Anyone know of the Marlin mod. 57 lever action 22 mag. rifle ?

[jedman]

I just seen one of these unique rifles for sale today. It's unlike any of the Marlin lever actions that I have ever seen.
I looked on the internet and could not find hardly a thing on this model, If anyone out there has any knowledge of
there function, reliability,or the lack of I would greatly appreciate hearing about it. I don't ever remember seeing one
of these rifles in my 50 plus years of gun tinkering ? Thanks in advance,         Jedman

[Rangr44]

I had one, while I was in the service in the early-mid 60's.

Marlin called the actions "Levermatic", because they could argueably be cycled as fast as an automatic.

The lever was a short-stroke, meaning you kept your hand on the grip and just flexed the fingers to operate the lever.  Mine had a tube mag, and remember it giving only so-so accuracy at the time - but I was only a newbie shooter then, and not as good as I am today.

Being newly married at the time, with a baby on the way, I didn't keep it very long.

The design/styling (one-piece stock, etc, etc) was light-years ahead of the time, and since most buyers of that time were traditionalists, they didn't sell well, and were discontinued.
A similar-looking rifle, the Winchester 88, wasn't tried for another 6-8 years after that, and it too was eventually discontinued.

Maybe this'll help:  http://www.leverguns.com/articles/malloy.htm

For a lot more, google: levermatic rifles

[jedman]

Thank You, RANGR 44 -  My home page search is on MSN and there was almost  no information there, but I did Google it and found what I was looking for. I think I will have to look in the gun safe and decide what might have to go so I can have this new toy. I was trying to recall all the guns that I have bought , sold, traded over the years recently and started to write them down but my memory ain't that sharp anymore but I came up with nearly 70. So to get something new like this Levermatic is kinda exciting, I don't think you can have to many rimfire rifles as long as your haveing fun with them.
                                         Jedman

[Rangr44]

[ I don't think you can have to many rimfire rifles as long as your haveing fun with them.]

Yep.  Now that I'm retired, I'd like to try to cut down to around 70, or so, rifles. I'm not doing too good, though - it's hard to throw out a loved one. 

[jedman]

 Well I did go get the Marlin and really like it, I took the barreled action out from the stock and was pleasantly surprised at how little use the rifle has been fired. The rifle is in 98 % condition and like I said before really unique. I am retired also and this time of year Gun tinkering is at the top of my list. My idea for this gun is to eliminate the scope base and mount the scope rings directly to the top of the receiver, the receiver is steel and flat on top and I have some nice old steel rings that I think I can machine to fit and will look better than that big flat Weaver base. When I was at the gunshop and talking to the owner about this rifle ( I already knew I had to have it ) I told him, I really need another rifle like a hole in the head ! and he smiled and said, It's really not about need, is it ?  enough said.         Jedman

[woodchukhntr]

What did it cost?  I've seen them in .22 L.R. in both Marlins and Sears-Roebuck brands, and they seem overpriced in the $300 range.

[jedman]

  I paid $ 240.00 plus tax for it, for the condition it is in and when you hold it in your hands and think what a rifle of this quality would cost to make today I think it was a bargin. From what I have read about them the steel receiver and the 22 mag go for a little more than the mod. 56 & mod. 57 in 22 LR. I have noticed that the rifles with alloy receivers don't have nice bluing and the finish seems to wear off them quickly. While looking around for information on the rifle I came across this.
http://gunbroker.com/Auction/VeiwItem.asp?Item=89932801  I think this is a bit high but who knows ?
                                                                            Jedman