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10mm VS 1894 update!

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Greyhawk
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10mm VS 1894 update!

Post by Greyhawk » Sun May 31, 2020 9:22 pm

As I said in my 10MM post I am a 'purchase one firearm a year' kind of guy. For 2020 that purchase was going to be a 10mm... But... then I cast my gaze upon a JM Marlin 1894 cowboy limited, and I was torn.. :? I asked your guys advice and the vote was overwhelmingly for the 1894. The firearm was in the Cabela's gun library in Nebraska, so I took your much respected advice and had the rifle transferred to the Cabela's nearest to me. (which is an hour and a half away).. I was pretty excited and when the firearm arrived my youngest daughter and I went over to take a look.

The 1894 journey part 1: (Cabela's)
My daughter and I had a great day together. But, my experience with Cabela's (under it's new ownership of Bass Pro Shops) wasn't so great. First off I had a firearm that I had thought about trading in and I toted it along in its box and as soon as I walked into the store I kind of felt like they viewed me as a criminal for carrying in a firearm. I was escorted to a desk where they carefully examined my firearm to make sure it wasn't loaded, put a trigger lock on it and put it back in the box, at time I wasn't allowed to handle that firearm again. And it didn't seem that anyone was thrilled to see me bring in a gun.
When they brought out the 1894 I was watched like a hawk and they forced me to always keep the barrel in this 'bullet trap' contraption. When I said that I wanted to look down the barrel they reluctantly consented, but they weren't happy about it. They blamed the bullet trap on Bass Pro Shop Corporate attorneys. I found that the barrel had a significant scratch in the bluing that wasn't in the Nebraska description, and that the safety was blocked. The rifle had a wonderful hair trigger, so I assumed that it had been used in cowboy action shooting. Although it had been well taken care of, I think that it may had had many many rounds run through it. But, I was still interested. I thought that the safety might give me a little bargaining chip. I said that it would be hard for me to spend $1100 for a rifle with a safety that doesn't work. The guy behind the counter said immediately that yep, 'he wouldn't buy it either but cooperate sets the price and there is no negotiating and no one to talk to.' Huh, that made me a little madder than I already was. And then I said that I had spent $25 to have the rifle transferred up there. If the Nebraska store would have mentioned the scratch in the barrel and the broken safety I may not have had it shipped up. He briskly replied, "You'll have to take that up with corporate. I am not authorized to give you a refund. And that was that. I was dis-satisfied, and was escorted to the door where I was then handed my firearm that I had considered trading in. So much for all of the business that I have done with Cabela's over the years.
And yet, my daughter and I had a fun trip anyway, she had packed us a lunch and chattered all the way there and back home again.
Well, that is just part 1 of the story. I'll share part 2 tomorrow night (Join us tomorrow night when Greyhawk visits the local gun shop, and asks... "What's with all of the rust?")
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BigAl52
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Re: 10mm VS 1894 update!

Post by BigAl52 » Sun May 31, 2020 10:56 pm

Its good your trip was fun and you got to spend time valuable time with the daughter. Cabelas frankly stinks anymore and I wont do any business with them or Bass Pro Shops. There prices are high and they could care less about customer service.
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brm4450
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Re: 10mm VS 1894 update!

Post by brm4450 » Sun May 31, 2020 11:52 pm

BigAl52 wrote:
Sun May 31, 2020 10:56 pm
Its good your trip was fun and you got to spend time valuable time with the daughter. Cabelas frankly stinks anymore and I wont do any business with them or Bass Pro Shops. There prices are high and they could care less about customer service.
Ditto
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North Country Gal
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Re: 10mm VS 1894 update!

Post by North Country Gal » Mon Jun 01, 2020 11:39 am

We bought a couple guns from Cabela's about ten years ago, before it was bought out by BassPro. Hate to say it, but some of what you encountered was store policy even back then. Can't blame it all n BassPro. Even back then, seems they went out of their way to make buying a gun a humiliating and miserable experience. Two guns was enough. Refused to buy guns from them, again. We only buy local, now, from people who know us and treat us like royalty for giving them our business.

The biggest change I've seen with BassPro, is a greatly reduced selection of products. Not enough to bother shopping there, anymore.
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Greyhawk
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Re: 10mm VS 1894 update!

Post by Greyhawk » Mon Jun 01, 2020 2:35 pm

Well... Part 2.
So there is a local gun shop that I love. The only thing is, they don't trade or carry any used firearms. Only new... But they have an awesome selection and very good prices. At the time I was looking for a Henry CCH 45-70 no one had them anywhere. I went to this local shop and they said.. oh yah, we got 5... They brought them all out, let me choose the one I wanted and it was a better price than I saw on anywhere on the internet.. As I stood there thinking about the rifle the guy said "Ill tell you what. You take that rifle right now and I'll knock another $50 off.'" Now that was a purchase I felt good about!
I have been hearing that the newest Marlins are of a better quality than a couple of years ago.. So I thought, heck I'll just get a new one, and I stopped by at the local place. I asked if they had any Marlin 1894 Cowboy Limited 45 colts... He checked and they had 3 in the back. and they were on sale! So they brought out 3 marlin boxes that had not been opened. Box #1... Opened it up and there were pits of rust coming through the bluing on the barrel... YUK
Box #2... Opened it up and the wood quality and fit was awful.
I told him I had seen enough and that he didn't need to open the third one, but he said that now he was curios and he went ahead and opened up box #3.. The receiver was covered in rust. As he shook his head I asked him if they were storing these rifles in a wet basement. He said No, that these rifles were stored along with all of the rest of the firearms... I guess that is why he sells the heck out of Henrys... Henry still has nothing to worry about from Marlin as far as I'm concerned. But,, back on the search again for a Marlin 1894 JM model. I bid on one on an online auction yesterday.. The cap for me was $1065. it went for $1314. It was a beautiful rifle and had never been fired and I think that it was worth what the guy paid for it. Just a little steep for me.
THE GOOD NEWS: the first gun show in my area since the virus is in a couple of weeks... Maybe I'll find one there!
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BigAl52
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Re: 10mm VS 1894 update!

Post by BigAl52 » Mon Jun 01, 2020 2:49 pm

Good Luck on your search Greyhawk. The Marlin prices have gotten crazy for sure.
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Don't worry about getting older and still doing stupid stuff. You'll do the stupid stuff as always, only much slower. Hold my beer and watch this.......


H001T .22LR
H001T .22LR MONUMENT VALLEY
H003T PUMP .22LR
BBS .41 MAG
SS .357
SIDE GATE 38-55

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Greyhawk
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Re: 10mm VS 1894 update!

Post by Greyhawk » Thu Jun 25, 2020 6:43 pm

Well, the search is over! I finally found a JM Marlin 1894 Cowboy Limited 45 colt that was in really nice shape and under $1000. (some I have looked at/bid on have gone for $1600) It was manufactured in 1996 and it doesn't look like it has been used very much at all. Can't wait to get shooting! :D
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Pudsky
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Re: 10mm VS 1894 update!

Post by Pudsky » Thu Jun 25, 2020 6:48 pm

Dang, that is a sweet rifle. Well done being selective!
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leverjc
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Re: 10mm VS 1894 update!

Post by leverjc » Thu Jun 25, 2020 7:17 pm

Nice looking rifle. I really like how the shoot off hand with the longer barrels.
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North Country Gal
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Re: 10mm VS 1894 update!

Post by North Country Gal » Thu Jun 25, 2020 7:33 pm

Congrats. I had a 1998 version with the same barrel length, also 45 Colt. It's right at the top of the list of guns I never should have sold, but a local cowboy action shooter offered me a price I couldn't refuse. It was one of the most accurate lever guns I ever owned.
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