chicharrones
needs more ammo
So to conclude of this thread, I've decided on Marlin .357 18". Thanks to all the comments.
This is the one I bought just now: https://www.guns.com/firearms/rifle...r-action-10-rounds-18-barrel-6-4-used?p=46151
Zooming in one of the pictures, this mark right here very much resembling "JM" to me:
View attachment 904102
Serial number starts with "MH", not "MR", although I can't find any decoding for MH.
View attachment 904103
And there's no "REP" or "REM" on the right
View attachment 904106
The gun is probably 19+ years old, but certified by guns.com and, as per the description, it's never been fired (how can that even be true...).
So, unless there's something seriously wrong with the "CS" models, $600 is a very good deal that I cannot pass.
That looks like a fine 1894. Congrats!
Per your close up photos, the barrel roll mark shows New York and the receiver has that square code reader mark in front of the serial number. Both of those indicate that Marlin is a Remington Marlin made in the last few years.
I'm pretty sure all pre-Remington Marlins have some abbreviation for Connecticut on the barrel.
Not to worry, though. Those pics look like a very good 1894 you bought yourself.