Model 19 Shotgun Safety

[R. Skinner]

At my last SASS meet I desided to bring my model 19 shotgun. Many of my fellow sass members haven't seen one before but one fellow told me that there is a safety concern with the breech block becoming disconnected and coming back into the users head while firing. He went on to say that Marlin had posted in the gun magazines of the 1940's not to use this weapon. Is any of this true? Is there a repair/modification that can be done to safely use this shotgun?
Also I would like a general idea of the shotgun's worth, it has been passed down three generations, I can't recall it ever being fired by my G'father or Father. I cleaned it not to long ago and it looks like it has had only about a hundred rounds put through it. the bluing is in great shape no rust and just some wear where the pump grip rubs against the magazine tube.

[Regnier (gunrunner)]

R. Skinner;

It is true that Marlin has issued a Service Bulletin advising owners of the old pump action shotgun that they can be unsafe to shoot.
There are however, many people like yourself that use them in the SASS shoots and have no problems. There are safety checks you can perform on your shotgun to see if it is still safe and instructions on the internet to correct the problems along with using very light loads.
Go to either site for instructions for safety checks and repair instructions:

http://www.marauder13.homstead.com/cowboy.html or

http://www.100megspop3.com/oldvalkyry/marlin.html

I hope this helps.

[SteveW]

Rick's top link didn't work for me, so here's another one for the same information. SW

http://www.marauder.homestead.com/files/marlin98s.htm