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I am looking at a Marlin Model 90ST 16 ga. 28 " barrels, SN 6093. The top lever spring seems to be missing or broken because the top lever does not "spring back" to the closed position after opening. Any idea if springs are available or if one can be fabicated?

This gun has a web between the barrels and a "snap-on" forearm. According to Brophy, Model 90 ST's were not introduced intil 1954, but Marlin started using a lever to remove the forearm in 1951. Also, barrels were open after 1949 0r '50. Very confusing. Any idea when it was actually made?

Member Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 665 Location: Louisiana

Serial numbered Marlins without a letter prefix are common and present manufacturing date identification problems as you describe. Weagle may be able to help.

The Top Lever spring should be available from Numrich, if not fabrication is not difficult.

Fore end styles were mixed throughout the Model 90 production years according to Marlin employees.

FYI: the Single trigger offered by Marlin was a piece of junk(in my opinion and the opinion of others). Some model 90's were available with Miller triggers--a different proposition altogether.

Welcome to the Model 90 'family'. Smile

Ron

Ron and Weagle,

Were Miller triggers factory-installed or aftermarket? Any easy way to identify Miller triggers?

By the way this gun has engraving on the receiver and trigger guard and it looks like there is an "S" stamped under the serial number.

This 16 ga. gun has beautiful engraving on the receiver, forearm hardware andthe bottom of the trigger guard. The letters AA are engraved on the bottom of the trigger guard. The screw driver slot on the trigger guard is slightly deformed indicating that it has been removed. Any chance that the original owner had it engraved after he bought it? I also assume it would have ahd to removed to install a Miller trigger. I would still like to know if there is a way to identify Miller triggers.

Tthe letter S is stanmped on top of the serial number like so:

S
6093

It also has what appears to be a factory-installed recoil pad. Does anyone know if this is a special order gun?

I will give you $500 for the gun .

Regards Charles

Charles,

Actually, I am thinking about buying it. I'm just trying to learn more about it to determine if I really want it and how much I am willing to offer.

I know that , I am trying to convince you before someone else buys the thing.

What you have there is a SKEET KING.
With a single trigger ,

BUY IT NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Regards Charles

Charles,

So, Do you think $500 is a reasonable offer??

Charles,

According to Brophy, Skeetkings were sold in 1939-40 with 26" barrels. This one has 28" barrels. Do you still think it might be a SKeetking?

Charles,

I re-read the section of Brophy's article about the Skeetking. He quotes Marlin's sales info which ended with: "Made to order for delivery within four to six weeks." Brophy also wrote: "Skeetking's made for inventory had the following specifications: 26 in barrels, etc. etc." A specific gauge is not mentioned. Perhaps someone did order a Skeetking in 16 ga. with 28 in. barrels.

If it is a Skeetking, is $500 a fair offer? I've seen regular 16 ga Model 90's listed for more than that.

More than a fair price , I would buy the gun site unseen at that price.

The book does not tell all . You could have this gun anyway you wanted .

Regards Charles

I've owned skeet kings and they had engraving on the sides of the receiver very similiar to a Grade 1 Superposed. Very modest scroll work. They were not engraved on the trigger guard or forearm metal. I shot a 12ga ST gun for years and the trigger was perfect. A nice crisp non-selective single trigger. This gun could very well be after market engraved.

nid-28,

So, it is likely not a Skeetking based on your description. Encouraging to know that you had a good experience shooting your ST. Thanks for the information.

Based on the fact that the gun has a web and "snap-on" fore arm, Marlin must have made other Model 90ST's prior to 1949. It certainly appears to be a somewhat unique gun. Still trying to figure out what would be a fair price before making an offer.

As Charlie H. said--there are variations out there that defy common knowledge about these m90's. It's the same for many guns of that era. You come across an example that has variations that can't be explained 50-60 years later. If the 16 you are looking at is clean and you like it, it's easily worth $6-700 with a single trigger. Buying the gun privately, a fair price would be $500 as has been suggested. A dealer, with their overhead, will want more. I'd love to see pictures, if you get the gun. Good luck!!

nid-28 and Charles H.

This gun does have a broken or missing top lever spring. Othere in this stream have said that the spring should be available on-line. Any idea how much a gunsmith would charge to repair it? I would think that the repair cost should be subtracted from the selling price.

How were the serial numbers configured on your Skeetkings? This gun has the "S" centered directly above the 60XX. My four Model 90's all have the letter directly in front of the numbers, for example, D184. I wonder if this might be a skeetking that the original or later owner had embellished.

The current owner emailed close-up photos of the scroll-work and serial number. I'd be happy to show them to you, but I don't know how to post them on this site.