Well, I'd not say I'm old, but I'm certainly not considered young at 69.     I'm retired and on a very low fixed income and don't have an extra 3 or 4 grand sitting around from any kind of a retirement plan.  I was hoping to get into a single-shot rifle at less expense than a lever action Marlin.  I was ignorant of the prices...............my fault.  So, like I said, I envy you boys your toys.  I'll have to go play in a sand box I can afford.    What is it they say, "If ya can't run with the big dogs, don't git off'n the porch!" 

Chris, not to derail you on your search for a single shot, but you've mentioned 93 marlins a couple of times.

We had a friend on here pass away a few months ago.  In the last two years of his life, I purchased a few of his incomplete projects, when he needed some help on doctor bills.  In that bunch there are 3 93 marlins, of which I know very little.  Two are takedowns, and one is a fixed barrel.  The fixed barrel has a NEW old stock .38-55 barrel in it, I think one of the takedowns is in .38-55 and the other in .30-30.  The one with the new barrel is the metal only, does not include stocks.  The stocks are available semi-inletted for the $100 cost range.   

I've been contemplating selling them, and know they would be a LOT less than the $1000 cost you threw out there.  I think I'm into them a lot closer to $500 apiece, and would sell them for what I have in them.  They're not pristine collectors, one is metal only, one needs buttstock, one is complete but really needs the stocks replaced.   

Let me know if you're interested, I have been trying to get the time to take them apart and ebay the pieces, but have too many other things going on.  I've spent the past several months decluttering my shop and safe and selling stuff off, it's been slow and I'm doing bigger items first, these don't take up much room and they have a lot of pieces to sell when I do get to them.

Seen a couple references to your website?  What kind of work do you do, and do you have a link to the site?

dave

Chris don't give up on a single shot rifle, get out to the guns shows and watch the local papers also postings in sporting goods, hardware stores.
Very few quality single shots up where I live, I managed to find some of them through the gun shows and ad's in the newspaper also word of mouth and the local gun club, did not purchase any of them as they duplicated rifles I already had, some were under $1000 and any would have made a good starter rifle for Schuetzen.

Have not seen anything but large bore rolling blocks lately.

Mike

Chris C wrote on Feb 17^th, 2014 at 5:16pm:

Give this club a call,  they may help you get your feet wet.   
Oil Capitol Rod and Gun Club, Tulsa, (exp 2014) Phillip Hart,   918-371-5203

I would say that lining a barrel is the way to get started,  but by the the time you buy a lathe and mill and take a metal class at the local community college,   that won't be any cheaper.   The local guys should be able to point  you in the direction  of  local shops that might be less expensive.

Show off you furniture and you might get a trade!

-06

There's a lot of different facets to gun work.  Good wood workers are harder to find and more expensive than good metal workers.   That's why you see so many well done actions out there with mediocre or even awful stocks.   Your skill level as evidenced by your website would put you in the top of the woodworkers very quickly if you decided to do stock work.   

I bet you could easily trade stock work for metal work if you're inclined to spend the time.  Good stockmakers easily command $30 per hour.  Well known ones might come close to doubling that.

dave

Wannamakers is worth going to, even if you don't find a gun you want to buy! There's no shortage to look at there, just don't be shocked by the high asking prices. Most those sellers know they're dealing with people from all over the USA, and often ad 50-100% to the prices, but will come down quickly if you're serious and have cash.
Those old 1893's in a 30" barrel are super scarce! When I was avidly collecting Marlin repeaters I sought extra length barrels the most, and had very little success finding anything longer than a 28" barrel. I did sell a 32" 1893 last year; the only 32" I ever saw in all my years of collecting them!
If you're interested in a Ballard in .44-40, drop me a PM. I have one with a great bore that I can send you pics of. It's in your price range I think; at least much less than anything you could put together.

Nice! What cartridge is that long barreled 1892 chambered in? Every time I find one the seller wants full value and the bore is rotted (must have been shooting those "never were loaded with BP" 25-20WCF cartridges I've read about in another thread.