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Posted: 11/7/2010 12:00:05 PM EDT
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Though I am in the midst of another project, the Two Tone 45-70, I figured I'd spend my lazy Sunday today at the shop playing with my 1894 Cowboy Limited in 45 Colt.
I was always looking to get an 1894 because during the winter months I would rather not spend my days outside at the shooting range. Somewhere in a more room temperature indoor range would do me good. Well, recently I've been patronizing the Bridgeport Shooting Range (Yes, in the city that is causing all of Connecticut's voting woes - Democrat losing? We found a Bag of uncounted votes in a closet!...but that's another story) where I have been happily shooting my Kimber Custom II 1911 in 45 ACP. Lo and behold I came across this Cowboy Limited for $500. It was hardly shot and someone had already done an action job to it, so the action is already as smooth as glass and it cycles flawlessly. The had a rear Lyman tang sight but I removed that because as a rare breed of humans that like Marlins, tang sights don't do it for me; they are intrusive on how I like to hold the gun. Well, I've been throwing around the idea of actually modifying it for a while and since most of my plans this wonderful Sunday had fallen through, I decided to do it before I decided against it. Here is what I started off with. 
From there it was the usual. I removed the stock and forend assembly and pulled the barrel off the action. Measured out to 16.75" and cut right there. I chucked it up and indicated the barrel in the lathe to cut the fresh hacksaw marks right out and recrown it. 
The process was painless really, thought the most time consuming part of the Build. I could crown it by hand, but I would rather not. I love my Lathe and I use it with almost every project. With the barrel cut and crowned, it sits at just over 16.50". Once the crown was all set, all I needed to do was recut 2 new dovetails at the front of the barrel: one for the front sight and one for the magazine tube stud. I moved the barrel on over to the Mill and set up a 1/4 mill bit to start the dovetail itself. I set the depth of .080" and ran it straight across. 
Then I followed it with the dovetail cutter. I know, I'm a cheater. 
You essentially get a perfect dovetail, but it is just a little small. I did this to both sides of the barrel and then proceeded to use a dovetail file (a triangular file with a single safety edge to ensure the dovetail slot does not go deeper into the barrel, but rather you only cut the left OR right of the dovetail) and fit both the stud and the front sight. After that, I modified the magazine tube and since it doesn't have the bulge like the 45-70 tube, I didn't have to redrill the holes for the magazine stud, instead I just cut the excess off of the rear of the magazine tube itself and fitted it to the action perfectly. 
Then I just threw the gun all together and took some pictures. The 1894 'Urban' Cowboy Limited 
Right now the gun hold 8 rounds of the LeverEvolution in the magazine tube, but the 9th round goes in 7/8 of the way. I'm going to try and squeeze that ninth round in there by either trimming the magazine spring just the slightest or the follower itself to make it an even 9+1 in the chamber. I do plan on rebluing the gun itself with a Matte finish only because I do not like the factory bluing and I carelessly put a few scratches in the barrel when chucking it up in the lathe. I also want to replace the leather on the lever itself with some parachord and find a different stock and paint it black. The wood on this gun is pretty nice and I'd feel bad ruining it...but I may also end up keeping the wood on there. Time will tell what I do, but I have a feeling I'm going to be shooting this gun a lot this season. |
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Quoted:
Nice work,Phil. I've been wanting to build something similar but the purists keep talking me out of it. After seeing your project,I'm going to go for it. An 18.5" to 20" barrel length is what I'm shooting for,along with a bigger loop & picatinny rail. Clint Listen to me now, the Purists are FULL of it. Granted, if it was a classic Marlin from before 1960, I'd say think twice about it, but there is NOTHING wrong with modifying a mass-produced Marlin lever action. If someone tells you that you are a Heathen because you cut down a barrel of a Marlin made within the Past 10 years, tell them to ram it up their butt sideways. It's your gun. 
Quoted:
Awesome project, looks like my '73 Octaglon only a little shorter. Incidentally, what did you do with the tang sight? Any interest in selling it?? It's a new production Lyman Tang sight for a Marlin; nothing special. If I still have it floating around I'll let you know. Anyway, I shot this gun in my test fire pit at work and I've never actually shot a .45 Colt rifle before and I have to say I LOVE IT. The kick and recoil is so mild and comfortable, it's great. Granted, it is only a handgun cartridge, but damn, I may have to start reloading if I want to shoot this a bunch. |
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Quoted:
Listen to me now, the Purists are FULL of it. Granted, if it was a classic Marlin from before 1960, I'd say think twice about it, but there is NOTHING wrong with modifying a mass-produced Marlin lever action. If someone tells you that you are a Heathen because you cut down a barrel of a Marlin made within the Past 10 years, tell them to ram it up their butt sideways. It's your gun.
Thanks,pal. Seeing your lever rifles when this forum first started up was what inspired me to get involved with them. Now,I'm hooked! My new 1895 ABL is going to be my Tactical Lever. Have lots of plans for it this Winter. Clint |
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'Scuse me kind sir, could you please hold my beer while I...
*jizzes in pants* Okay, thanks lol In all seriousness, I am not normally a fan of the octagon barrels, but that rifle my friend, is just straight sexy. perfect blend of old school and new school. I would LOVE to ave that rifle. |
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Quoted:
'Scuse me kind sir, could you please hold my beer while I... *jizzes in pants* Okay, thanks lol In all seriousness, I am not normally a fan of the octagon barrels, but that rifle my friend, is just straight sexy. perfect blend of old school and new school. I would LOVE to ave that rifle. I'll tell you what, working with an Octagon barrel is SO NICE compared to a round barrel. I really didn't like them either until this project. I had the thing squared up in the lathe and mill so fast it was ridiculous. 
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Quoted:
Nice work,Phil. I've been wanting to build something similar but the purists keep talking me out of it. After seeing your project,I'm going to go for it. An 18.5" to 20" barrel length is what I'm shooting for,along with a bigger loop & picatinny rail. Clint Purists - thhhhp! This isn't some storied heirloom - it's an off the shelf, one-of-millions gun. I'm against chopping Grandpa's gun that's been passed down, or historical piece, but otherwise, if it gets you out and shooting, then have fun! Here's a 70's 336A cut to 16.5" (from 24"), Limbsaver (with stock cut), Lever-rail and 2x7 Timberline. href=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3321/3648693366_1f4ee72bec.jpg JBJ336K_2 by jbjh" /> This is what it does from the bench - href=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2597/3960650172_a17c56967f.jpg 150g PP_100yds002 by jbjh" /> Get yer gun on! |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Nice work,Phil. I've been wanting to build something similar but the purists keep talking me out of it. After seeing your project,I'm going to go for it. An 18.5" to 20" barrel length is what I'm shooting for,along with a bigger loop & picatinny rail. Clint Purists - thhhhp! This isn't some storied heirloom - it's an off the shelf, one-of-millions gun. I'm against chopping Grandpa's gun that's been passed down, or historical piece, but otherwise, if it gets you out and shooting, then have fun! -snip- Get yer gun on! Exactly. That's why I cut down this gun. So far, I've put more rounds downrange with this than any other lever action I own, except for my Marlin 39 of course. |
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