Marlin underlever, how can you tell age

[Major Mallock]

I am looking to buy a second hand Marlin .357 I am told that those built 10 years ago are the best quality, being actually built by Marlin before they were bought out by Remmington.

Is this so?
Is there anyway of telling the age of a Marlin... distinguishing marks or shape of components?

[mr smith]

I believe it's to do with the first two numbers of the serial number.

http://oldguns.net/sn_php/marlinlookup.php

[AD_K]

Remington only bought them out in the last couple of years.

[Mike357]

Take the first two digits of the serial number and subtract from 2000 and that will give you the year of manufacturer. If it was produced this century then the first two digits will be a high number ie.e 90 and you subtract that from 2100, so 2100 - 90 = produced in 2010

Useful resource - http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php

[manxteddy]

My serial number starts with 04 so it's 1996 manufacture. Microbore 357.
However the Birmingham proof marks are 4 and 20 so is that when it was a new rifle imported in 2004 ?
Rifle still looks as new .Fitted a Willams peep .Do the sight graduations stand for minute of angle or simply reference ?

Graham

[Major Mallock]

Thanks guys spot on info

Regards Phil