"Can anyone tell me why some have checked stocks and some not?"I think only someone from Marlin could answer that... I've seen them both ways as well. Some guys like checkering on a Marlin and some HATE it! Me? I do prefer the checkering, and had even commissioned by twin brother to checker my Marlin 39 Mountie a few years back (he did a nice job too -- guess his metal machining training helped). Then just a few months back, he found me a used checkered Marlin 38-55 Cowboy, which I snapped up in a hurry.
"Do any of the models come with nicer grained wood than others?"I think the answer is "yes", but unless you can compare more than 2 of the same models in the same shop at the same time, it's probably a luck of the draw when it comes to the wood you get. You see some good Marlin's, a few great ones, and then a few that make you go "ugh..." -- the problem is, they aren't all in one place except at the shipping dock at Marlin! (I once had the chance to choose from among 5 Winch Model 70 Featherweight's in caliber 6.5x55mm Swedish, but that's the first and only time that I ever got to "shop" for the wood... It was a rare treat and I got a good'un!)
"I prefer the checkered to match my 45LC and the 1894 44-40 Century. I am just not sure how rare they are."You will occasionally see a checkered Cowboy on
www.GunBroker.com or
www.GunsAmerica.com, I think those sites would be your best bet, and it's where I would look if I was still in the market for one.
Good luck Cowboy!
Old No7
