Marlin Model 336RC 336-RC Carbine, Engraved with Carved Stock & Gold Inlays, Blue 20″ Lever Action Tube Fed Rifle, MFD 1954 C&R
LSB#: 160926GS25
Make: Marlin
Model: 336RC Carbine
Serial Number: L18961
Year of Manufacture: 1954
Caliber: .30-30 Winchester
Action Type: Lever Action Rifle with Full Length Tubular Magazine
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “THE MARLIN FIREARMS CO. NEW HAVEN, CONN., U.S.A. / EST. 1870 NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A. – MODEL 336 R.C.-30-30 CAL.”, the right has a “JM” proof. The butt plate is marked “Marlin”, the lower tang has the serial number. The rifle has beautiful scroll engraving on the barrel, lever and receiver, the flanks of the receiver have game scenes; the right has two deer running in a forest, the right has a standing bear. The animals are sculpted silver with rich detail, please see our pictures. The stock has a “W” bone inlay, with swooping checker border details, the right of the stock has a running deer, the left of the butt stock, pistol grip cap and belly have more bone inserts.
Barrel Length: 20”
Sights / Optics: This rifle is mounted with a “U” notched leaf with a white diamond shape on the rear, the leaf is micro-adjustable for elevation, it is in a buckhorn profile leaf and slide-step elevator. The front sight is a beaded blade, dovetailed onto the barrel, the forward portion has some pressure marks. The top of the receiver has four screw-filled drilled and tapped holes.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece walnut with absolutely beautiful tone. The forend has a barrel band, the beavertail portion has a “W” bone inlay and nice hand cut checkering. The butt stock has similar accents on the bone capped pistol grip and on the left flank. The right has a beautifully carved running deer in a natural setting. We believe whoever did the rifle engraving also did the stocks given the character of the animals and natural scenery. The stocks have scattered scuff and compression marks. There are small chip losses around the right side’s game scene at the bordering. The belly has some deeper compression marks, the Marlin eye has some shallow tiny cracks around it. The grip cap has scrape marks. Some areas of checkering are scuffed or compressed, please see our pictures. The wood has pleasant fit to the stock with a few minor discrepancies. The LOP measures 13 3/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate, which shows a few tiny marks, and is set with a white spacer. The plate has compression marks and some dings on the screw heads, their slots are mildly perturbed. The buttplate is in about Very Good to Fine condition. The stocks rate in about Very Good Plus to Fine overall condition.
Type of Finish: The rifle is blued except for the animals and some of the bordering on the receiver, which is both sculpted and inlaid silver.
Finish Originality: Refinished after engraving.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the Ballard rifling is sharp, our bore gauge gave an M.E. of +1. There is no erosion.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 82% of its metal finish. There is rub wear and patina on the barrel, bands and magazine tube. The other areas have some small spots of patina and edge wear. There is evidence of cleaned erosion under the finish with some visible wire wheel marks, please see our pictures. There is operational and handling wear on the hammer, trigger and lever. The engraving remains sharp throughout with nice cross hatching in the negative space. The receiver displays scattered scuff and compression marks and a few apparent polishing blemishes under the finish. The face of the bear on the right of the receiver has a compression, its other details have nice form. The screw heads are sharp and the factory markings are slightly faded but legible. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good Plus to Fine overall condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The lever appears tight and the hammer has a half-cock safety position. We did not fire this rifle. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlin_Model_336 “The Model 336 is a direct development of the Marlin Model 1893 rifle which was produced from 1893 to 1936.[1][2] Based on the patents of L.L. Hepburn, the Model 1893 incorporated a new locking bolt system and a two-piece firing pin.[2] In 1936, with only minor changes to the stock, forearm, and sights, the Model 1893 was redesignated the Model 1936 (soon renamed the Model 36).[2] All of these firearms featured a solid-top receiver made of forged steel and incorporated side ejection of fired cartridges.[2] Compared to the Winchester 94, then the predominant lever-action hunting rifle, the Model 36 was somewhat heavier with a simpler internal mechanism and a full pistol grip-type buttstock in contrast to the Winchester 94’s straight grip stock.” This is a Marlin Model 336 R.C. made in 1954, beautifully engraved with exceptional carving on the stocks as well. The bore is still bright with sharp rifling and no erosion, whoever did the work on this rifle looked to have wanted to restore an old favorite hunting rifle or practice on an item that had thorough beloved use before hand. This said, the action still performs correctly and it should continue to chug on as a reliable bear or deer rifle. Given the choice of animals, whoever did the work was probably a devout woodsman (or woman, of course…) that certainly knew how to perform silver sculpting. The silver inlaid bordering really sets off the scroll work, please see our pictures. The Marlin 336 holds a special spot in America’s heart, this one should easily occupy a space in any collector’s archive.
