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.comMSRP: $1,239

Latest

LEDE Seal Of Grand Rapids, Michigan
LEDE Seal Of Grand Rapids, Michigan

Michigan Mayor Looks Down on Guns and Dogs

“If you’ve got a gun, you should be ashamed of yourself,” said Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand. NRA-ILA also noted that in his response to a police K-9 chasing down a suspect, LaGrand said: “It is time that we ask, ‘What are dogs good for?’ Like, if you need a dog to find someone in the woods, get a hound dog. If you need to chase somebody in a backyard, why couldn’t you do that with a drone? If my dog did what I saw in that video, I’d put my dog down.”

A 9-Year-Old Girl’s Effort to Make Hunting the Official Sport of Idaho

While reading her history textbook, Betty Grandy, a 9-year-old fourth-grade student from Twin Falls, Idaho, noticed that Idaho lacked an official state sport. So, she did what any 9-year-old fourth-grade student would do: She ran a poll in a neighborhood newspaper.

Tips to Improve Small Game Shooting & Big Game Accuracy

Sometimes switching from large game—like elk or deer—to hitting a moving squirrel with a .22 or .17 rimfire will tell on you in a hurry. Here are some tips to get your skills back up to snuff.

First Look: Muddy Expands DV8 Apparel and Accessory Line

Muddy Outdoors has expanded its men's hunting apparel and accessory line, DV8, to include several key items scheduled for release later in 2026.

Coyote Tactics: Stay Flexible

The successful hunters I know do not get hung up on one tactic. They constantly float between strategies in an ever-changing hunting environment. Quite simply, they’re flexible. I take that improvising nature to heart even for coyotes, particularly when they shun my calls for whatever reason. When that occurs, I continue the hunt, but modify my strategy to fit the scenario.  

Remington Announces 3 New Subsonic Rifle Loads

Remington Ammunition is launching three new rifle cartridges loaded to subsonic muzzle velocities in 2026. The new Boat-tail Hollow Point (BHP) loads include a 250-grain 360 Buckhammer, 190-grain .308 Winchester and 300-grain 45-70 Government.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.