Hey AWESOME forum guys... I'm new here, but really enjoying this place.

I've really takin' a liking to the Trapper length lever rifles. Too bad Marlin doesn't make any at present. So I bought a Marlin 1894SS .44mag and I'm thinking about having it whacked back to 16-16.5" or so...

Marlin 1894SS 20" - .44 magnum
http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Marlin1894SS.jpg

I'm interested in knowing who the top 3 or 4 lever-rifle expert gunsmiths might be who would be good for the job... thanks for your input.

Signed,

1911 and Lever Rifle Addict

Speaking of 16" lever rifles... my newly Trapperized-Marlin 1894SS will be joining these two stable mates:

Winchester/Miroku '92 Ltd. 16" Trapper - .45 Colt
http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Win92Trapper.jpg
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Legacy/Rossi '92 Ltd. 16" Trapper - .454 Casull
http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Puma454.jpg

DHart,

Any competant gunsmith can cut your barrel and do a decent job for you. My local 'Smith cut my wife's down to 16 1/4 inches (leaving a bit to recrown if the barrel gets damaged) and shortened the magazine for $100. Took three days.

Lobo in West Virginia

El Lobo... thanks for the reply and the info.

That is such a beautiful rifle...why on earth would you want to hack 4 inches off the barrel??

Jeff... you're right it is a beauty! Call me crazy I guess. I've gone back and forth in my mind about whacking it and leaving it as is. I just have a thing for 16" carbines.

There is a chance I may not whack it, as I already have two other 16" Trappers - those two shown above. But I'd really like a Marlin 16" in .44mag. I don't hunt nor do I engage in long range shooting, so the short carbines are just fine by me. I love how maneuverable and quick to shoulder and turn they are. My 20" rifles all seem so long to me now. I know, 20" is almost considered a carbine, but like I said, I'm a sucker for a 16" carbine...

DO you really think I would lose much of anything, besides round capacity, by going to a 16" barrel?

.44mag is so powerful in a rifle, that I would appreciate a loss of some of the velocity and power that results when shooting .44mag from a 16" barrel rather than a 20" barrel. My primary use of the carbine is home/camp personal defense.

As I think more on the subject, I may try to find a Marlin 1894 in .44mag with a 16" barrel (not ported). Then I can leave my 1894SS as is. Does anyone know if Marlin ever made an 1894 in .44 mag with a non-ported 16" barrel?

I looked at all the available leverguns two years ago, and finally settled on the 1894SS, as you did. Compared to some of the bolt guns I've had, the 20" barrel doesn't seem long at all to me. In fact, my 336c seems a lot longer, and still handles well. If you want to lop it off, be my guest, it's all subjective. I like my 44 just the way it is! :)

PJ the Pacified Perforator

I decided to leave the Marlin 1894SS as is and just buy another .44 mag in 16"... so I bought this:

Winchester '94 16" Trapper - .44 Magnum
http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Win94Trapper.jpg

It didn't cost me that much more than I would have had to pay to whack back my marlin, shorten the forestock, refinish both stocks, and pay for shipping - plus I have two .44mag rifles now! I put about 40 rounds of six different types of .44mag and .44 spl ammo through it tonight - all fed and fired flawlessly. Awesome little rifle!