Marlin query ..

[Doug M.]

I am not familiar with dealing with Marlin as a general rule, and rarely have had to order any firearm. BUT: in early April, now almost exactly 3 months ago, I ordered and put down a pretty decent deposit on an 1894 CSBL in .357. While waiting, I ordered all the stuff I expected to want to swap out. It still has not come in.

My range/dealer has been a good place with which to deal, and also has a good reputation. They have not had any luck inquiring as to what's going on, and their best prediction is that Marlin has been tied up/slowed down with pandemic related shutdowns or slowing, and that freight carrier are also slowed by that. While I have seen freight and mail are slower, it's by a few days at most. By common carrier, even assuming a rifle would stop at a distributor on the way to a dealer, and it might add ... a few days, I can see maybe a two week trip from NY to WA.

Is anyone here familiar enough with conditions in upstate NY and/or Marlin specifically that they have a better idea of what's up? The delay is not fatal, but it is confusing.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Remlin is in stage II bankruptsy(sp?). They are not open to make product due to the virus scare and they are in DEEP dept.

 

[s&wchad]

I don’t have any first hand info on Marlin, but Ruger has been shut down for months and still isn’t back to work. I suspect they’re in the same boat.

I ordered 5 Ruger factory letters in early March and haven’t received them. Normal turnaround is about a month. I phoned them about a week ago and their historian called me back from home the next day. She needs to access the ledgers at the factory because of the age of my guns and hasn’t been allowed back in since she was sent home on the 12th (April?).

I have no idea how Remington’s bankruptcy will affect Marlin.

 

[Rock185]

Virus and bankruptcy doesn't help things. FWIW, I've not had very good luck ordering through gun shops. I did recently buy a gun through a local shop that had to be ordered, but I requested the shop call the distributor and confirm several were in stock. Had the gun in about a week.

All that being said, I have most often gone to an auction site, located what I wanted, and had a local FFL receive it for me. The Marlin you want seemed to be selling for a thousand $ or so. Just looked at an auction site, and saw only two listed at much higher prices.

PS, A local gun shop had an 1894CSBL last time I was in there a couple months ago. It was around $1050.00 if I remember correctly. I can provide their contact information if you are interested.

 

[Gamecock]

I'm suspicious. Your dealer surely buys from a distributor, not "Marlin."

The distributor should be answering questions, and your dealer should be asking them.

I checked a few internet dealers and they all say "Out of stock." I assume they aren't available. Like Mike says, could be pandemic. Or it could be business problems. After 3 months, distributor should say, "We can't get it," and dealer should refund your deposit. And notify you when, and if, they become available again. He should not be holding your deposit after 3 months.

 

[Doug M.]

I admit I want the rifle more than the $$. They do buy from a distributor and I had the impression that one was shown in stock at the time of the order, but it was too late in the day for a phone contact.

 

[lrrifleman]

Doug,

As I understand it, Remington: New York is primarily administrative. I believe that most Remington firearms (including Marlin, Bushmaster, and DPMS) are manufactured down South (Georgia?).

PM following.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

There is a certain Henry that I want. But is not currently available. Called "em". The plant makes that paticular firearm has been closed. But will re-open limited soon.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Doug,

As I understand it, Remington: New York is primarily administrative. I believe that most Remington firearms (including Marlin, Bushmaster, and DPMS) are manufactured down South (Georgia?).

PM following.

The news reports Remington's problems. In fact the Navaho Nation investments have placed a bid to buy Remington.....Their other plant is in Alabama. They still make guns in Illion. NY.

 

[Rob613]

Remingtons corporate headquarters is in NC.

The factory in Ilion has never closed, they were deemed essential from the start. The big issue is supply chain, getting parts.

Two bankruptcies in two years is not a good sign.

 

[2152hq]

I don't think Marlin has a 'Custom Shop' in itself as we normally think of them in a factory set-up.

As far as I know, the work is farmed out to Dakota Arms in Sturgis, SD.

(Remington)Marlin plays middle man or even less than that it may seem.
They have set up a series of 'Marlin Custom Shop Dealers' around the country that you order the work to be done through. You deal with that Custom Shop Dealer.
The firearm starts as an off the line Marlin offering and then the options added/built to your spec as long as they are offered by the Custom Shop.

That's about as much as I've been told about it. Maybe it's all nonsense, but I've heard it from several people.
I think 'Remington's Custom Shop' is now run the same way and work done b y the same shop in Sturgis.

If so, Dakota Arms certainly has a great reputation for it's custom work over the years. No doubt there.

How the business transaction and turnaround works out is another thing with the Dealer middle-man and such.

That's about all I've been told.

You might check on the Marlin Forum and see if there's any chatter about the Marlin Custom Shop there.
Might be some better info, updated, ect.
The Covid19 thing has certainly slowed things all over the country.

Marlin Firearms Forum

Dakota Arms

 

[MCorps0311]

I order my Marlin Model .444 last year and didn't have any problem.