Marlin Lever Action Rifle Serial Numbers 1883 to 1906 (Including Models 1881, 1888, 1889, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895 and 1897.) Note that records are chaotic as all models were numbered in a single serial number range, and numbers are often duplicated, and the dates recorded are apparently shipping dates, not dates of manufacture. Brophy studied the records and came up with the following as dates of manufacture.
All Marlins manufactured from 1969 to 1990: The first two digits of the serial number designate the year of manufacture, either as the last two digits of the year (in 1969-71) or as a number code (1971 and later)..
marlin firearms manufacturing dates by serial number
Below are the manufacturing date codes, which are the first one or two characters of the serial number. Please note this list is NOT INCLUSIVE of all Marlin firearms. Only those manufactured from 1941 through 2011 which have serial numbers on them and with the caveat mentioned elsewhere in this blog..
Sometime in 2011 the serial number prefix became MR. This was done in conjunction with the sale of Marlin, and subsequent move to the Remington Arms plant in Ilion, NY. Speculation is that once receivers started being manufactured at the Ilion, NY, plant the prefix became MR.
The OTASCO rifles had their own unique serial number block and would be outside of what I have listed above. Your rifle would (should) have been made in 1980. Marlin made various rifles (Limited Edition / House Brand) such as yours which do line up with this serial number - date of manufacture convention. I have edited the blog to reflect this point. Regards, Rob
With the first two digits of the serial number being 94 - you are correct in that it was made in 2006. I do not think $375 was not an outrageously high price if it was in very good condition. If you have any further questions about this rifle please post them in the general Marlin section of the forums as that is the best place to address those issues.
JohnR, if your serial number begins with an F (or any letter/s) then you disregard the numbers following for year of manufacture. F = 1949 as you referenced, which is when your rifle was made. FWIW - the numbers following the letter in your serial number would loosely indicate the number that your rifle was produced in that year. 2ff7e9595c