First Look: Ruger Marlin 1894 Classic Lever Action

by
posted on June 26, 2023
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Marlin 1894 On White Both Sides

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. has announced the reintroduction of the Marlin 1894 Classic chambered in .44 Magnum, which still retains all of the gun's traditional characteristics. “We’re very excited to introduce our first Ruger-made Marlin 1894,” said Ruger president and CEO, Chris Killoy. “We have spent many months working to make this rifle the best it can be.”

Marlin1894 on white

Features

The Marlin 1894 Classic sports a beautifully finished American black-walnut straight stock and fore-end, on which clean and crisp checkering accentuates both aesthetics and utility. Satin blued and featuring a square finger lever, this alloy-steel rifle is equipped with a 20-inch cold-hammer-forged barrel with six-groove rifling and a 1:20-inch twist rate. An adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight pairs well with a hooded front brass bead for quick acquisition, though the receiver is drilled and tapped for the addition of a more precise optic. Also capable of shooting the lighter-recoiling .44 Special, the Marlin 1894 is equipped with a tubular magazine that will accept 10 rounds of .44 Magnum , or 11 rounds of .44 Special. A soft rubber buttpad tames what recoil there is, while a half-cock hammer and a manual cross-bolt safety can be used to make the gun safe. All this functionality weighs in at 6.4-pounds, empty.

Marlin 1894

“Our focus continues to be on quality,” continued Killoy. “We remain committed to making firearms worthy of John Marlin’s legacy. The fit and finish of this rifle is reminiscent of what was produced by Marlin craftsmen in New Haven, CT many decades ago.” The Ruger-made 1894 Classic is marked “Mayodan, NC,” bears an “RM” or Ruger-made serial number prefix, and features the red and white “bullseye” in the stock.

Additional models in different calibers and configurations will be released throughout the coming year. For more information on the Marlin 1894 Classic, and any other Marlin models, visit marlinfirearms.com. MSRP: $1,239

Latest

Dont Look Around The Smoke Follow Through And Keep Your Stockweld Secure
Dont Look Around The Smoke Follow Through And Keep Your Stockweld Secure

3 Muzzleloader Mishaps to Avoid

Your smokepole sights are hovering over the vitals of an elk or deer, and you touch off the trigger. But did you make one of these mistakes? Let’s take a look through some things that can go wrong, before they ever do.

Submit Your Member's Best Hunt Entries NOW

Now hear this, NRA American Hunter readers: this is a call for entries for American Hunter’s “2027 Members’ Best” feature story to run next year in our combined June/July print issue.

Kent Cartridge Recall of Certain Shotshell Ammunition

Kent Cartridge is recalling specific lots of select 12-gauge and 20-gauge shotshell ammunition due to the potential for excessive chamber pressure when fired. The issue is limited to the product code and lot number combinations identified below.

#SundayGunday: Benelli Ethos Cordoba

On this week's #we’reSundayGunday, we are checking out the Ethos Cordoba A.I. BE.S.T. shotgun, a hunt-focused model of Benelli’s competition-driven semi-automatic. Learn more about it on this exclusive video.

Trump Wants to Make the Outdoors Safe Again

President Trump is attempting to reduce mosquito and tick-carried diseases, including the alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a tick-carried molecule linked to a potentially serious human allergy to red meat and other mammalian products. (AGS is primarily transmitted from bites from the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) in the U.S.)

Elk Tactics: It’s Not All About the Bugles

It’s hard not to return the bugle of a bull in the wild. But the author is convinced tactics he uses with calling help seal the deal on public land.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.