I do own.

What never (or seldom), gets mentioned is that Marlin had a small group of 'lever guys' that were, from experience and time spent, were intimately familiar with any quirks and tweaks associated with Marlin lever guns. At one time, you could send your rifle in (they did have a cutoff date, but it was for newer rifles, not the older models), and even if it was functioning fine, it would be gone over and everything put back to spec. Don't remember if it was free, or, a small charge, but it was like a 100,000 mile factory checkup for your truck/car.

This was discontinued in 2007, or 08 about the same time I got my 1959 and 1960 Mounties.

Then, what pretty much drove the final nail into the coffin was this group of guys got laid off just before, or right after, Remington took over. This incredible brain trust and years of experience was just cut loose too save some $$$ up front. Talk about short sighted! I'm sure that this move has cost Remington many, many times what they saved in salary.

Thankfully, there are many JM Marlins that are still available and at not crazy prices. Aside from really rare or pristine examples.

Rob

Actually, you can flame me, whatever, the plastic guns look better than the “wood and steel” guns currently being made.
Maybe cause they’re all black and not much contrast?
Or maybe it’s just because my eyes are getting worse.

Unfortunate indeed. Should have held onto those Marlin employees that knew how to build em. I am a big Remington-Marlin fan but browse the used gun racks for the older made stuff from the 70s and 80s. Fit, finish, bluing were usually very good and mine had no problems with functioning. Used to be able to take quality for granted. Sorry for the OPs bad luck.

Jay , there's no way you should apologize for expecting someone to put out a good product . What happened to their QC ? Anyplace I've worked , aviation and aerospace , that would be inexcusable . First off for the assembler to let it go like that , and then QC to let it pass , that is a crime . You went overboard giving them a second chance , something most wouldn't do .

The Henry rifles are assembled in Chetek, WI. Cheeseheads, Badger, and Packer fans make better stuff.

Shameless Wisconsin emigrant living in Georgia.

There's a reason they're referred to as Remlins.

Sorry you had to find that out the hard way.

JayFramer said:

...and that of course Marlin (or Remlin, as some call the new ones) has had quality control issues...

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Marlington?

Luckily, my Marlin has no such issues, but I don't know the exact DOM, maybe I'll find the box... if they print it on it, not sure.

Usually Henry's are more expensive than Marlin's... you must have been lucky.

Don't give up, Remington is just under bad Management... we had (and still have) the same issues with Colt. There's so much history and knowledge in those companies... all we need is a compassionate management team to make the American firearms industry great again!

ladder13 said:

Actually, you can flame me, whatever, the plastic guns look better than the “wood and steel” guns currently being made.
Maybe cause they’re all black and not much contrast?
Or maybe it’s just because my eyes are getting worse.

Click to expand...

Ya know, you may just have a point. The modern polymer stuff at least is designed around the manufacturing methods used.

With older designs, such Marlin lever guns, they're trying to shoehorn a design and aesthetic into a corner-cutting mentality that just results in a bad imitation of what we expect to get for our money.

Gremlin, you say?

"....Marlin QC...A Joke..."


I thought the same about a lot of the stuff I saw going on when I worked there in the early 70's.