Marlin 18" Stainless (and portless) 44 Mag?? Will they make this any time soon?

Does Marlin make a blue 18" 44 mag right now?

Thanks. adk
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I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that in stainless. Marlin doesn't seem to be too quick to bring out variants on their existing product line anymore. I have a feeling they have taken a loss on some of their offerings in the past and have decided to just build what sells instead of trying to tempt us with new items. I'd bet that's why they like building special runs for Davidson's, it insulates them from the cost of not being able to sell a particular model.

Marlins current models both have 20" barrels. Marlin did make the 1894P with a 16.25", but I don't recall any models with an 18" tube. Of course, a gunsmith could cut down a barrel and set back the magazine for around $75 I'd bet.

I'm just wondering if there are any significant tooling (or other) costs associated with going from blue to stainless steel and lopping 2' off a barrel. Seems like Marlin would be pretty ramped up for producing a 44 mag stainless lever gun without any increase in manufacturing costs.

Paul

Paul,
Other than the parts stocking issue, I believe there are tooling differences between moly and stainless that may factor in. Now that I've said that, they must have the tooling for the 1895GS and 1894SS. So I guess it comes down to parts inventory.

Marlin just seems to be slow to bring out new variations on existing models. Geez, it took them how long to come out with a 44 Mag with a pistol grip? I'd bet they would sell more rifles if they mixed things up. I like the Limited series that Davidson's contracts for. I believe Marlin could do the same thing themselves, similar to Remingtons' Classic series. Say, a production run of 1000 rifles, chambered in 35 Rem (or whatever) in a full length cowboy model, straight grip for 2005. In 2006, run a different variation chambered in 25-20 or something. There should be enough variations to go for quite a while.

Reminds me of the Navy, 200+ years of tradition unhampered by progress.

There is a difference in the cutting tools used for stainless vs. regular steel, and in finishing methods. Also big differences in how stainless parts interact. I think Marlin is learning a lot on the stainless guns they are now making and when things are more perfected they will apply it to new stainless guns. I'd sure vote for an 18" stainless 44mag. Thanks.

adk

Since I'm not that picky about two inches of barrel, I just got the 20" 1894SS. After handling the 24" guns it seems plenty short to me. It's all subjective, anyway!

And if Marlin brings out more guns in SS, I'm looking for a 357 just like my 1894C only silver. I'll need six........one for each of the kids, one for Mama, and mine! Maybe I better get a few spares as well..... ;)

PJ

I have one of Davidson's Marlins. On the bbl. is written/stamped :"THE MARLIN LIMITED" Mod.1894S Micro-Groove Barrel Cal. 44 Rem.Mag. or 44 Special. This weapon has the cross bolt safety(which i have disabled w/ an O-ring.) It also has the WARNING on the bbl., and the streight stock w/ a 16" bbl. This is one of the guns that I grab when hunting hogs in the VERY thick Fla. swamps. I have had allot of comments on the weapon,mostly that included," thats a great gun for this,do they still make them,no?,aaahhhh,too bad".----pruhdlr

pruhdlr.... I'm a complete Trapper addict. And I love my various Winchester 94 and 92 Trappers, but finding a Marlin Trapper is NOT easy. I've heard about the existence of Marlin Limiteds with 16" barrels. Oh I want one of those so badly it's not even funny... any idea where I might find one? You lucky dog!

Is there any chance you could send any pictures of your Marlin Limited to me or post them here? That would be so wonderful. Thank you.

My Trappers are:

Winchester/Miroku '92 Ltd. 16" Trapper - .45 Colt
http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Win92Trapper.jpg
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Winchester '94 16" Trapper - .45 Colt
http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Win94Trpr45.jpg
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Winchester '94 16" Trapper - .44 Magnum
http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Win94Trapper.jpg
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Legacy/Rossi '92 Ltd. 16" Trapper - .454 Casull
http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Puma454.jpg

At least Winchester has the wisdom to offer 94's in Trappers in .357, .44 mag, and .45 Colt as standard production offerings... sure wish Marlin would wise up and do the same. I think they'd sell better than they think they would. Heck... I'd buy a least three: .357, .44mag, .45 Colt! I do very much like my 1894CS, but at 18.5", it's still not a Trapper (16") and you can only get it in .357.

Marlin 1894CS 18.5" - .357mag
http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Marlin1894CS.jpg

I want to see the 336 in 35 Remington in Stainless!

They make th 336C in blue in 30-30 & 35 Rem but they ONLY make the 336SS in 30-30 in stainless.

How hard can it be to make the 35 in stainless?

Now that I've vented. Is it possible to have the 30-30 bored out and rechamberd for 35 Rem???

DHart, I have had the little "MARLIN LIMITED" for about 5 years now. I bought it from a CAS guy in Maine for $335. I think that he bought it new. He worked at a gunshop in N.H. so he probably had access to the special run of these weapons at Davidsons(wholesaler). He had put the AO ghost ring on the rear and a red fiberoptic on the front. I do not have the origional factory sights. I just went in and weighed and measured the little gun.(I knew that it was short and light BUT----) It's a little less than 34" OAL. And it weights less than 5 1/4 pounds. It will hold 8 rounds max of either 44 mag. or 44 special. I have taken the AO sights off and put the very small and light TRU-GLO,TRU-POINT red dot sight on.(My eyesight isn't what it used to be.)Also my weapon does have the streight stock with the checkering that you show in your picture of the 1894CS. I also have a Puma 92,16",SS,in 454 Casull as shown in your picture.(absolutely LOVE it) I have killed allot of hogs with the little Marlin,and what a great weapon to carry through the THICK STUFF. I don't understand why more rifles aren't offered in a very short and light version.(also more calibers) I can hit anything that needs killin' out to 100 yds. or so.That is all that these little guns are supposed to do. I have a 7 Mag and a .30-378Weatherby mag but i never use them. I can always put myself in the position to have a shot under 100 yds so I find myself carring the "little guns".AND I LOVE IT ----pruhdlr

I have a 16" Marlin 1894P 44 mag that I'm probably going to sell because of the ports. Beautiful rifle but I'd be afraid to shoot it without earplugs. That's why I'm asking about an unported rifle. adk

PORTS/MUZZLE BRAKES: We got along for years without them. They are VERY,VERY,LOUD. I have read reports of the D.B. increase over non ported(normal) bbls. It is huge. Ever shoot a weapon with a ported bbl.during the early morning/late afternoon hours??? How about one of those ported pistols? Are you considering a ported pistol for your home defense weapon?? Don't buy one until you have shot one at night and seen the fireworks display. If you shoot a ported pistol at night in your home to protect your family,you might as well have a T/C single shot. What do they do for a rifle? Do they really reduce the recoil? At what cost? Dont get me wrong---I have several weapons with muzzle brakes/ports. I guess that they have their place in our inventory of guns that we "just gotta have". I"m just saying that before you buy one of these weapons,consider the effect that it will have when you "touch her off". I have a .30-378 Weatherby Mag. with the excellant Accubrake. It recoils like a .270, BUT, holy smokes, she's loud and bright,with enough blast overpressure to flip off your ballcap. Something like a 44Mag,.45-70,or 444 Marlin,I would just as soon not have a brake on.(And I have them all w/o brakes) I prefer very short bbls.in these type of weapons anyway so I "kill 2 birds with one stone" by immediately taking them to the local gunsmith and having the bbl. chopped off to between 16 and 20 inches. Yeah,I loose a little velocity but these are fairly close range weapons anyway. Besides,if you go out and punch paper you know your drops at any given range anyway so to a certin extent the velocity becomes not that important. I predict that in the future you will see more and more weapon makers do away with the ports. They looked good and helped to sell allot of weapons--- BUT---DO YOU GOTTA HAVE THE PORTS?? This is just one respectful opinion----GOOD SHOOTIN'---pruhdlr