Does this rifle have a hammer block safety on it? if so, it's not that old. If the barrel is 22 or so inches long, it's a standard 1895. If it is around 18 or so, you have a guide gun. If it is octaganal and longer, you may have a cowboy or commemorative gun. Either way, these are very well made guns, and can hold up to quite good pressures. If the rifling looks good, and the bore has no pitting, it could very well be a good gun to get. Does the lever throw nicely, or does it bind? Other than that, the only problem I can forsee with a Marlin lever gun is the loading port. If the screw holding it begins to back out, it can cause the lever to bind up. A little loc-tite will remidy this easy enough. Good luck.