TINCANBANDIT's Gunsmithing: Week 27 2023

This Week in Firearms History:

July 2: In 1839 the slave revolt aboard La Amistad; in 1881 U.S. President Garfield is shot, he dies 79 days later; 1961 Ernst Hemmingway takes his own life with his WC Scott & Sons Shotgun.

July 3: In 1863 the Battle of Gettysburg ends; in 1890 Idaho is admitted to the Union as the 43rd state; in 1898 The US Navy Defeats the Spanish Navy at Santiago Harbor Cuba.

July 4: In 1776, The United States is born; in 1826 Thomas Jefferson and John Adams die within hours of each other.

July 5: In 1865 The U.S. Secret Service is created; in 1942 Ian Fleming graduates from the training school for spies in Canada; in 1945 General MacArthur liberates the Philippines; in 1946 the Bikini debuts at Paris fashion show.

July 6: In 1854 the 1st Republican Convention is held; in 1998 Roy Rogers dies; in 2002 Bill Ruger dies.

July 7: In 1865 the conspirators in the Lincoln Assassination are publicly hanged; in 1898 Hawaii is annexed into the U.S.; in 1907 Robert Heinlein is born.

July 8: In 1898 gangster Soapy Smith is assassinated in Skagway, Alaska; in 1999 the last use of electrocution in Florida.

Gun of the Week: Marlin 1895 GS

The story of the Marlin 1895 has three beginnings, the first one with the cartridge that makes this gun unique, the second one with the model that it was derived from and the third from the model number it uses.

The new model 1895 was introduced in 1972 and has only two things in common with the original model of 1895: the model # and the caliber.

Let's back up a bit. In 1893 Marlin introduced a new design in lever action rifles, that rifle was upscaled into the model of 1895 (in order to fire the 45-70 Government), of which only 18,000 were made over 22 years, production ending in 1917. The model of 1893 continued to be produced and improved and eventually became the model 336, introduced in 1948.

For some reason, many believe it was the rise of silhouette shooting or possible Alaskan hunting, Marlin introduced the model 444 in 1965. The 444 cartridge was a lengthened 44 Magnum. The cartridge never caught on, around the same time the 45-70 Government, a cartridge that was all but obsolete, began to be popular with handloaders.

Marlin upscaled the model 336 (just as they had done with the 1893) and created the new 1895 model, debuting in 1972. A Guide Gun version was created with a straight grip, shorter barrel and stainless steel, designed for hunting in Alaska, Canada and the Pacific Northwest, where the weather is wet, the brush is dense, and the game is big. The 1895 was a success and was largely responsible for the resurgence of the 45-70.

Remington (the owners of Marlin since 2007), went bankrupt in 2020 and was subsequently purchased by Sturm, Ruger & Company, the 1895 was the first Marlin to go back into production, a testament to its popularity.

Cartridge of the Week: 303 British

The 303 British is a bottle neck, tapered body, rimmed rifle cartridge introduced in 1888.

The 303 British, as the name implies was the standard military service cartridge for the British Empire and Commonwealth countries for nearly 100 years, it was replaced in 1980 when NATO adopted the 5.56mm. Although the 303 is still used by the British Military for a variety of uses.

The bullet, which measures .312" or 7.92mm, can be had in weights from 150 grain to 215 grain.

Due to the large amount of surplus British and Commonwealth Enfield rifle in private hands, the cartridge is still readily available.

Gun Quote of the Week:

Bubba Gun of the Week:

This bolt action shotgun built by Earl Eugene Dorsey, was too late for our last round of Golden Poop Awards for Gunsmithing, he hopes to be entered in the next competition.