Marlin 1894 .44 Mag - What do I have???

[GunAdmirer]

I recently purchased a new or like new Marlin 1894 rifle in .44 magnum from an individual's collection. It is blued and has smooth stocks with no checkering. Regular round barrel, not octagonal. Serial 970218XX.

It seems to have ballard rifling. It does not indicate "microgroove" on the barrel but the rifling seems rather shallow.

Is it a field grade rifle? What can you tell me about it? I've done some searches but haven't found this rifle with smooth stocks.

It is really nice. I've wanted one for a long time. The price was great. It is sure to be one of my favorites. I plan to use it on whitetail deer and hogs.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I had one just like that. It is a standard 1894. I don't think there was a deluxe model. Mine was a great little rifle . Anything under 125 yards was toast.

 

[GunAdmirer]

Is the rifling typically ballard or microgroove? How can you tell for sure?

Seems to have 6 lands/grooves.

How much is it worth? I got an awesome deal regardless of average price.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

The Marlin website says that they have Ballard rifling but I clearly remember "micro-groove barrel" stamped on the barrel. I no longer have the rifle. I gave it to my nephew on his 16th birthday. FWIW, mine was made in 1971 and I bought it in 1972 for $50. A local pawn shop wants $399 for one.

 

[TehK1w1]

The older 1894s were Micro-groove and marked as such. The newer ones are ballard-grooved. 6 lands/groove indicates that it has Ballard rifling, the micro-groove is 12 lands and grooves. IIRC, the micro-groove rifles had a 1 in 38" twist rate. Sometime in the 90's Marlin changed their 44 Mag, 444 Marlin, 45-70 rifle to ballard rifling, along with a couple others.

 

[GunAdmirer]

It appears to be an 1894 made for and sold by Big 5, sold at a low price.

It is really nice in every way.

 

[Griff56]

I bought one from Big 5 in .44 Mag/Sp with Ballard rifling, hardwood stock for $300.00 on a big promotion sale that they run from time to time. They also make a little higher class model with walnut wood but same hardware. Mine was a keeper right out of the box. Like stated above, anything at 150 yards or less and it is toast. I shoot mostly .44 Special for CAS. but it handles .44 Mags like a champion.

Nice little rifle. One of my favorites in my safe.

 

[Asherdan]

The serial # indicates a 2003 year of manufacture. The lack of checkering suggests a Big 5 type production rifle, only difference from the standard is hardwood instead walnut stocks. Should have a 6 groove Ballard 1 in 38" 20" barrel. The rifling on mine is not exceptionally deep either. Last I saw, the on-sale price for those had moved up close to $400, when they're available, so you got it at a good value if you're at or under that number.

With the slow twist some of those barrels have trouble stabilizing 300g bullets. Plan to test before you take the heavyweights out with you. For pig and deer (and much other game), good 200 - 270 grain bullets will do the job handily for you anyways.

You got a very usable and fun rifle, there. Enjoy.

 

[Kernel]

I was about to post GunAdmire's 1894 was made in 1991, based on info from this table:

http://www.wisnersinc.com/additional_info/marlindatecode.htm

Asherdan, is your source linkable? If so, please post. I'd like to keep my reference data as up-to-date as possible.

My 1894 was made in 1975. It has no saftey button (if it did, I'd probably have never bought it, but that's a topic for another post) and it says "micro-groove" on the barrel.

I love this rifle. It's the perfect companion for my .44 Mag revolvers. I put a XS peep site on mine and that really adds to the funtionality. Check out XS Sight Systems web site or Skinner Sights. Get one. You'll be glad you did.

http://skinnersights.com/
http://www.xssights.com/store/rifle.html

Also, GunAdmire, if you don't have a .44 Mag revolver already you need to start looking for one. Your lever action needs a friend.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Were all 1894s without checkering made for big box stores? The only big box store I knew of when I bought mine in 1972 was K-Mart. I never heard of Big 5 until I joined the high Road Forum.

 

[Asherdan]

Asherdan, is your source linkable? If so, please post. I'd like to keep my reference data as up-to-date as possible.

Nope, memory, and hence, suspect. But it did come from a Marlin CS call a couple years back when ordering extra screws and such. I wanted to know how they were serializing with the century rollover. I believe it's the first 2 numbers of the serial. I assumed it's a 2003 instead of a '91 because of this bit from Fryxell giving a timeline for the return to Ballard rifling:

Micro-Groove rifling was the standard of the Marlin line from the mid-1950s up through the mid-1990s. Along about 1997 or so, Micro-Groove rifling was dropped from the big-bore 336s and 1894s, and Marlin returned to 6-groove "Ballard" rifling for these guns.

Poking around the link Kernel provided will give you a big old list that includes Marlin models that were made for large retailers.

Whatever way it works out, the OP has one of my favourite rifles.