Mystery 1960 Marlin 336 Lever-Action Rifle - (Rare- ETH)

Mystery 1960 Marlin 336 Lever-Action Rifle - (Rare- ETH)

Happy Birthday to me! Just arrived yesterday at my private FFL. And yes, it happens to be my birthday! If my .357 mag lever gun came, it really would've been a great day..but it's delayed till Monday.

First off, I just got this in my hands, so a lot of research still needs to be done. I will tell you what the seller told me and what I think. There's a few scratches and dings, but overall nice for its age.

Seller was a 73 year old man and has owned it for at least 20 years. Claims he bought it at an estate sale of a collector in North Haven Conn. He claims that this is an "employee take home" model. There are examples out there, that were built in the factory by an employee for their own personal use. This is not a production model and it is not a CB or "cowboy" model. Without documentation it's hard to say?

FEATURES:
22" Octagon barrel (21 3/4" according to seller)
Square trigger guard
Fancy wood
Brass butt (looks similar as the one used on the Centennial Model 39, made in 1970?)

Front site - from crown to center is 5/8"...(normal production rifles are 1" from crown to center of front site dovetail)

The action is buttery smooth, it's definitely been worked over very nicely
Definitely reduced trigger pull(trigger job)
Wood to metal fit is blended.
Wood is very tight fitting.

Marlin font is very large:

"The Marlin Firearms Co.
North Haven, Conn.Connecticut. U.S.A. Cal. .30-30 Win"

Auction advertised that it is a 1960 manufacture - has a 5 digit serial number that is stamped on the receiver tang, not under the lever where normal production rifles are stamped.
Normally a 1960 rifle serial number would begin with a Txxx,(T=1960,U=1961, etc) but the serial is a 5 digit number. If you run the serial as is, it would be a 1890.

One expert suggested that the original serial number had a Letter at the beginning and they stamped only the numbers on the tang. He also stated it appears to be a pre 1968 receiver and a later lower tang. Another possibility is that it was assembled from old stock parts.

More research is needed...