Lever Guns

[shootist26]

are there advantages/disadvantages between the inherent design of the Marlin 1894 .357 vs a Henry Big Boy .357 w/ side loading gate?

[gato naranja]

At $1600, I don’t either.

It is an awesome gun, though, and very useful. The JM sitting in the safe was … uh … not that much. And I’m keeping it.

I consider them the "comfort food" of utility pistol caliber carbines. I have a nice blued JM one that sits in the safe, while the stainless late JM one with all the factory flaws gets used.



If Ruger started cranking out some 16" stainless .357 versions, I'd get one and sell the blued JM.

[MRW]

I'd be interested to see if Ruger re-designed the carrier on the .357 1894c to eliminate the Marlin-jam.

[OlongJohnson]

I will definitely look forward to at least handling one of these. Would be a fun woods companion to my GP, and it would be nice to not worry about scratching or rusting the JM.

[gato naranja]

FYI

Marlin/Ruger has quietly released the 1894 in .357 Mag. Found one on gun broker for a slightly inflated price over MSRP https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1021356859

I am gonna wait a bit and see if I can score one at MSRP.

I would really like to see them offer the .357 1894CSBL again but with a straight stock and standard (not oversize) lever; that would be my ideal compact "non-scary" utility carbine, suitable for all ages and sizes, and not a PITA to put a micro optic on. Pistol grip stocks on short leverguns are anathema to me, as are levers my fingers slop around in.

[SecondsCount]

PSA has the 1894 Marlin 357 in stock $1,299
https://palmettostatearmory.com/marl...nut-70410.html

[gato naranja]

PSA has the 1894 Marlin 357 in stock $1,299
https://palmettostatearmory.com/marl...nut-70410.html

It's a good start. This caliber/configuration has long seemed to fill the bill for a lot of people.

(I remember when the 1894CS was the only .357 in the Marlin lineup, and I was more than happy to get one... look how jaded a cat can become as the years go by.)

For me, the biggest negative to the CS/CSS has always been the carbine-style forend and barrel band rather than the "short rifle"-style nose cap and no barrel band. I may be the only complainer out there.

[SecondsCount]

Battlehawk Armory sent me an email this morning with a large selection of Marlin leverguns, including the 357 version for $1199

[bofe954]

It wouldn't add to the look I guess, but I wish it had threaded barrel.

[WDR]

I would really like to see them offer the .357 1894CSBL again but with a straight stock and standard (not oversize) lever; that would be my ideal compact "non-scary" utility carbine, suitable for all ages and sizes, and not a PITA to put a micro optic on. Pistol grip stocks on short leverguns are anathema to me, as are levers my fingers slop around in.

Agree. The only request I'd add is a threaded barrel, because reasons. I could live without the big rail on top, especially if Aridus ever puts the Aimpoint Micro or RMR mounts they teased a few years ago into production. The XS style ghost ring sights should stay, for my intended use though.