Finished mods to the carriage/cartridge lifter, the marlin feeds and ejects properly. Did a little strengthening to the buttstock as well. Have to get a stainless tea-strainer to blue the screws and small parts, but it’ll be OK. I’m pumped. Maybe blue this weekend.

The receiver is OK looking but not great. A decent blue will exacerbate the flaws, so I’m gonna give it a matte sandblast finish. Have to remember to get some glass bead media.