Firearm serial numbers were date coded by a prefix within the s/n, as signified below. For example a Marlin model 39A with a serial number of N12478 would have been made in 1955 while a 1894 in 44 magnum with a serial number of 25105098, would have equated to 1975.
I hope this helps all Marlin owners:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marlin Year of Manufacture
Marlin year of manufacture maybe determined from the following list of letter/numeral prefixs to the serial number; this coding only applies to serialized rifles:
1946-C
1947-D
1948-E
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1949-F1950-G
1951-H
1952-J
1953-K
1954-L
1955-M
1956-N
1957-P
1958-R
1959-S
1960 (August)-1961-U
1961 (August)-1962-V
Marlin 1893 Rifle Serial Numbers
1963-W1964-Y,-Z
1965-AA
1966-AB
1967-AC
1968-AD, -68
1969-69
1970-70
1971-71
1972-72
Starting in 1973, the year of manufacture maybe determined by subtracting the first two digits of the serial number from 100:
Example: SN 2512345 would have been made in 1975 [100 - 25 = 75] and SN 94365295 would have been made in 2006 [ 100 - 94 = 06 (2006) ].
For Marlin Rimfire Rifles [non-serialized]:
From 1962 thru 1968 Marlins rimfire rifles (other than the 39 series lever actions) used a two letter date code that was stamped on the barrel. This date code is different than the one already listed, as Marlin rimfire rifles (other than the model 39 series) did not have a serial numbers until required to by Law after 1968. The first letter of the date code represented the month of manufacture while the second letter indicated the year. This date code was usually stamped on the left side of the barrel just in front of the receiver. The first letter of the date code is as follows:
Marlin Firearms Serial Number Search
A = Jan.B = Feb.
C = Mar.
D = Apr.
E = May
F = June
G = July
H = Aug.
I = Sep.
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J = Oct.
K = Nov.
L = Dec.
The second letter of the date code is as follows:
F = 1962
G = 1963
Marlin Firearms Serial Numbers Search
H = 1964
I = 1965
J = 1966
K = 1967
L = 1968