how can I determine if my Marlin Camp nine is preban?

tr fox

Got a used Marlin Camp nine rifle that seems to have been around for awhile. How do I determine if it is pre or post ban?

Gordian Blade

I have one also. There's a lot I don't know about guns, but I do know about Camp 9's. The only way to know for sure when it was manufactured is to write to Marlin with the S/N and they can tell you if it was manufactured before or after 1994. (But keep reading, this is going to get complicated.) You might also order a new recoil spring from Marlin if you think it's been shot a lot. And you can have them send you the owners manual if you don't have one. Finally, I have heard stories of people sending their Marlin gun back to the factory and getting it put back into almost like new condition (with a new stock also) for free or a reasonable price. Mine was well taken care of by the previous owner so I didn't need to do that.Marlin Gun Service100 Kenna DriveP.O. Box 248North Haven, CT 06473-0905BTW, your question only matters if the gun has been modified to make it an "assault weapon" under the current legal definition. You didn't say if yours was in original configuration or not. If in original configuration, it is not an assault weapon and it is illegal for you to turn it into one today, regardless of when it was originally manufactured. If it has a S/N that indicates it was manufactured after 1994, then if it has been modified to be an assault weapon, the person who did it committed a crime. If it has a S/N before 1994, then it might or might not have been turned into an assault weapon before the ban. It's almost impossible to tell unless the person who sold it to you has a dated receipt for the new parts. Even then, he could have just kept the parts in a box and installed them after 1994, but that would be impossible to prove one way or the other. (I didn't say the law made sense.)Now, what exactly is an "assault weapon"? I will give you the NY State law which is in line with federal law, but be warned that some states (like CA) have an even stricter definition. Your Camp 9 is an assault weapon if it has been modified with any two of the following features: (1) folding or telescoping stock, (2) pistol grip extending conspicuously below the action, (3) bayonet mount, (4) flash suppressor or threaded barrel to accept one, (5) grenade launcher. An original Camp 9 has none of these. I've seen examples of (1), (2), and (4) on Camp 9's but not (3) or (5). If you have a Camp 9 that was modified with two of those before 1994 you can actually add more legally, since that doesn't make it any more of an assault weapon than it already is.One last thing: The original Marlin Camp 9 was designed for a 12 rd mag -- you can tell by the size of the compartment for the mag. At one point, they were making 4 rd mags that were the size of a 12 rd mag. If you buy a pre-1994 hi-cap mag (any S&W series 59 compatible 9mm), you can use it in your Camp 9 regardless of when the Camp 9 was manufactured.

tr fox

Gordian Blade: Thanks for your detailed reply. You sound like youknow what your talking about so I printed your reply and will use it for future guidance. It sounds like I can take a post ban camp nine and put it in a bullpup stock since it would then only have the #2 you mentioned (pistol grip) and none of the other 1 thru 5 mentioned. Correct?

Gordian Blade

tr fox: Yes, as long as you are only adding one feature, you're OK in most states. But watch out in some states. For example, here is the CA law that would be applicable to a modified Marlin Camp 9:12276.1. (a) Notwithstanding Section 12276, "assault weapon" shall also mean any of the following: (1) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any one of the following: (A) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon. (B) A thumbhole stock. (C) A folding or telescoping stock. (D) A grenade launcher or flare launcher. (E) A flash suppressor. (F) A forward pistol grip. I emphasized the one feature rule. You basically can't put on a bull pup in CA. There several other states that are equally restrictive. I haven't done an exhaustive study because I'm currently only interested in NY and maybe FL.As I said previously, don't ask me if the rule makes any sense. I have a totally unmodified Camp 9 that would pass muster in CA. (Well, except for my pre-ban hi-cap mags.) If I decided to "go postal" with it I could do just as much harm as one with all the items (A)-(F) above, no more, no less. So the law is just to make people feel like something was done and eliminate cosmetic features that scare the ignorant. There is a cliche that is really true: A good shot with a bolt action hunting rifle can do more damage than a bad shot spraying a lot of bullets around.

Gordian Blade

tr fox, I've had some additional thoughts today that I would like to express if you are still reading. This is coming from someone who is firmly in the middle of middle age and I am guessing that you are younger than I, so take it from one generation to another and in the end do what makes sense and is enjoyable for you.To my way of thinking, a Camp 9 in good to excellent condition is a nice looking rifle as it is. However, it is very easy to modify as you know. I believe one reason Marlin stopped making them was the ease with which they could be modified into something with a military look. Marlin is going for the hunting and cowboy markets and it didn't fit their desired image.The bullpup module does not improve its appearance in my opinion, although it does make it look more formidable to any bad guys you might encounter. The bullpup configuration will make the rifle shorter so make sure your state laws allow for a rifle of the new length. For example, if you are in CA and you shorten to 30 inches or less, you are into the "assault weapon" category again. I suspect the bullpup configuration will not improve your accuracy, but that is something you would have to try for yourself.As an alternative, if you want to make the Camp 9 look more like a military-style weapon instead of a hunting rifle, consider getting a Dragunov style replacement stock. That will add the one feature of pistol grip which you should be allowed in most states. To me, that looks sharper than the bullpup. If I had a second Camp 9, I'd be tempted to do that. http://world.guns.ru/sniper/sn18-e.htm Again, this is just a suggestion.

tr fox

Gordian Blade: Thanks (I think) for the compliment on age. I am going to admit that I am 59 years old but still playful thus the reason for the Yamaha V-Max in my garage and my wanting to own and improve on the bullpup. And from your Calif list I believe that a person could own a .22 rimfire bullpup. FYI I live in Kansas in the K.C. Metro area. I really appreciate people like you own are knowledgeable and are willing to take the time to share that knowledge.

Gordian Blade

Sorry tr fox, my bad. I thought most folks on this board at our advanced age had 100 guns and 45 years of experience, and I was the exception. You must think young to fool around with improving a bullpup. If I get a gun or anything for a gun, I like to use it with a minimum of muss and fuss, no time for fooling around. Like today I wanted to go to the range but ended up doing work and household errands instead.And I'm happy you don't live in CA, good for you. I used to live there, but maybe I'm not as smart as I think -- I moved to MD and after a brief stop in PA ended in NY.