Sometime in 2011 the serial number prefix became MR. (Notice there are no “I”, “O”, or “Q” serial number prefixes in use. If your rifle has the single letter “V” serial number prefix, that indicates a 1962 year of manufacture. Only those manufactured from 1941 through 2011 which have serial numbers on them and with the caveat mentioned elsewhere in this blog. Please note this list is NOT INCLUSIVE of all Marlin firearms. The serial number, depending on the model of rifle, will either be located on the upper or lower stock tang, bottom of the receiver, or side of the receiver.īelow are the manufacturing date codes, which are the first one or two characters of the serial number. In addition to the first two characters of the serial number, it’s also imperative in many cases to know the model number. In order to find the year of manufacture one needs to know the **first two character’s** of the serial number as a minimum, either letters, numbers, or a letter number combination.

Some people are under the belief that all one has to do is “subtract the first two digits of the serial number from 2000 and that is the year of manufacture”. There is some confusion about how Marlin Firearms used their serial numbers to ID the year of manufacture.

Marlin rifle with serial number on top stock tang, behind hammer.

Marlin 1894 year of manufacture