Marlin Dark rifle line-ooo changed my mind lol

[S&W Fan]

**Ooo, just saw there's a stainles model without the rail and paracord on the loop, think I'd like that better with the 686**

Model 1894 CST | Marlin Firearms


Anyone actually see one? Pretty interesting looking lever guns-handy at the camp, the house or just fun at the range. Waiting to see a real world price on the .357 version will be, fun to have one as a companion to my late dad's 686 no dash.

StackPath

 

[typetwelve]

Marlin, er, the new Marlin makes some nice looking firearms, on paper. I've read too many bad reports about their quality (as well as knowing 3 people personally who have had modern lemons) to ever want one.

A lever action is definitely on my list. If I can't afford a Big Horn Armory, I'll get a Henry.

 

[Echo40]

Yeah, if I were going to buy a Lever Action Rifle, then I would get a Rossi R92. Rossi may have iffy QC, (being a subsidiary of Taurus) but by and large they seem to get good reviews and their overall quality seems to be higher than modern Marlins with a substantially lower price point.

 

[Drm50]

Plenty of used JM Marlins to be had on used market. I’m not buying any Repros and no Remlins. Another case of doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

 

[shocker]

Michigan - we still love the 35 Remington for woods hunting deer and bear. So make mine a 336 in 35 Rem.

 

[colt_saa]

I have always liked the look of the stainless with the laminated stocks

I have had this one for a very long time now

I do prefer the straight stock to the pistol grip

It is nice that the newer ones are threaded, it saves me lots of work

 

[mauser9]

Nice one pictured above by Colt SSA. That 1894 straight grip in 44 magnum is a favorite of mine. Got to shoot a newer Remlin 1894 a short while back. It did function well with feeding and ejection but overall finish not as good as original Marlin made ones. One strong gun!

 

[Mrnurse]

Lots of as New Older Marlins folks... Anything with a cross bolt im not buying.

 

[Neon Horse]

The new Marlins are solid builds. Every factory has those that get out the door (S&W, Ruger, etc), but Marlin by and large is back making good rifles now (their bad days seem behind them). I have a 1894CST and it is a solid shooter. My 336SS has been as well. Most people parrot what others say or have a friend that allegedly had a bad one (notice it's never the person telling you? ). Even JM Marlins had rough years. I have been looking at the Dark Series and also the 1894SBL 44mag to add to my incoming 629. Hard to decide between stainless and all-black parkerizing. I say go for it when you find one!

 

[Jessie]

Nice. You need to figure in the cost of the cross bolt safety delete, too.

 

[Drm50]

Marlin started down hill about the time of the cross bolt safety. The fit and finish started to slide prior. But, this is big but, had no JM Marlins returned for mechanical or accuracy issues. At same time Savage was circling the bowl.
I’ve fooled with several Marlin 94s & 95s and one 336 by Remlin. There was nothing I could do. Told guys to take them back. If you get into a Remlin you are going to own it. I wouldn’t buy one. I’m sure a good one slips out now and then. Problem guns are bigger percentage.

 

[edwardyoung]

I’ve had Marlins made from 1948 through 2019, even a 308MXLR from the ‘terrible years’ around 2010. The half-dozen 45-70 and 357 Remlins I own have all been made since 2016. While I’ll agree that the older Marlins fit and finish is generally better than the more recent Marlins, I have no problems recommending the current-production Marlins. The worst Marlin I ever owned was a 44 mag 1894 from the seventies. For all of their growing pains, Remington saved Marlin from going the way of the do-do. I’m glad I can still buy a new Marlin. It would be nice if they’d start making Mounties again, though.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

If you have any Marlin with a push button safety. Remove the butt stock, there is a small Allen head set screw, you can run it in tight to lock the safety in the fire position. Then you are back to a proper half-cock hammer safety! (you could run it in on the "Safe" position also, to temporarily deactivate the gun also)

There are unscrupulous people at various competitions that will engage any safety they can gain access to. I've seen this at trap shoots and at cowboy shoots. It can cost as little as 3/4 second to as much as the championship, depending on the type of event! (You can always restart, unless the first shot went bang, then clock is running!) I have seen people so fast on a lever action, have 5 live rounds ejected before they realized the gun wasn't going bang! (if you want to be fast, you don't wait for recoil or impact to eject and move to the next steel plate!)

Ivan

(SASS rules prohibit picking up ammo of the floor, so replacement rounds have to come from a beltloop, pocket or pouch, OR the count as a miss with an additional 5 second penalty each! The rule of thumb is: You can't miss fast enough to win anything!)

 

[Drm50]

The Marlin line is no longer a milled parts gun. MIM parts now. Henry is using modern processes too. The difference is Henry has good CS dept. The truth is quality of Remlin and Henry would be the same if Rem would get their act together. Although pretty hard to beat Henry business plan.

 

[JayFramer]

No way I would ever buy a new Marlin.

I almost did several months back. Bought one at Sportsman’s Warehouse and they shipped it to the store. Sights were on crooked, REAL crooked. Also the metal finish wasn’t very clean at all, lots of little scratches all along the barrel, right out of the box.

The guys at Sportsman’s offered to exchange it and after a new one showed up, I went again and saw the sights were only a LITTLE crooked this time... but the magazine tube was canted by several degrees! What a joke. The store gladly offered to give me a refund, good people.

Most folks buying these guns wouldn’t even ever notice these flaws. Stuff that would have never flyed with the old JM boys. That and the barbecue grill finish and massive QR code plastered on the receivers... I mean, god...

Do a little reading on the history of Freedom Group buying Marlin. Almost as entertaining as the Tiger King.

I just bought a Model 60 Marlin... but made sure it wasn’t a new one. 1994 vintage dated. Back when Marlin was still Marlin!