Marlin 1894 SBL

ECVMatt

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Jan 7, 2004
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Forgive me if I missed this one, but it looks like Marlin has released an 1894 SBL in .44 Mag. One the website they have a spring release for a .357 model.

1894SBL.jpeg

This looks like a great rifle and the front sight has Fiber Optic with Tritium Ring. This is kind of a cool feature.

I am a sucker for 16" pistol caliber leveractions, so this definitely has my attention. The factory price is $1500, so I am guessing the rifle will end up being around $1200. That is pretty steep, but not totally crazy in today's dollars.
 
Forgive me if I missed this one, but it looks like Marlin has released an 1894 SBL in .44 Mag. One the website they have a spring release for a .357 model.

View attachment 1202735

This looks like a great rifle and the front sight has Fiber Optic with Tritium Ring. This is kind of a cool feature.

I am a sucker for 16" pistol caliber leveractions, so this definitely has my attention. The factory price is $1500, so I am guessing the rifle will end up being around $1200. That is pretty steep, but not totally crazy in today's dollars.

Sooooo . . . which one would you get? .44 or .357?

If .357, don't you have a Ruger 77/357 that you could do a side by side comparison to? Handling, accuracy, yada, yada, yada?
 
@chicharrones That is a tough call! I have three .357 rifles right now and only two .44's.

Honestly this would probably be a woods rifle so I think I would go with the .44. I have a Marlin 1894P which is pretty much the same gun. I love to take it to the mountains, but it is JM and a limited production so I tend to baby it.

I guess .44 it is!
 
I just do t understand the big loop levers phenomenon. Makes me bang my knuckles when I run the gun. Now, I'm in Texas and wear gloves about once a decade, so maybe that's part of it......

That aside, the 357 one is tempting. A stainless and laminate threaded 1894 in 357 was always my unicorn. But now I have my blued one threaded, with custom stocks, the action slicker than snake snot, a load that shoots under an inch at 50, and I'm loathe to move away from it.
 
Forgive me if I missed this one, but it looks like Marlin has released an 1894 SBL in .44 Mag. One the website they have a spring release for a .357 model.

View attachment 1202735

This looks like a great rifle and the front sight has Fiber Optic with Tritium Ring. This is kind of a cool feature.

I am a sucker for 16" pistol caliber leveractions, so this definitely has my attention. The factory price is $1500, so I am guessing the rifle will end up being around $1200. That is pretty steep, but not totally crazy in today's dollars.
Does it have a factory threaded muzzle?
 
@ECVMatt I believe that the pic you posted is of a 1895 45-70 SBL and that got me confused. I got a 1895 Trapper in 45-70.
I don't believe that Ruger has made any 1894s in stainless.
But I did pick up an 1894 44 mag. Probably more properly called a short rifle. Here it is.
View attachment 1202796
love the figure on the rear stock. I cannot say like the potbelly look of the forend as much.
 
A few years back when Remington took over the Marlin tooling I purchased an 1894 "Remlin" in .357 as a companion to Ruger Security Six. I like it.. I've only hunted with it once and had no opportunities. I think it would be great for Coyotes. IMG_20190725_174704110.jpg
 
@ECVMatt I believe that the pic you posted is of a 1895 45-70 SBL and that got me confused. I got a 1895 Trapper in 45-70.
I don't believe that Ruger has made any 1894s in stainless.
But I did pick up an 1894 44 mag. Probably more properly called a short rifle. Here it is.
View attachment 1202796

Well @CraigC really has the facts on carbines vs rifles, I believe that the Marlin 1894 pictured is a carbine because of the straight stock and the barrel band. A short rifle would have a pistol grip and a forend cap along with a shorter barrel. Not sure what a straight grip carbine stock with a rifle forend cap would be called but that is what the old Marlin 1894s had.
 
Well @CraigC really has the facts on carbines vs rifles, I believe that the Marlin 1894 pictured is a carbine because of the straight stock and the barrel band. A short rifle would have a pistol grip and a forend cap along with a shorter barrel. Not sure what a straight grip carbine stock with a rifle forend cap would be called but that is what the old Marlin 1894s had.
I'd say a carbine with a shotgun butt.

The OP is a short rifle.

A rifle can have a straight or pistol grip but a carbine is straight only. Or at least it was in the old days. Now, anything goes. :p
 
@ECVMatt I believe that the pic you posted is of a 1895 45-70 SBL and that got me confused. I got a 1895 Trapper in 45-70.
I don't believe that Ruger has made any 1894s in stainless.
But I did pick up an 1894 44 mag. Probably more properly called a short rifle. Here it is.
View attachment 1202796

It's an 1894. Look at the receiver bolt, it's cut just like the one in your photo.

 
It is definitely an 1894. I have an 1895, a few 336's, and a couple of 1894's. I really enjoy the Marlin/ L.L. Hepburn design.

I would be interested in this one as an ATV, hiking, calling rifle.
 
@ECVMatt I believe that the pic you posted is of a 1895 45-70 SBL and that got me confused. I got a 1895 Trapper in 45-70.
I don't believe that Ruger has made any 1894s in stainless.
Ruger Marlin has indeed released the new stainless steel 1894 SBL.

Hopefully a straight stock stainless 1894 or 1894SS will come along.

Nice rifle. I love the SBL format but I have two in the 1895. I would want a .45 Colt/.44 Magnum in stainless but not another SBL. I guess I could remove the rail.
 
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…stainless but not another SBL. I guess I could remove the rail.

I wouldn’t mind seeing a SS 1894 but having the CB stock and forend with standard open sights on it. The option for a peep would then be up to the owner.

The CB stock and forend are nice and slender and that would make for a light and trim rifle and in 44 mag/45 colt it wouldn’t beat you up too bad.
 
It figures Marlin is making 1894s in stainless with the gray laminate stocks. 😆 I was hoping they would but decided I couldn’t wait and I bought me a Henry X model.
I have always liked the look of stainless and gray laminate.

No Regerts :rofl:
 
It figures Marlin is making 1894s in stainless with the gray laminate stocks. 😆 I was hoping they would but decided I couldn’t wait and I bought me a Henry X model.
I have always liked the look of stainless and gray laminate.

No Regerts :rofl:
Henry's are pretty slick rifles! And it sounds like you got both a great deal and gun.

I will be patient but wouldn't hesitate to grab a Henry if it doesn't pan out.

We will see what happens.

By chance I am up in my bear woods right now. It's storming and perfect weather for that rifle.

IMG_7791.jpg
 
Henry's are pretty slick rifles! And it sounds like you got both a great deal and gun.

I will be patient but wouldn't hesitate to grab a Henry if it doesn't pan out.

We will see what happens.

By chance I am up in my bear woods right now. It's storming and perfect weather for that rifle.

View attachment 1203139

Can I get a “WOW, Man!”?
That’s beautiful scenery. I hope you have a great time.

I am very happy with my Henry, but one day in the future I will have to have a stainless Marlin. I recall in the early 90’s that Marlin 60s came in the stainless with gray laminate configuration. I wanted one but missed the boat on them. Perhaps they will be made again, but I am not going to hold my breath. ;)
 
ECVMatt, that up around Bishop Pass? Nice country up that way.
Convict Lake. Good eye!

There is a good snow storm right now so I think I'll head to the Stove for breakfast and then take my daughter out for some fun in the snow.
 
love the figure on the rear stock. I cannot say like the potbelly look of the forend as much.

When I converted my Marlin 1894 to a straight grip, because of fitment issues I had to retain the original forearm... one of my goals is to sand that pork belly down and make it slimmer...

dfHAW5fl.jpg



I just do t understand the big loop levers phenomenon.

I've said the very same thing... I don't get it.
 
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