[Odessa]

Timberwolf, I have owned a Marlin 1895 LTD-IV for several years. The LTD series are special runs made up for Davidson's Distributors in Arizona and are a little nicer than the average Marlin. My gun looks just like a Marlin Cowboy version, except mine has a 24" barrel instead of the standard 26" barrel. I prefer the ballard style rifling that the LTD series uses, as I only load lead bullets and I didn't want Microgroove rifling. I don't consider mine a "collectors gun" in spite of the limited run and it is hunted with and has been modified. I added a Lyman 66LA receiver sight and a Williams .375 height, "wide" width, 1/16" gold bead front sight (Brownells #962-161-372) - fits barrel slot. I changed the front sight because the factory supplied sight was too high for the receiver sight and the bead was too large (covered my targets at 100 yards.) I am very pleased with the rifle now, the Marlin is light enough for comfortable carrying, but recoil is manageable for hunting. Odessa

 

[Odessa]

Timberwolf, I have not seen any for sale below about 98/99% condition - they just haven't been out that long to be hard used and for sale too frequently. Davidison's started this series about six years ago, with a different version coming out each year in a "1 of 1000" edition. I guess some are being kept as collector items and not being shot, but I am sure others are being used for hunting and shooting like mine. They are just so nice that I would be hard pressed to trade mine off. I saw an LTD-II at Davi's Guns in Raleigh NC about three months ago, it was a NIB consignment gun and I believe they where asking $600.00 for it. The LTD-II had a checkered semi-pistol grip stock, and a half round/half octagon barrel (about like the LTD-V that is out right now). I saw a new LTD-V at a gunshop in Spring Lake NC (Ft. Bragg area) about two months ago, it was new and I believe they where asking $595.00 for it. The price for the LTD series seems to be about the same as for the current M1895 Cowboy Model. Another shop in this area (Ed's Gunshop in Vass NC) usually keeps some LTD's in stock and is usually about the best price at the gunshows. Odessa