Done - new pics! 1952 Marlin 336 better than new project

[7.62 Precision]

Dang, that is gorgeous!

Yeah, I have to do that someday.

[7.62 Precision]

Everything is finished and the Marlin 336 is reassembled.
Here is what was done:
Original stock and forend re-shaped to resemble 19th century Marlin stocks
Metal blasted or cleaned and polished
Stock and forend carved and inletted for the inlays
Inlays applied, cut down, and polished
Hand-rubbed tung oil finish on wood
Metal coated with black DuraCoat and semi-gloss clear
Some springs, parts, and screws replaced, sights replaced




Before:

After:


Sorry for the poor photography, I really struggle with trying to get the wood and the metal finishes. I was not paying attention and edited these photos with my display set up for offset printing instead of web, too.

[SJPrice]

What a great way to end 2013, with finishing up a beautiful rifle like that. Great job sir.

[RIHMFIRE]

very nice job...

ya need a companion for that engraved S&W 500
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/ ... rrorView_Y

[FatJackDurham]

Inspirational. How did you learn to do the inlay and carving? Can you recommend a resource for learning that?

[Borregos]

Very nice
You are talented for sure

[Griff]

Gorgeous! A well executed rebuild with what I'd consider very tasteful personal decoration.

Now... tell us about that buttplate. Is that brass or coated steel?

[Pete44ru]

Here is an idea I really like - be brave!

The funny thing is that the seller thinks this is factory work.

If it isn't, IMHO it oughta be ! It sure looks old enough to have been period done..........

As the final owner is a woman, I think it is well done.

Ths customer is always "right".......

Dang, 7.62 ! You've done a bang-up job, there !

The color/texture of the bead blast looks really good to my eye, as a final finish to compliment the final wood tone. (YMMV, surely)


.

[7.62 Precision]

Inspirational. How did you learn to do the inlay and carving? Can you recommend a resource for learning that?

My dad taught me that I could learn to do anything I want to do. So I just did it, using what I have pick up in the past and looking around for what others had learned.
I started whittling with a knife when I was 5, and used to carve toy/model boats when I was a kid. There is something about wood; handling it and working with it, the way it can glow when finished well. I don't get to do this kind of work very often because there is no money in it for the time it takes. This is the first time I have done an inlay using that method. I will change the method slightly when I do it again.

If you have a project, I can talk you through the techniques I used.

[7.62 Precision]

Now... tell us about that buttplate. Is that brass or coated steel?

It is brass.It may be temporary or permanent, depending on what decision is made on that. They are pretty nice, simple buttplates:http://www.brownells.com/manufacturers/ ... /index.htm

[7.62 Precision]

The color/texture of the bead blast looks really good to my eye, as a final finish to compliment the final wood tone. (YMMV, surely).

Yes, but it is blasted with aluminum oxide, so the surface is porous. It will rust in a moment if left like that. Even stainless steel will quickly rust when blasted like that. It doesn't work bad to clear coat it - the colour gets a bit darker and flat, like a french grey finish. If you do that you have to be careful between blasting and coating - even just touching it with your skin will change the color.

[Old Savage]

Nice work!

[Mossyoak1957]

Beautiful work!

Would like to see a head on picture of the butt plate.

I would love to do just one Bear track in the bottom of my 336 pistol grip..."But I'm to scared to!"

[7.62 Precision]

I would love to do just one Bear track in the bottom of my 336 pistol grip..."But I'm to scared to!"

It's easy, go for it.

And here os a photo of the buttplate. I just bend it in a vice to match the curve of the stock and then fit and mount or mount and fit, depending on what is being done to the stock. It looks just like a 1950s-50s Win 94 buttplate, only brass.

[madman4570]

Have to say absolutely love that look. Very unique. That is a fine job.

[FWiedner]

I like it.

[7.62 Precision]

Of course, if it were my rifle and money and time were not an issue, case hardening would probably happen.

With a fine levergun, case hardening is not mandatory. It is not optional. It is inevitable.

[plowboy 45]

That is very very nice but its thoses Winchester scerws that make the whole show.

[Sixgun]

7.62,
To say the least, I am impressed. Very tastefully done.

The reshaping of the bottom of the pistol grip like you would see on deluxe 1893's really makes it stand out.

Any plans on resighting the rifle? An early Lyman 56 would be a nice addition.

One question, what is the finish on the loading gate? Looks like brushed nickel. The color of the gate makes a very nice eye appealing contrast.----6

[7.62 Precision]

7.62,
The reshaping of the bottom of the pistol grip like you would see on deluxe 1893's really makes it stand out.
Any plans on resighting the rifle? An early Lyman 56 would be a nice addition.
One question, what is the finish on the loading gate? Looks like brushed nickel. The color of the gate makes a very nice eye appealing contrast.----6

I agree on the sight - it is up to the new owner, but I think that a vintage sight would be best for the rifle if a receiver sight is used.

On the loading gate, I probably should have ordered a stainless one, but what I did was simply polish the original gate. It looks better than polished stainless, as it has some colour, and coating a loading gate is not as good because any finish on the gate will wear with use.

[Birdman]

Thanks for this post and the hole project. All of the pictures and others comments made for a good morning read. You got my year started off nice and you did a knock out job.

[7.62 Precision]

Glad it made your day!