Niner - I checked it out a little closer last night. It was a gift to the boys from their Step Grandfather who mentored me early in my shooting/hunting career. He was a big black powder guy and got me into that, as well as, taught me how to butcher deer. At any rate, I think it may be a little more rifle than I realized. He just gave it to the boys for Christmas after he got sick and never said anyting about it. But, it's an older Marlin Model 38. He was a shooter and not a "collector" and it's seen some use and he would have want it to be used by them.