Marlin Model 1894 - History

History

Marlin produced its first lever-action repeating rifle as the Model 1881, made for powerful hunting rounds. This was followed by the model of 1888 which was a top eject action like the 1881 with several improvements, most important was the incorporation of a locking lug locking the breach. It was chambered in the WCF (Winchester centerfire) family of cartridges originally developed for the Winchester 1873 rifle, 44WCF, 38WCF & 32WCF also known as the 44/40, 38/40 & 32/20. 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 the same cartridges as the 1888. 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 or if the locking lug were missing, resulted in the Model 1894. Additionally, the finger lever lock of the Model 1889 was eliminated on the Model 1894 and replaced by a latch built into the lever itself. This model was chambered in the same calibers with the addition of the 25/20 and later 218bee.

With the popularity of magnum revolver cartridges in the 1960s, in 1969 Marlin produced a short-action Model 1894 that was designed for modern high-pressure .44 Magnum cartridges. Marlin had briefly manufactured its Model 336 chambered for the .44 magnum cartridge. However, after a few years of development Marlin reintroduced the model 1894. In the 1970s, Marlin added the Model 1894C/CS in 1979 .357 Magnum, and released a version in .41 Magnum in 1984. The current Model 1894 is based on the Model 336 action scaled down for pistol-sized cartridges and parts are not interchangeable with the original Model of 1894. 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.