Ruger has been doing a pretty good job of bringing back classic Marlins. The latest of these is a resurrected Model 1894. Unlike its L.L. Hepburn era predecessors (which used cartridges like the .38-40 and .44-49), the 2023 version of the Marlin Model 1894 is chambered in .44 Magnum.
Ruger Marlin 1894 Features
- Side gate loading — This isn’t a big deal to some people, but it’s a very big deal for me. The other way is too slow.
- Adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sights — A nice, traditional touch; not something everyone is familiar with, but by no means difficult to figure out and become comfortable with.
- Hooded front sight — The hood here protects the front sight and mitigates the effects of glare, particularly if it’s an undercut sight. I’ve heard some people say hooded front sights act in many ways like ghost ring sight, but I haven’t used the former, so I can’t really speak to that.
- A 20-inch cold hammer-forged (round) barrel — I point this out because the earliest Model 1894s utilized 24-inch octagonal barrels.
If you’d like to learn more, check out https://www.marlinfirearms(dot)com/s/model_1894Classic
L. L. Hepburn
