I am a new member and am trying to find some information about a gun that was given to me by my grandfather who received it from his father.
It is stamped "Marlin No. 20-S". I have looked carefully and cannot find a serial number. It is pump action and I believe a rim fire.
It has an octagonal barrel with: Marlin Firearms Co., New Haven, CT. USA Pat'd Aug. 12 '1890, Mar. 1 '92, June 8 '97, Nov. 29 1904.
I have to admit, I don't really know much more about it. Any information would be helpful as well as any info on ammo.
Thank you.
Marlin No. 20-S
Moderators: Regnier (gunrunner), JohnK, Sure-Shot
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marlinman93
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Re: Marlin No. 20-S
You'll need to pull the buttstock off, as the serial number is located on the left side of the upper tang, behind the hammer. With a serial number we still can't tell you when it was built, as no records are available for the 20S or others during that time.
All 20s Marlin pumps were made in the time frame just prior to WWI, and again around 1922-23 era.
You should not use hi speed ammo in the 20s, but standard or target velocity ammo if fine.
All 20s Marlin pumps were made in the time frame just prior to WWI, and again around 1922-23 era.
You should not use hi speed ammo in the 20s, but standard or target velocity ammo if fine.
Marlin lever actions 1870's-WWI, Ballards, and single shot rifles!
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Sure-Shot
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- Location: Poulsbo, Washington, USA
Re: Marlin No. 20-S
It is a takedown pump action 22. Great rifles, not a lot of them around. You can use short, long or longrifle 22 shells and as MM93 said use the standard velocity not the highspeed stuff.
GBOT, GBUSA
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Sure-Shot
- Distinguished Expert
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- Joined: Sun Nov 17, 2002 5:01 pm
- Location: Poulsbo, Washington, USA
Re: Marlin No. 20-S
Here is some information on the model 20
Model 20
From 1911 Marlin Catalog
A Take-Down .22 caliber repeater with the popular trombone action, using the same rifle without any alteration or adjustment the short, long, and long-rifle cartridges, black and smokeless, as used in the Models 1892 and 1897.
The barrel is 24 inches long, octagon, made from the best quality special gun-barrel steel, thoroughly welded and planished in the bar, free from seams and hard spots, carefully straightened, and is bored, rifled, chambered and finished on the Ballard system and guaranteed to shoot at least equal to anything of the same caliber length and weight up to 200 yards.
The arm is fitted regularly with ivory bead front sight and a new and improved adjustable rear sight, with a flat top the does not obstruct the view for quick shooting and with a vertical white line to assist the eye in getting the range quickly.
The frame is drilled and tapped on top, and the tang is also drilled and tapped so that the Marlin Receiver sight or a tang peep sight may be used if desired.
The rifle has a tubular magazine, as used in our Models 1892 and 1897 and handles at one loading 15 short, 12 long, or 11 long rifle cartridges. The cartridges may be loaded into the magazine all of one kind or mixed indiscriminately, and the gun will handle them perfectly.
In design, the action is extremely simple. The working parts engage directly with one another without links or other complications; there is no loss of power; the gun is extremely quick and easy of operation and without a single weak feature.
The frame is made of the best quality special gun-frame steel thoroughly welded free from seams or hard spots, and has blued finish.
The small working parts of the action are made from best quality crucible steel, contact points hardened to prevent wear.
Flat springs in action made of best quality Jessop’s spring steel imported from England.
Magazine spring, best quality music spring wire.
Buttstock and forearm black walnut, air seasoned for not less than two years, in our shed, and afterward slowly kiln-dried before working, so that the wood will not warp or shrink after the gun is made up. The wood is especially well finished, as is every part of the rifle. There is not a piece of cheap material in it, and the workmanship is in every way of the highest quality.
The Take-Down principle, is similar to Marlin Model 1897, provides for wear, both laterally and vertically, so that the take-down joint can never become loose or shaky, no matter how long it may be used or how much it may be worn.
Every action part is accessible for inspection and cleaning without tools, and the barrel may be cleaned by inserting the wiping rod at the breech and drawing it entirely through the barrel, using a wiping rag twice as large as in barrel where it is necessary to clean from the muzzle, doubling up the rag in the chamber. This is important to all shooters of .22-caliber ammunition, and especially to the gallery men who appreciate the saving in time and labor, the better results secured and the longer life of the barrel.
A. To take down the rifle with the action closed, cock the hammer and unscrew the thumbscrew, move the buttstock portion to the right and the barrel portion to the left. The parts are all locked in place when the gun is taken down so that they cannot drop our accidentally, but all of the parts meay be removed in an instant, without tools.
B. To remove the action parts. With the gun taken down press forward the firing pin to release the locking bolt; raise the rear end of the locking bolt and draw back the forearm as far as it will go; draw forward the magazine tube as in loading- this allows a side play to the forearm; disconnect te forearm and handle slide from the locking bolt and draw them forward. The breech bolt and parts contained in same can then be taken out sideways and the carrier lifted out, giving access to everything. If desired, the locking bolt and firing pin may be removed from the breech bolt.
C. To re-assemble the action replace the carrier on its stud; replace the firing pin and locking bolt in the breech bolt; lay the breech bolt and contained parts in the frame at its rearmost position and then slide the breech bolt forward about half way, being sure that the firing pin on top of the rear end of the breech bolt engages in the groove on the underside of the top of the frame. With the breech bolt half open connect the handle slide with its stud on the locking bolt. Close the magazine. Then close and lock the action, pushing forward the forearm with the left hand, pressing breech bolt and handle slide against the frame with the thumb of right hand to guide breech bolt and insure that the slide will ride on the cartridge cutoff.
D. To put together the two portions of the frame, have the action closed and the hammer cocked; bring them together so that the tapered dowel pin in the front end of the right side enters its tapered recess and beveled tenons at the rear engage properly; then screw down the thumbscrew until tight.
Note: This rifle could be ordered with a full magazine which would allow it to be loaded with 25 .22 shorts, 20 .22 longs, or 18 .22 long rifle. This was a popular option for gallery shooters.
Model 20
From 1911 Marlin Catalog
A Take-Down .22 caliber repeater with the popular trombone action, using the same rifle without any alteration or adjustment the short, long, and long-rifle cartridges, black and smokeless, as used in the Models 1892 and 1897.
The barrel is 24 inches long, octagon, made from the best quality special gun-barrel steel, thoroughly welded and planished in the bar, free from seams and hard spots, carefully straightened, and is bored, rifled, chambered and finished on the Ballard system and guaranteed to shoot at least equal to anything of the same caliber length and weight up to 200 yards.
The arm is fitted regularly with ivory bead front sight and a new and improved adjustable rear sight, with a flat top the does not obstruct the view for quick shooting and with a vertical white line to assist the eye in getting the range quickly.
The frame is drilled and tapped on top, and the tang is also drilled and tapped so that the Marlin Receiver sight or a tang peep sight may be used if desired.
The rifle has a tubular magazine, as used in our Models 1892 and 1897 and handles at one loading 15 short, 12 long, or 11 long rifle cartridges. The cartridges may be loaded into the magazine all of one kind or mixed indiscriminately, and the gun will handle them perfectly.
In design, the action is extremely simple. The working parts engage directly with one another without links or other complications; there is no loss of power; the gun is extremely quick and easy of operation and without a single weak feature.
The frame is made of the best quality special gun-frame steel thoroughly welded free from seams or hard spots, and has blued finish.
The small working parts of the action are made from best quality crucible steel, contact points hardened to prevent wear.
Flat springs in action made of best quality Jessop’s spring steel imported from England.
Magazine spring, best quality music spring wire.
Buttstock and forearm black walnut, air seasoned for not less than two years, in our shed, and afterward slowly kiln-dried before working, so that the wood will not warp or shrink after the gun is made up. The wood is especially well finished, as is every part of the rifle. There is not a piece of cheap material in it, and the workmanship is in every way of the highest quality.
The Take-Down principle, is similar to Marlin Model 1897, provides for wear, both laterally and vertically, so that the take-down joint can never become loose or shaky, no matter how long it may be used or how much it may be worn.
Every action part is accessible for inspection and cleaning without tools, and the barrel may be cleaned by inserting the wiping rod at the breech and drawing it entirely through the barrel, using a wiping rag twice as large as in barrel where it is necessary to clean from the muzzle, doubling up the rag in the chamber. This is important to all shooters of .22-caliber ammunition, and especially to the gallery men who appreciate the saving in time and labor, the better results secured and the longer life of the barrel.
A. To take down the rifle with the action closed, cock the hammer and unscrew the thumbscrew, move the buttstock portion to the right and the barrel portion to the left. The parts are all locked in place when the gun is taken down so that they cannot drop our accidentally, but all of the parts meay be removed in an instant, without tools.
B. To remove the action parts. With the gun taken down press forward the firing pin to release the locking bolt; raise the rear end of the locking bolt and draw back the forearm as far as it will go; draw forward the magazine tube as in loading- this allows a side play to the forearm; disconnect te forearm and handle slide from the locking bolt and draw them forward. The breech bolt and parts contained in same can then be taken out sideways and the carrier lifted out, giving access to everything. If desired, the locking bolt and firing pin may be removed from the breech bolt.
C. To re-assemble the action replace the carrier on its stud; replace the firing pin and locking bolt in the breech bolt; lay the breech bolt and contained parts in the frame at its rearmost position and then slide the breech bolt forward about half way, being sure that the firing pin on top of the rear end of the breech bolt engages in the groove on the underside of the top of the frame. With the breech bolt half open connect the handle slide with its stud on the locking bolt. Close the magazine. Then close and lock the action, pushing forward the forearm with the left hand, pressing breech bolt and handle slide against the frame with the thumb of right hand to guide breech bolt and insure that the slide will ride on the cartridge cutoff.
D. To put together the two portions of the frame, have the action closed and the hammer cocked; bring them together so that the tapered dowel pin in the front end of the right side enters its tapered recess and beveled tenons at the rear engage properly; then screw down the thumbscrew until tight.
Note: This rifle could be ordered with a full magazine which would allow it to be loaded with 25 .22 shorts, 20 .22 longs, or 18 .22 long rifle. This was a popular option for gallery shooters.
GBOT, GBUSA