I recently purchased a Marlin 1895GBL in 45/70 Government. I was excited to make the purchase and ordered it online. I ordered it from an evidently reputable dealer who gave me excellent customer service and shipped it promptly in a factory sealed box. The rifle arrived at my FFL holder on a Monday, much sooner than expected because I had ordered it on Saturday just two days before. It had to sit at my FFL for a few days because I was tied up working each day and had no chance to pick it up until that Friday. When I went to pick it up at the dealer, I took it out of the box and gave it as good a going over as I could do. I said it that way because while I had my glasses with me, I had the wrong ones. I use a pair of glasses for distance and another pair for close up stuff like reading and there is quite the difference between how I see things depending on which pair is sitting on the bridge of my nose at the time. I had forgotten the strong reading glasses but figured the others were good enough - they were not.
Well, everything looked good except for the front sight cover which was not set right. All that required though was being snapped into place. Everything else looked okay and I accepted it and took it home where it sat in the box for about another 2 weeks or so. Just over two weeks later I got a chance to go to the range with it so I took it out of the box for the first time since getting home. I then proceeded to strip it for cleaning as per the manual. As I was handling it, my fingers wrapped around the forearm tip and I felt that the left side forearm tip tenon screw was protruding at an odd angle. I took a closer look, this time with my reading glasses in place. I saw the screw was askew and not fully seated.
I thought it was nothing but was I wrong. I tried screwing it in and it would not budge. I took it out and even that was not easy. I tried screwing it in several times and it would not go in right. I examined the forearm tip tenon more closely and the screw hole in it had a an uneven ring of metal around it and looked oblong as opposed to perfectly round and correctly drilled. My guess was that both the threads in the forearm tip tenon and on the forearm tip tenon screw were damaged when the rifle was assembled. I even tried the screw from the other side but neither would it screw into the left or damaged side.
I proceeded with the field strip to clean the rifle anyway but stopped shortly after when I noticed another problem. What appears to the carrier assembly is rusty. Yep, a part in a brand new gun evidently has rust on it. Marlin quite possibly does not make 'em the way they used to or should I blame Remington since I believe they took over Marlin.
I reported the problems and requested a warranty repair. So what did Marlin do? They sent me a "rear band screw" - or in other words a screw for another model rifle. I received that earlier this weekend. Last night, I shot of an email to their customer service with a detailed description of the problems and asked them to notify me without delay as to how they plan to resolve the issues.
I hope they realize and admit this is indeed a warranty issue. I got this rifle at a great price and on top of that should be getting back a $100 rebate but I sure do not want to have to spend even a penny of that repairing a gun that was faulty from the factory. That would truly dishearten me about buying another Marlin. Let's face it, I have not had the best of luck with new guns lately; I sent a Savage Model 93 in for warranty repair - the mags would not fit securely. That gun was a pristine new gun and they returned it with muzzle
gouges, scratches, dings and a cracked stock (thank goodness I have before and after pictures). I do not need any more headaches.
So, what is the moral to this story. Don't be an asshole like I was that day and inspect a rifle without exercising the utmost scrutiny. I should have gone home to get my correct eyeglasses or at least checked in my car for a spare pair (which I did have in the glove box but I was in sort of a hurry). Still though, it is not my fault it was damaged. That was a manufacturing glitch on the part of Marlin. Next time though, you can bet that the correct pair of anteojos will be sitting on the bridge of my nose where they belong, or I will drive home to get them, before I examine and accept any firearm from a dealer or anyone else.
All the best,
Glenn B
Well, everything looked good except for the front sight cover which was not set right. All that required though was being snapped into place. Everything else looked okay and I accepted it and took it home where it sat in the box for about another 2 weeks or so. Just over two weeks later I got a chance to go to the range with it so I took it out of the box for the first time since getting home. I then proceeded to strip it for cleaning as per the manual. As I was handling it, my fingers wrapped around the forearm tip and I felt that the left side forearm tip tenon screw was protruding at an odd angle. I took a closer look, this time with my reading glasses in place. I saw the screw was askew and not fully seated.
I thought it was nothing but was I wrong. I tried screwing it in and it would not budge. I took it out and even that was not easy. I tried screwing it in several times and it would not go in right. I examined the forearm tip tenon more closely and the screw hole in it had a an uneven ring of metal around it and looked oblong as opposed to perfectly round and correctly drilled. My guess was that both the threads in the forearm tip tenon and on the forearm tip tenon screw were damaged when the rifle was assembled. I even tried the screw from the other side but neither would it screw into the left or damaged side.
 |
| Only have a photo of the right side but the screw in question is on the opposite side of the one I circled, there is one per side. The carrier assembly is inside the receiver above the lever. |
I proceeded with the field strip to clean the rifle anyway but stopped shortly after when I noticed another problem. What appears to the carrier assembly is rusty. Yep, a part in a brand new gun evidently has rust on it. Marlin quite possibly does not make 'em the way they used to or should I blame Remington since I believe they took over Marlin.
I reported the problems and requested a warranty repair. So what did Marlin do? They sent me a "rear band screw" - or in other words a screw for another model rifle. I received that earlier this weekend. Last night, I shot of an email to their customer service with a detailed description of the problems and asked them to notify me without delay as to how they plan to resolve the issues.
I hope they realize and admit this is indeed a warranty issue. I got this rifle at a great price and on top of that should be getting back a $100 rebate but I sure do not want to have to spend even a penny of that repairing a gun that was faulty from the factory. That would truly dishearten me about buying another Marlin. Let's face it, I have not had the best of luck with new guns lately; I sent a Savage Model 93 in for warranty repair - the mags would not fit securely. That gun was a pristine new gun and they returned it with muzzle
gouges, scratches, dings and a cracked stock (thank goodness I have before and after pictures). I do not need any more headaches.
So, what is the moral to this story. Don't be an asshole like I was that day and inspect a rifle without exercising the utmost scrutiny. I should have gone home to get my correct eyeglasses or at least checked in my car for a spare pair (which I did have in the glove box but I was in sort of a hurry). Still though, it is not my fault it was damaged. That was a manufacturing glitch on the part of Marlin. Next time though, you can bet that the correct pair of anteojos will be sitting on the bridge of my nose where they belong, or I will drive home to get them, before I examine and accept any firearm from a dealer or anyone else.
All the best,
Glenn B
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