and during its lifetime only about
8,000 Model 62s were made – 5,960
under the Marlin name and an-
other 1,758 for Western Auto. Pro-
duction ended in 1966.
Marlin was still convinced it
had a good rifle in the Model 62
and that same year announced a
new chambering, the .30 Carbine.
This variation was produced un-
til 1972, with a total of 7,996 leav-
ing the factory. While the Models
56, 57 and 57-M continued to sell
steadily, they did not set the world
on fire, and one by one they were
discontinued: the 56 in 1964, 57 in
1965 and the 57-M in 1969.
One additional distinct model
was the Model 56DL Clipper King
announced in 1959. This rifle was a
variation on the 56, but instead of
seven rounds it held 12 cartridges.
It was packaged in a box shaped
like a gun case and came from the
factory with a Marlin scope as well
as targets, a manual, a game map
and various other goodies. Priced
at $60.95 compared to $44.95 for
the standard 56, the Clipper King
did not go over well, and only
155 were produced. Curiously, al-
though the Clipper King sported
various cosmetic changes to make
it attractive, it featured the origi-
nal 56 stock with a straight comb
rather than a Monte Carlo.
Given all the variations from
model to model and year to year,
it’s as if Marlin couldn’t decide
what the public wanted and just
decided to try everything.
There is one anomaly about the
Levermatics. When the Model 56
was introduced, Marlin applied
serial numbers even though it was
not required by law for rimfires.
However, the law stated that if a
company did apply serial numbers,
then it had to keep records. After
an early run, to avoid the head-
ache of record keeping Marlin dis-
continued serial numbers on the
Levermatics. In 1968, the law was
changed to require numbers on all
firearms, and Marlin complied.
The law had always stated thatcenterfire rifles needed serial
numbers, but a mistake was made
with the Model 62, and about 4,000
left the factory without serial num-
bers. A recall was ordered, and for
years Marlin offered to apply num-
bers to any rifle sent back.
As a result of all this, there are
rifles with serial numbers that
don’t need them and rifles without
serial numbers that do. Collectors
may find all this fascinating – and
potentially profitable if it affectsJuly-August 2019 http://www.riflemagazine.com 57
This Marlin Model 57’s stock was
fashioned from a lovely piece of
American walnut. Not all Levermatics
have such nice wood, but many do,
and all are very presentable.The Model 57 Levermatic is a variation on the Model 56. Note the
very nice walnut that today would be called “select” or “deluxe,”
but in the 1950s and ’60s it was pretty much Marlin’s standard.Aside from a few Thompson/Center
Contenders, the only firearms cham-
bered for the .256 Winchester Magnum
were the Marlin Model 62 Levermatic
and the Ruger Hawkeye.