We got in a brand new 336W from Marlin. The barrel is stamped Illion, NY, so there is no question this isn’t an older gun.
I was very impressed with the fit and finish of the gun. Its using a nicer laminated stock instead of birch, or whatever wood they used before. It looks nice. The stocks actually fit the gun, which is a first for many years now. It feels like a solid and well built gun, which was my hope when Remington bought Marlin.
The W gun though, is Remington/Marlin’s bargain gun. Its the lever action equivalent to the 870 Express. As solid as the others, but without the refinement. The finish, like the 870 Express, is a bead-blasted blued. Which means its not a finish but a fast and dirty process that is just “good enough” to get by. It looks matte, and can hold oil, if you bother to take care of it. If you don’t, it can rust if you look at it sideways.
Because of this, the finish isn’t well suited for harsh conditions. The surface however is very well suited for something else… Cerakote.
So here is the program:
Get a new Illion stamped 336W. They retail for only 399 bucks. Bargain rifle of the Century. Send it to Crusader Weaponry.
The stocks will be removed. The action disassembled. Sights removed.
The barreled action will be Cerakoted to any color you like, but Crusader’s Grey is a solid option for this. Magpul Flat Dark Earth is another good choice.
New sights will be installed. The XS Lever Rail. They are 150 bucks.
The Bolt will be Slipstreamed.
Option 1. The Lever will be debured/polished, and Slipstreamed on the inside portion, and Cerakoted on the outside portion.
Option 2. Wild West Guns big loop lever, polished, Slipstreamed, and Cerakoted. 150 bucks.
Bear-Proof Ejector is an option, as is the Trigger Happy Trigger… priced accordingly, of course.
The Sling Swivel studs on the W have a loop on them, but feel, because they are, cheap and unsatisfactory. We would recommend replacing them with standard studs for standard quick disconnect sling attachments. A third sling swivel stud can be added forward on the stock on and the side for another loop for a Single Point Sling.
The stock could also be Cerakoted same or contrasting color to help weatherproof the stock.
Reassembled and function tested.
Total Cost of this Harsh Conditions conversion would of course depend on options and time, but I’d imagine you would have a seriously kick ass Lever Action for a very reasonable price.