Made Decision: UPDATE w/Pics

[novalty]

Well about 2 years ago my brother got into skeet shooting, and has recently gotten into duck hunting. I got a call from him the other day to see if I have any interest in the Marlin 336CS in 30-30, that our mother handed down to him. The gun is like new and I doubt it has had more than a box of bullets through it. He was asking because a buddy of his at his works has a Stevens 311 shotgun, that he wanted to trade for, and he has no interests in rifles. Said they were talking trade value in the $250 to $275 range. So if I wanted to buy it for that then I could. Well as many of you know from my previous posts, I am a wuss when it comes to recoil, and due to my arthritis and my left elbow that doesn't bend complete straight, I shoot the few small caliber rifles I own from a bench. Anywho, I don't have a strong desire for a large caliber, nor was I planning on spending additional money to obtain one, when I already have other firearms on my short list. Two main reasons for me to buy it are: it was my mother's, and secondly all the firearms I purchase are with the ultimate goal of passing down to my two boys, and this would be a large caliber for hunting--if one so desires to hunt. Would love to hear some suggestions, before I have an awkward conversation with the Mrs., on why we need to spend money on another firearm.

 

[Jst1mr]

Regardless of hunting...it is a family gun and should remain in the family. Just my .02.....

 

[Andy Griffith]

That's a pretty fair deal on a 336CS. Some nice 125gr. bullets in .30WCF have very, very little recoil- might want to try a few before giving up on them. Also, if you reload, you can purchase some sabots and load them with .224" bullets and make a short range varmint gun out of it- with no recoil. Some guys load it down with some 110gr. carbine bullets too- no recoil!

 

[parts]

Buy it for your boys. You'll be glad you did.
David

 

[feralmerril]

Dont even consider your needs, many years later your boys and their boys will be glad you got it back. Buy it back for that reason. Then shoot it. You may find you can shoot it okay and use it.

 

[novalty]

Have to say, I was slightly upset when he mentioned he would so willingly trade it away. Guess my biggest concern is bringing it up with the Mrs., gonna put us in the poor house trying to buy family firearms, as we bought 2 off my grandfather's estate when he passed two years ago.

 

[gunblade]

I think the Marlin is worth more than the Stevens so I would keep it in the family and just try to buy the Stevens as cheaply as possible. IMO you'd be better off just giving your brother the cash to buy the Stevens and call it a gift...you'll never be able to replace that Marlin for that.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

Novatney; Don't give it a second thought, buy the Marlin. 10 years from now it will still be in the family. An heirloom. I had my grandfathers & my dads Win Hi wall 38-55 from Depression years & gave it to my son.

 

[peyton]

SURVEY SAYS: Buy it!!! Yep, it will cost a little now, but the years of use you will get will last a lifetime, yours and your kids. Especially the history, "Yep my brother almost traded this, but I wanted to keep it in the family".

 

[G-Mac]

Guess my biggest concern is bringing it up with the Mrs.....

It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission....

 

[novalty]

I spoke with the Mrs., and she said I could get it if I wanted to. Really don't want to have to, but would rather keep my brother from discarding it on a whim. Will probably sound like an real donkey, but think I need to remind my brother that when I purchase a firearm it is intended to be a family heirloom, not wanting to be his pawn-shop to buy back in the future.

 

[novalty]

Well I ended up buying my mother's Marlin 336CS from my brother, and figured I would post some pics. Although I was not in the market for a lever gun, $200 for this family heirloom with a box of Remington Core-lock, and Browning soft carry case, was a very fair deal.

 

[ol' geeser]

Buy the durn thing any way u can...My elder son has the personal pistols of both of his maternal grandfathers and you'd probably have to kill him to get either...one is a plainjane model 10 the other is a colt 32-20....my sister has my mother's model "m" colt, sister is blind but she ain't giving up that pistol fer nuthin'....just do it and u won't be sorry.....

 

[novalty]

Buy the durn thing any way u can...My elder son has the personal pistols of both of his maternal grandfathers and you'd probably have to kill him to get either...one is a plainjane model 10 the other is a colt 32-20....my sister has my mother's model "m" colt, sister is blind but she ain't giving up that pistol fer nuthin'....just do it and u won't be sorry.....

I did purchase the Marlin 336CS from my brother. He said that my mother had gotten a doe with it, guessing I must have been too young, as I only vaguely remember a deer hanging in barn. I doubt more than a couple of boxes of ammo have been shot through the gun. Has some slight blueing wear on the high-spots of the receiver, but very minimal, and a few marks on the stock. I am sure one of my sons will be pleased to receive it when they get old enough. Might shoot it some myself, if I can get some mild reloads, as mentioned before I do not like recoil--hence why a lever gun was not on my "short list."

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

See how much one of those costs new!!!
1. you got a great gun in great shape at a great price.
2. it was your mammas
(I gave my mom a pencil barrel 64 for her b'day a few years ago-now I'm tryin' to figure out how to gt it back from her Does this make me a bad son )

 

[jimmyj]

BUY IT, NOW! (why are you still here? go buy it)

 

[novalty]

BUY IT, NOW! (why are you still here? go buy it)

See post 12 & 14 It's now sitting in my safe. Caj, I took a look @ Marlin's site they list the MSRP on the new ones with checkered stock as $563.63. Have to agree I don't think it will regret buying. Although it is going to delay purchasing some of the guns on my "short list," was really hoping for a S&W 66 this year.

 

[oldman45]

Not long back I made a post about some guy wanting to buy a gun (Marlin 336C) back from me that I had bought from his grandfather several years ago. The grandfather sold it to me because he half way needed the money. The guy wanted it because it was his grandfathers or so he said.

I do not sell guns, I buy guns. Due to this particular gun once belonging to the grandfather, I was sorely tempted to sell it to the guy and asked those here if I should sell. The consensus was not to sell and I did not. I still have not shot that gun since buying it from the grandfather and will never do so since it is not a gun I would hunt with or shoot but it was a gun that I helped a friend out by buying.

One day in the future, at least one in your family will want that gun and it will be long gone.

Buy it. Pass it down to your sons.

 

[s&wchad]

It's hard to make out the first two characters in the serial number, but it appears to be "16". I believe that translates to "made in 1984". Mom had good taste!

 

[novalty]

It's hard to make out the first two characters in the serial number, but it appears to be "16". I believe that translates to "made in 1984". Mom had good taste!

You are correct that the first two digits are "16". My father bought this rifle new as a gift to my mother. 1984 would make sense for date of manufacture, thank you for the information.