1895 45-70 Win C. Wilcox Custom 27" Octagonal Barrel, Circa 1977, Very Good Condition

Technical Specifications

• Manufacturer (Action): Marlin Firearms Co. (New Haven, Connecticut, USA)
• Custom Build Gunsmith: Chris Wilcox (Wilcox Gun Works – Cherryville / Lumby, British Columbia, Canada)
• Base Action Model: Marlin Model 1895 ("New Model" introduced in 1972)
• Receiver Serial Number: 23085008
• Year of Action Manufacture: 1977 (Determined by the '23' prefix)
• Action Type: Lever-action, solid-top receiver with side ejection
• Caliber: .45-70 Government (.45-7070 / .45-70-405)
• Barrel Style: Custom heavy octagonal contour
• Barrel Length: 27 inches (Bespoke custom length, pre-dating later factory Cowboy models)
• Barrel Inscription: "C. Wilcox Cherryville, BC"
• Rifling Profile: Ballard-style cut rifling (Deep-groove traditional pattern, highly optimized for cast lead and jacketed bullets)
• Magazine System: Custom full-length tubular magazine, fitted flush to the 27" muzzle
• Capacity: 8+1 rounds (Estimated based on 27" extended tube length; significantly higher than the standard 4-round factory capacity)
• Receiver Proof Mark: "JM" stamp (Original John Marlin factory validation on the receiver chassis)
• Butt Plate: Vintage-style "Marlin Safety" branded hard rubber/plastic butt plate (Standard factory stock usage for 1977)
• Optics Mounting: Solid-top receiver drilled and tapped from the factory for standard scope bases or receiver peep sights
• Performance Class: Safe for modern Lever Action / Tier 2 load data (SAAMI pressures up to 28,000 CUP / 40,000 PSI; e.g., Hornady LEVERevolution or specialized heavy hunting loads)

Historical Description & Provenance

This rifle represents a unique marriage of classic American big-bore firepower and elite mid-to-late 20th-century Canadian gunsmithing heritage.
The core of the firearm is built on a 1977 Marlin Model 1895 receiver, manufactured during what collectors widely consider the modern golden era of Marlin production at the original New Haven, Connecticut facility. Recognizable by the iconic "JM" proof stamp, actions from this specific decade are highly prized for their structural strength, tight machining tolerances, and smooth cycling qualities. Because Marlin had just revived the legendary Model 1895 designation in 1972 to answer a growing demand for the historic .45-70 Government cartridge, this 1977 action represents the peak of Marlin’s early modern big-bore production.
Rather than remaining a standard factory utility rifle, this firearm was transformed into a premium, frontier-style long rifle by Master Gunsmith Chris Wilcox. Operating out of Wilcox Gun Works in Cherryville, British Columbia, Wilcox earned a legendary reputation across western Canada for his flawless metalwork, custom barrel fitting, and high-end stock configuration.
During the 1977 era, Marlin only offered the Model 1895 with a standard, round 22-inch barrel. Wilcox radically altered the rifle's profile, balance, and capabilities by precisely fitting a custom 27-inch heavy octagonal barrel. To complement the extended barrel, Wilcox custom-fabricated and extended the magazine tube to run perfectly flush with the muzzle. This modification solved the low capacity constraints of standard big-bore lever actions while creating a striking, balanced aesthetic reminiscent of late-1800s buffalo rifles.
Unlike the factory Marlin barrels of the late 1970s which utilized shallow Micro-Groove rifling, custom builds stamped by Wilcox traditionally featured deep, cut Ballard-style rifling. This historical choice allows the rifle to accurately stabilize massive, heavy hard-cast lead projectiles (such as traditional 405-grain or 500-grain chunks) without gas blow-by or bore fouling, making it an exceptionally accurate, heavy-hitting field piece.
Marked with the distinctive "C. Wilcox Cherryville, BC" signature on the barrel, this firearm stands as a functional piece of Canadian firearms history—combining robust Connecticut steel with the fine regional craftsmanship of a celebrated British Columbia artisan.