Ruger Marlin Straight Stock Conversion

[Imageview]

So I really wanted one of the new 1895 trappers, but I'm not a huge fan of the oversized lever and I really prefer straight stocks.



Turned out to be pretty easy. Added on a muzzle break from ranger point precision and an xs rail. Debating about optic still, the one I was intending to use was far too big and bulky after I tried mounting it. I like a nice high cheek weld, so the adjustable stock is huge for me.

Thought some of you out there might enjoy the look, please forgive the messy garage!

[Imageview]

Pic resize incoming shortly, sorry for the giant image.

[32spoke]

This looks fantastic!! Thank you for sharing

[DArBad]

Nicely done, I like it.

[200Apples]

Neat rifle! Tell us more about that buttstock.

[Imageview]

The stock is from a company called Form, from the UK of all places.

https://formriflestocks.co.uk/

Available in a black laminate to match the trapper, walnut to match the gbl, red, blue, and a black paint finish to match the old dark series and cst. Nothing to match the SBL style grey unfortunately, but they do have matching hand guards. Also have them available for henrys.

They have a push button cheek riser, simply push the button and you can raise/lower the cheek piece a couple inches and when you release it locks in. No simple way I?ve found to have pre-selectable lock points, but if I wanted to pull my optic (have it on qd rings right now, ended up installing a leupold 1-4x scout on Sunday) I can drop my cheek rest down and use irons comfortably.

I have a straight stock on this rifle from them, and a pistol grip on my 1894 cst, and the difference in fit from the factory stocks is pretty significant for me. Especially after I gained some weight after the last couple years (working from home so not moving as much and eating my wife?s cooking) so my cheek weld has changed a bit. Most available stocks with adjustable cheek rests have a ?tactical? look and I wanted something more traditional in appearance but with the same adjustability. The light mount on my 1894 is also fairly low profile and not super obtrusive.

Neither rifle required additional fitting to get the stock on, although the 1895 is a little tighter than the 1894 was. The stocks aren?t cheap, and the wait time for shipping was a couple months, but with the price of marlins these days I didn?t want to skimp on getting a rifle that fit me right.

I got the lever and trigger plate from numrich (prices on those are a bit nuts), since those need to be replaced going from pistol to straight. The lever worked like a charm, the plate was also very tight but with a little gentle persuasion dropped in nicely. I have a new loading gate from rpp that I didn?t install as the ruger loading gate is actually pretty good, and a ejector and trigger from wwg sitting around that I haven?t tried either yet. Will see if there is a need and if they fit later. Picked those up for my 1894 and neither worked in that project.

[golfish]

They/you did a great job matching, or did you replace the forend too...

Well done sir

[Imageview]

That?s a factory forend, the ruger forend has a few brownish spots that show through that don?t occur on the form stock but it?s a minor difference. Otherwise it?s very very close.

[rromeo]

So, that answers a question. An older lever will still work in a Ruger made 1895.

Nicely done 👍

[golfish]

That?s a factory forend, the ruger forend has a few brownish spots that show through that don?t occur on the form stock but it?s a minor difference. Otherwise it?s very very close.

Wow, Form did a good job matching the factory stock.

['ol shooter]

I want one! Nice Nice Nice.

[Imageview]

Levers are not 100% plug and play, even on similar generations of marlins. I got lucky here, and hand fitting a new lever is the very edge of my competence. I?d have probably sent it out. My 1894 was a very close fit with the rpp lever. But all the parts are identical, and should mix and match between Rugers and older marlins at least since the cross bolt safety. Speaking of which, I really do want to get rid of mine (I shoot southpaw, which makes it less safe in some ways) but it?s an easy job to screw up (don?t ask me how I know).

[rromeo]

I understand the hand fitting issues. I have a bunch of Marlins, and a lot of spare parts, including a pile of 1895 levers.

[Imageview]

Those are like gold these days heh.

[200Apples]

I noticed that cheek piece. Your 1895 turned out beautifully.

Those are like gold these days heh.

I'd like to find, if any were ever made, a Marlin standard-sized, curved-loop *stainless* (or whatever they were made of) 1894 lever to be rid of the larger-loop stainless loop on my curved-stock 1894SBL. I don't think very many such lever loops were made, if at all.

As for the firearms themselves, I like either configuration; the curved-loop/palm swell/pistol grip stocked guns are more comfortable to me, but the straight-stocked guns have a certain flair. I just don't like the large-loop levers and I rarely shoot in temperatures that require heavier, thicker gloves.

Some of my Marlin are configurated opposite to what one might think the norm, with my 1894FG being the exception; the straight-stocked variant of the .41 Magnum-chambered 1894 is even rarer than the more-common curved variant of the revolver-caliber carbine.

For example, my Model 1895 is a straight-stocked, stainless GS with solid walnut furniture. It's a beauty. My .41 and .44-chambered '94s are curved stock guns and my .30-30 336 is a Texan Carbine with straight stock it's faux-Winchester-shaped lever... the last two Marlin are in their typical config: a 1989-made 1894CS357 and a 1951-made 39A.