The Marlin Model 65 was a fantastic single shot .22 bolt action, part of the trifecta of rifles that Marlin introduced in 1935 that included the Model 80 and Model 100. Walnut stocked with a schnabel forend and finger grooves, it was a quality rifle with a self-cocking bolt, nestled firmly between the manually cocked Model 100 and the magazine fed Model 80, but with a style all it’s own.
M34 Sears and Roebuck Christmas Catalog, 1934
The model was incredibly short lived, and total production numbers are unknown, but likely didn’t exceed more than a few thousand total units for both the 65 and 65-E, including house-branded variants. While the rifles would never match the accuracy potential of Winchester 52s or Remington 37s, they were available at a fraction of the price and in talented hands were more than capable of the most demanding shots the hunting fields might demand.
The 65s had a simple manner of operation, and surviving models today are generally well-used, but functional. The trigger-sear setup was typical for the era with rifles of this price point, with the front of the sear also serving to activate the ejector in the bolt body. A single knurled bolt holds the stock to the receiver, and the barrel is a slip fit, retained with a pin. The setup works well, providing a rifle that is simple, easy to maintain, and light enough for young shooters, or nimble enough for a walk in the woods.
Marlin Model 65s remain elusive, but Sears’ Ranger-branded M34 and M35 appear more frequently, and are functionally the same as the Marlin: the M34 corresponding to the Model 65 and M35 to the 65-E, including the unique, pre-R12 peep sight on the earliest models.
