Going to town today and the gunshop had a 1895 limited III last time I was there(I think it was the III, had a straight stock and short  octagon barrel) for just under a grand. What's a fair price for this rifle?  I really don't need it but suddenly feel like it's calling my name. Gun is in really nice condition, is JM marked but has no box if I remember correctly.

That's a damned good price if nothing's goofed on it.  I'd be sorely tempted, and I need another 45-70 like I need a third nipple.

My willpower was weak and I ended up buying the gun. Looks to be shot very little and the only blemish I can find on the gun is a very slight lightening of the bluing on the top edge of the barrel  where I assume it leaned up against a gun rack but it can only be seen in certain lighting. There is also a small nick on the side of the stock where the butt plate meets the wood but I think it came that way from the factory because it is finished and is hardly noticeable. The box end with the sticker isn't in the best of shape but the rest of the box is fine and it includes all the paperwork, hammer spur and cable lock.

I tired to talk them down but they only had the gun a month and won't budge on price until they sit for three months. I can verify this because I used to talk a lot with their former sales manager and he showed me how to read their tag codes.

The gun is more than likely going to be a safe queen but now that IA allows rifles for deer hunting I might take it out some year if I strike out during bow season. I'll probably put a skinner peep sight on it because I really don't like the buckhorn rear sights.
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Dang it, been looking for one of these in IA myself.

Good haul, enjoy!

That is a sweet rifle op. Congrats!

What's the deal on these guns? Local store has one. Can't remember the price but I think it was north of a grand. I don't know anything about them.

Marlin made some limited runs of guns for Davidsons called the Limited series. There were 5 versions of the 1895 made, each year they would make 1000 of that years model. If in very good condition I think it will be tough to find any of the 5 for under a grand out the door, I have heard of people snagging them for under $900 OTD but it's getting hard.

1997: LTD I – straight grip, 24” half round bbl.
1998: LTD II – checkered, pistol grip, 24” octagon bbl.
1999: LTD III – straight grip, 18.5” octagon bbl.
2000: LTD IV – straight grip, 24" octagon bbl.
2001: LTD V – checkered, pistol grip, 24” half round bbl…

I believe there were limited models of the other Marlins but I'm not 100% sure. Do not confuse these LTD models with the Limited series that has been produced since Remington took over Marlin. All the one's listed above will have LTD and the series number on the barrel and all will be JM marked.

Marlin does now offer a model that is identical to the one I have but it's not the limited series and is a Remington built rifle so it wont' have the collector value of the others.

ETA. I got the rifle sighted in and I will say it's the most punishing rifle I've ever shot. I've had fullsize 1895s and two guide guns(one in the heavy hitting .450 BM)and they were softer shooting then this gun. I'm sure if I ditched the plastic buttplate for a soft one it would help but I'd like to keep the gun fairly stock since it's a limited edition.

Hate to get off topic, but where did you get that info?  Any info about 1894 "limited"?

I have a 1894 that says "cowboy limited" (maybe "cowboy limited II", can't recall) and always wondered why it says "limited".  
It's a 20 inch octagonal barrel, straight grip, no checkering, in 45 colt.  Internet says the serial # was made a couple years before Remington buyout(don't recall exact year).
A friend has an identical gun(except in 44 mag) that says only "cowboy".

Here is a complete rundown of all the Limited series made for Davidsons. Looks like yours was made in 2001. The only real difference between your friends CB and your limited is the markings, the limiteds only came with 24" or 18.5" barrels(regular cowboys came with 26" barrels)and some say the regular CBs had nicer wood.

1894 Cowboy Carbine Limited (CCL)

1894CCL LTD .41 mag, Blued 20" Octagon barrel, Roll stamped "Cowboy limited" Non-Checkered walnut stocks. Made in 1999. Serial #'s read 94ccl0000-94CCL1000. 1001 produced. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons.

1894D LTD.44-40, Blued 20" Octagon barrel, Roll stamped "Cowboy Limited" Non-Checkered walnut stocks. Made in 2000. Serial #'s read 1894D000-1894D325. 326 produced. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons.

1894IV LTD .45LC, Blued 20" Octagon barrel, Roll stamped "Cowboy Limited" Non-Checkered walnut stocks. Made in 2001. Serial #'s read 1894IV0000-1894IV1000. 1001 produced. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons.

1894 LTD .32-20, Blued 20" Octagon barrel, Roll stamped "Cowboy Limited" Non-Checkered walnut stocks. Made in 2003. Serial #'s read CCL000D-CCL500D. 501 produced. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons.

1894 SS LTD

1894SSLTD .357/.38spl Stainless steel 16.25" barrel, Non-Checkered Gray Laminated stocks, Hi-Viz sights 351 produced. Made in 2005. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons.

1894SSLTD .44/.44spl Stainless steel 16.25" barrel, Non-Checkered Gray Laminated stocks, Hi-Viz sights. 351 produced. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons.

1894SSLTD .45LC Stainless steel 16.25" barrel, Non-Checkered Gray Laminated stocks. Hi-Viz sights. 251 produced. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons.

1894SSLTD .41mag Stainless steel, 16.25" barrel, Non-Checkered Gray laminated stocks. Hi-Viz sights. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons.

1895 LTD I-V

1895LTD I .45-70 Blued, ballard rifling, 24" half octagon/half round barrel. Straight grip Non-Checkered walnut stocks. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons 1001 made, made in 1997.

1895LTD II .45-70 Blued, ballard rifling, 24" Full octagon barrel. Pistol grip, Checkered walnut stocks. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons 1001 made, made in 1998.

1895LTD III .45-70 Blued, ballard rifling 18.5" Full octagon barrel. Straight grip walnut stocks. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons 1001 made, made in 1999.

1895LTD IV .45-70 Blued ballard rifling 24" Full octagon barrel. Straight grip walnut stocks. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons 1001 made, made in 2000.

1895LTD V .45-70 Blued ballard rifling 24" half octagon, half round barrel. Pistol grip Checkered walnut stocks. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons 1001 made, made in 2001.

Stainless 1895 models

1895SDT LTD .45-70 "Trapper model" Stainless steel, 16.25" barrel. Grey laminate straight grip stocks. 4+1 round cartridge capacity. Serial #'s read 95SDT000-95SDT500, 501 produced. Made in 2008. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons.

1895SDG LTD .45-70, "Guide model" Stainless steel, 18.5" barrel. Grey laminate pistol grip stocks. 4+1 round cartridge capacity. Serial #'s read 95SDG000-95SDG500. 501 produced. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons.

1895STP LTD .45-70 "Guide model" Stainless steel 16.25" ballard rifled barrel. Grey laminate pistol grip stocks. 5+1 cartridge capacity. 501 produced.Special run by Marlin for Davidsons.

1895GS LTD .45-70 "Guide model" Stainless steel 18.5" ballard rifled barrel. Grey laminate Straight grip stocks. 5+1 cartridge capacity. Hi-Viz sights. 501 produced. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons.

336 models

336SDT LTD .30-30 Stainless steel 16.25" 1 in 10" twist microgroove barrel. Grey laminate straight grip Checkered stocks. Firesights. 5+1 cartridge capacity. Serial # reads 36SDT000-36SDT500. 501 produced. Made in 2008. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons.

336SDG LTD .30-30 Stainless steel 16.25" 1 in 10" twist microgroove barrel. Grey laminate pistol grip stocks. 5+1 cartridge capacity. Serial # reads 36SDG000-36SDG500. 501 produced Made in 2009. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons.

336D LTD .35 Rem "Guide Gun" Blued 18.5" ported barrel. Straight grip checkered walnut stocks. Made in 2000. 1001 produced. Serial # reads 336D0000-336D1000. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons.

336 SS LTD .35 Rem, Stainless steel 18" barrel. Checkered Walnut straight grip stock. Serial # reads 336SS000-336SS500. 501 produced. Made in 2004.

.308MX LTD

.308SDT LTD .308MX Stainless steel, 16.25" barrel.
Grey laminate straight grip stock. Hi-Viz sights. Made in 2009. Serial # reads 308SDT000-308SDT250. 251 produced. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons.

Any information you will ever want to know about Marlins can be found here: http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/forum.php

Interesting.  Just looked up my serial #, it starts with 93 and is all numbers, interweb says made in 2007?

Boy, I dont' know then. I'm far from an expert on all the models that Marlin has offered. Best thing to do would be to take a few pictures and register on Marlin Owners and ask there, those guys are experts on everything Marlin.