1881 Marlin Problem

[Curly Straight]

Howdy Y’all!

I’ve an 1881 Marlin in 45-70 that will not feed correctly. It’s a single shot. The cartridge binds on the lifter; the lifter refusing to accept the next round from the magazine.

I’ve replaced the magazine spring and polished the lifter. This has improved its feeding, but I have to rack the lever like I’m a lone cowboy in a buffalo wallow being overrun by hostiles to get it to cycle, and even then, it’s spotty.

I think it’s a timing issue. Everything is clean and correctly lubricated. Without cartridges, everything functions as normal. But unless I smash the lever forward, she doesn’t consistently extract, eject, and pick up the next cartridge. I realize she’s old; her serial indicates she was brand new in 1888. But I’d like her to work correctly. Any suggestions?

Many Thanks!

Curly