Marlin Model 1893 .30-30 Lever Action Rifle, 26” Octagon 1918-1919 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,600.00
LSB#: LSB250731EK084
Make: Marlin Fire-Arms Co. (Marlin-Rockwell Corporation)
Model: Model 1893
Serial Number: D3887
Year of Manufacture: Circa 1918–1919 (Marlin-Rockwell production, assembled from parts on hand; see Marlin Collectors Association and marlinowners.com archives) C&R
Caliber: .30-30 Winchester (.30 WCF)
Action Type: Lever Action Rifle with Full-Length Tubular Magazine
Markings:
The top of the barrel is marked “MARLIN FIRE-ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN, CT, U.S.A. / PATENTED OCT. 11, 1887. APRIL 2, 1889. AUGUST 1, 1893.” The top flat of the barrel near the receiver is marked “30-30.” The top of the receiver is marked “MARLIN SAFETY.” The upper tang is marked “MODEL 1893.” The serial number “D3887” is located on the belly of the receiver.
Barrel Length: 26” Octagon
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass blade fixed to a square base. The rear sight is a semi-buckhorn type with a notched leaf and elevator.
Stock Configuration & Condition:
The stocks are walnut with a straight grip, a smooth forend, and a steel crescent buttplate. The wood shows scattered small dings, shallow compressions, and honest handling marks consistent with field use. The forend fit remains tight with no structural cracks observed. The finish has mellowed to a rich, aged tone with faint flattening along high-contact areas. Overall, the stocks rate in about Very Good condition for their age.
Type of Finish: Blued and Case Colored
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling and only minor fouling. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9.5/10.
Overall Condition:
This rifle retains approximately 50% of its original finish. The barrel and magazine tube have turned to a smooth, uniform plum-brown patina with scattered flecks of light oxidation. The receiver shows mottled traces of original case color fading to brown and gray, with scattered small handling marks throughout. Screw heads remain serviceable, showing moderate wear, and the markings are clear and legible. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good-Very Good condition.
Mechanics:
The action functions correctly, cycling and locking smoothly with solid hammer engagement. The lever throw feels appropriate for the model, and the safety features remain intact. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Our Assessment:
The Marlin Model 1893 is one of the most respected lever-action rifles of its era, bridging the black powder and smokeless powder ages. While most collectors associate early serials with the 1890s, this example—bearing the “D” prefix—belongs to the rare and fascinating Marlin-Rockwell production run of 1916–1919. During World War I, Marlin-Rockwell Corporation continued manufacturing firearms using leftover parts from Marlin’s New Haven factory, producing limited quantities of Model 1893 rifles marked as such but fitted with letter-prefix serials (A through D). According to collector consensus and research from the Marlin Firearms Collectors Association, these “D”-prefix rifles represent the last of the true Model 1893s before the transition to the Model ’93 marking in 1921.
Chambered in .30-30 Winchester—known then as the .30 WCF—this was among the first American rifles designed for smokeless powder, offering excellent ballistics for deer and general-purpose hunting. The cartridge’s moderate recoil and flat trajectory secured its place in American sporting history, and the Model 1893’s solid-top, side-eject receiver design influenced generations of Marlin lever guns to come.
This rifle’s honest patina, strong bore, and original configuration make it an authentic and desirable example of late-production Marlin-Rockwell craftsmanship. It stands as a tangible link between two American industrial eras—Marlin’s 19th-century craftsmanship and the wartime production economy that reshaped it during World War I.
We are no longer offering layaway. KF
