Inherited Marlins

[8x57mm]

My uncle bought his father in laws house after the gentleman passed away many years ago. He found 2 guns in the closet, and apparently forgot about them for years until he did some recent remodeling. He then asked me to just get them out of the house. I said I would be glad to do so, but only got a quick look while there a few weeks ago.

They turned out to be Marlins. A model 60 .22LR auto with the long 17 round tube, and an over and under that appears to be a model 90 12GA. The guns probably have not moved for at least 15-20 years. Both guns are dirty more than anything else, with the 90 having slight rust on the outside of the barrels. There are some oily rags or something stuffed into the barrels so I cannot really tell if the chokes are there, or what condition they are in. The front bead is missing (just a small hole where it once was). I broke it open and it seemed very tight, so it probably wasn't shot much. The father in law did not shoot trap/skeet, and hunted only occasionally, and long ago.

Question:
I have been a competitive rifle and pistol shooter all my life, but have never owned a shotgun. My wife however, has hinted for awhile that she would like to try trap/skeet. Assuming it is functional would the 90 be worth restoring for that? I am getting it for zero, so at what point is it costing more than it's worth? Is there a mod that would be ruining it?


JR

 

[Bugs100]

If it's engraved it's a Skeet King and worth a few bucks. Even if it's just a regular Model 90 they still go for a wide range in price. I've seen them go any where from $400 to $1100.

Take to a good gunsmith and have Him look at it and put a new front bead on it.

If it's in good condition it would make a great trap/skeet gun..

 

[Sprocket]

Even if it's not worth a mint, the 90 is worth cleaning up and using - fans of the 90 say it's a soft shooting o/u, solidly built and well designed - fans would take it over a Ruger Red Label but maybe not a Beretta...

Nice finds overall - post up pics of the 90 when you can

 

[Sprocket]

As for chokes - the 90's had fixed chokes - you can stop looking now...

 

[Kenny474]

I have an old Stevens 5100 side by side that is by no means pretty, but shatters skeet like a $1000 gun. It doesn't really matter what it looks like, as long as it is in sound working order. If you want it to look pretty, then it's up to you. But an ugly gun will shoot as good as a pretty one, as long as the internals work properly.(I know, as I have upset some friends shooting expensive stuff while using my ugly old Stevens)
I say clean it up really well, and have the bead replaced and the gun checked for any major flaws that would make it unsafe to operate. If it's ok take it to the range and bust some clays. If you like it enough to spend the $ and have it restored, than do so. If not, just keep it as a nice free shooter. As long as you enjoy it, it doesn't really matter either way.

 

[8x57mm]

LOL. Like I said, I am not a shotgun guy, so thanks for letting me know the chokes are there. The other thing is I guessed (in a literally 3-4 minute glance at both guns) that it was a 12 GA. It may even be a 20. I recall checkered grips, but I don't think it was engraved. As soon as he's back from FL I'll be running over there to grab them. Pix will follow.


JR

 

[8x57mm]

finally... now would anyone know the thread size for the missing brass bead sight?

 

[KMM696]

It's just a guess, but Brownells bead sight kits list 3-48 as standard for "most" shotguns, with 6-48 or 8-40 for redrilling & tapping stripped out ones. Considering the number of different bead sights out there, I'd be tempted to take it to a gunsmith that specializes in shotguns. Paying them would annoy me less than ordering the wrong bead a couple of times.

Nice shotgun - I've been keeping an eye out for a 90 (preferably in 16 gauge), myself. Not ornamental shotguns, but definitely solid shooters. Get the bead replaced, clean it and shoot it.....

 

[8x57mm]

I did see ths on Brownells.

Shotgun Sight Bead Thread List

3-56 TPI Browning Target Citori, Beretta, Kreigoff, Ruger, Weatherby, Winchester, Marlin, Stevens 311, H&R

M2-6 will interchange with a 3-56 TPI

The threads look clean. This is a 1951 made 12 gauge. The barrels are super clean. A good friend repaired a 1/2" missing chip off the bottom corner of the butt (can't even see it really). There was a little rust near the muzzles, but I stripped and re-blued the barrels with some Van's, and they came out looking very good. The gun is tight and seems to function fine, I don't think it was shot very much.

The model 60 also looks very good, but seemed to jam a lot when I tried it out. The first tube (17 rounds) shot fine, and I was encouraged. But suddenly it wasn't feeding right after that. I cleaned the hell out of it, and will give it another go soon.

I was hoping that my wife would be able to use this as she says she would like to try trap, but the pull is way too long for her, and a 20 gauge recoil would undoubtedly be preferable as well. I guess I'll just have to use this one myself... gee what a bad break huh?