Convertible arms such as the Marlin Model 1892 could use either rimfire or centerfire ammunition. This rifle was manufactured in 1892. Re: MARLIN Model 93 EXPERTS - Assistance w/Manufacture Date I use this site for my dates but I'm not sure the Model 93 fits into the 'early Marlin lever actions' since it put your serial # at being made in 1883. The serial numbers did not start with 0 even for the original model, as the factory mixed serial numbers with ALL other models being made at that time. In ordering parts, the part number on the older catalogs had a number and a letter.

I hope this helps all Marlin owners:
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Marlin Year of Manufacture
Marlin year of manufacture maybe determined from the following list of letter/numeral prefixs to the serial number; this coding only applies to serialized rifles:
1946-C
1947-D
1948-E
1949-F
1950-G
1951-H
1952-J
1953-K
1954-L
1955-M
1956-N
1957-P
1958-R
1959-S
1960 (August)-1961-U
1961 (August)-1962-V
1963-W
1964-Y,-Z
1965-AA
1966-AB
1967-AC
1968-AD, -68
1969-69
1970-70
1971-71
1972-72
Starting in 1973, the year of manufacture maybe determined by subtracting the first two digits of the serial number from 100:
Example: SN 2512345 would have been made in 1975 [100 - 25 = 75] and SN 94365295 would have been made in 2006 [ 100 - 94 = 06 (2006) ].
For Marlin Rimfire Rifles [non-serialized]:
From 1962 thru 1968 Marlins rimfire rifles (other than the 39 series lever actions) used a two letter date code that was stamped on the barrel. This date code is different than the one already listed, as Marlin rimfire rifles (other than the model 39 series) did not have a serial numbers until required to by Law after 1968. The first letter of the date code represented the month of manufacture while the second letter indicated the year. This date code was usually stamped on the left side of the barrel just in front of the receiver. The first letter of the date code is as follows:
A = Jan.
B = Feb.
C = Mar.
D = Apr.
E = May
F = June
G = July

Marlin Safety Model 1892 Serial Numbers

H = Aug.
I = Sep.
J = Oct.

Winchester 1892 Serial Numbers

K = Nov.
L = Dec.
The second letter of the date code is as follows:

Software Serial Numbers

F = 1962
G = 1963

Marlin 336 Rc Serial Number

H = 1964
I = 1965
J = 1966
K = 1967
L = 1968
So a date code of 'JK' would indicate that rifle was made in October of 1967.