22 Rifle: Any Ideas on This One?

lakeroadster

I have a 22 rifle that my grandfather gave me many years ago. I am not looking to get rid of it but am curious as to year - make - model, etc. It has no markings whatsoever except "SAFE --->" where the safety is.

Any ideas?

beantownshootah

Thanks for the pix:


Not familiar enough with old .22s to give you a definitive answer but my guess is that you have an older Marlin-made .22 bolt action with tubular magazine, something like the current 981T.

Someone else should be able to come along and give you a better answer. However, lacking a visible serial number I don't think you're going to get an exact date of manufacture!

Note that prior to the gun control act of 1968, longarms weren't required to have serial numbers, and the cheaper mass-produced ones by the big manufacturers sold at hardware stores, etc, often did not.

Marlin (and the other big American manufacturers) would manufacture their own guns to be sold under different brand names by retailers like Sears, etc, so the true manufacturer name may not have ever been on the gun.

I do like the tubular magazine. In my opinion, that's a really nice feature in a bolt action .22.

11b6r

Looks like a Marlin Mdl 81.

1KYDSTR

Destock it and look for ANY marking that may be on it. Having said that, I agree with the likely Marlin lineage...round cocking knob and general layout look like an 81 variant to me as well.

Mobuck

I vote for Marlin simply on the bassackwards safety operation.

lakeroadster

quote:Originally posted by 1KYDSTR
Destock it and look for ANY marking that may be on it.......


I have destocked it, no markings anywhere except "SAFETY--->"

Thanks to everyone for your input!

countryfarmer

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=209929360

Looks very much like a Marlin 81 to me also. Above link is to a auction of a 81 with several good picures.

41 nut

Looks to me like a Marlin 81 also. Check the top and left side of the barrel ahead of the rear sight for writting. Most of the Marlin 81's I've seen are marked there. Marking may be very very light and hard to read.

Old hickory

Marlin, but pre 81 . My dad bought one in the late 1930's and his is unmarked. It does not have a Walnut stock, but a pleasing, open grained wood in a light color like yours.

FmxLevi

I agree in stating it may be a marlin. The looks of the stock and the safety mechanism also looks similar to an older "sears and roebuck" made rifle. Particularly ive seen alot of 410's that look like that.

Have you taken the gun apart and inspected the bottom of the barrel for any markings?

lakeroadster

quote:Originally posted by Old hickory
Marlin, but pre 81 . My dad bought one in the late 1930's and his is unmarked. It does not have a Walnut stock, but a pleasing, open grained wood in a light color like yours.


Since this rifle was given to me by my Grandfather I am thinking you hit the nail on the head. He was a Model T Ford fanatic and a collector of old stuff. The rifle has a "Hoyt 1918" sling. Does that help to identify the age?