I was pokin around my local gunshop, today, and ran across a 336 for a decent price. The blueing and bore look good, but the stock is kinda dinged up. It is a pre safety gun, and the first 4 digits were 2209xxxxx. What year was this gun made?

Next question, how hard would it be to refinish the stock and forearm? The outer finish on it is peeling off in places. How hard is it to strip that off? Are those stocks walnut, or birch? If I keep and refinish the stock, I want to do away with the white line spacers, and replace the butt cap with a recoil pad. What do you suggest. I'd like to refinish the stock in a darker red hued walnut stain, then put some type of satin/oil finish over it, that is waterproof. What do you suggest. They got the gun marked at $197, but I think I can buy it for $170. Any of you guys help would be greatly appreciated.

Mad Dog

The gun was manufactured in 1978 (100-22).

I've stripped finishes before using commercial paint/varnish stripper from the local ACE Hardware.

Don't know if it's walnut or not but mine is DEFINITELY not birch. Birch is one of the few woods I can identify readily.

Recoil pads are kind of personal preferance but the Kick-Eze are kind of nice if you're recoil sensitive at all.

For finish, I like Tru-Oil but others like other things.

YMMV,

Ka6otm

I would buy it for that price..

Mad dog,
I wooded both my 336s w/ 120 sand paper the scraped them w a very sharp pocket knife. This requires some patience and skill so as not to gouge the wood. The blade is held at approx. 90 degrees to the stock and gently pulled WITH the grain. This leaves the grain "open" and really shows off the growth rings. This step takes a while to competetly cover the surface or it will show streaks of dull sandpaper filled grain.
I then gave the wood about 6-8 coats of boiled linseed oil, hand rubbed so my palm heat aids in penetration, wipping off excess between coats. I could have stopped there but the grain still needed filling(and I was ready to kill hogs) so I followed up w/ two coats of rubbed effect marine varnish. I do alot of finnish work on yachts and the lines in this walnut are a nice change from teak and mahogany.
The steel in places was a little brushed so I used a wal mart bluing agent to blend it together and protect the finnish.
I'm looking for more 336's in .35 for my friends who love mine.
I think this marlinits thing could end up being more expensive than my boats :D Have Fun!!
cw

MD
heres a link all marlin owners/dreamers should have.
cw
http://armscollectors.com/sn/marlinlookup.php