Marlin Model 1894
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| Marlin Model 1894 | |
|---|---|
  Model 1894 in .44 Magnum (top) with a 20" barrel Model 1894C in .357 Magnum (bottom) with 18½" barrel |
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| Type | Carbine |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Designer | John Mahlon Marlin |
| Designed | 1894 |
| Manufacturer | Marlin Firearms |
| Produced | 1894 to present |
| Specifications | |
| Weight |
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| Length |
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| Barrel length |
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| Cartridge | |
| Action | Lever action |
| Feed system | 6, 9, or 10 shot tubular magazine |
| Sights | Adjustable rear, ramped front |
The Marlin Model 1894 is a lever-action repeating rifle introduced in 1894 by the Marlin Firearms Company of North Haven, Connecticut. At its introduction the rifle came with a 24-inch barrel and was chambered for a variety of pistol rounds such as .25-20, .32-20, .38-40, and .44-40. It remains in production today.
Contents |
[edit] History
Marlin produced the first lever-action repeating rifle as the Model 1881, made for powerful hunting rounds. The Model 1889 that followed was the first lever action rifle to have a solid top with side ejection of spent cartridges. This model was chambered for popular pistol calibers of the time. Design improvements to the Model 1889, such as a one-piece trigger and a two-piece firing pin to prevent the rifle from firing unless the finger lever was fully closed, resulted in the Model 1894. Additionlly, the finger lever lock of the Model 1889 was eliminated on the Model 1894[1].
With the popularity of magnum revolver cartidges in the 1960s, in 1969 Marlin produced a short-action Model 1894 that was designed for modern high-pressure .44 Magnum cartridges. In the 1970s, Marlin added the Model 1894C/CS in .357 Magnum, and released a version in .41 Magnum 20 years later. In the mid-1990s, Marlin changed the .357 and .44 barrels from 12-groove-or-more "Micro-Groove" rifling to 6-groove "Ballard" style rifling.
Over one million Model 1894 rifles have been sold.
[edit] Variants
The Model 1894 is produced in several variants,[2] as shown in the table below. All variants are made in lever action, include a black walnut, straight grip stock, and except for the 1894CL, include adjustable semi-buckhorn folding rear rear and ramp front sights. The Model 1894CL features marble adjustable, semi-buckhorn rear and marble carbine front sights.
The Model 1894SS, caliber .44 Magnum, is the only Model 1894 variant manufactured in stainless-steel.
| Model | Caliber | Capacity | Barrel | Rifling | Twist rate | OAL | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1894 | .44 Magnum .44 Special |
10 rounds | 20 in | 6-groove Ballard | 1:38 in (right hand) | 37½ in | 6½ lbs |
| 1894C | .357 Magnum .38 Special |
9 rounds | 18½ in | 6-groove Ballard | 1:16 in (right hand) | 36 in | 6 lbs |
| 1894CL | .32-20 Winchester | 6 rounds | 22 in | 12-groove Micro-Groove | 1:20 in (right hand) | 39½ in | 6 lbs |
| 1894FG | .41 Magnum | 10 rounds | 20 in | 12-groove Micro-Groove | 1:20 in (right hand) | 37½ in | 6½ lbs |
| 1894SS | .44 Magnum .44 Special |
10 rounds | 20 in | 6-groove Ballard | 1:38 in (right hand) | 37½ in | 6½ lbs |
Ruger also manufactures a lever-action carbine, the Model 96/44 in the .44 Magnum caliber.
[edit] References
- ^ Model 1894 review by Mike Venturino, Shooting Times.
- ^ The Model 1894 at Marlinfirearms.com
