Marlin 1984 vs. Henry Big Boy

[ArmedBear]

If you unscrew the pivot screw of the lever, and remove it, the bolt slides out the back of the receiver with the ejector.

You can then clean the bolt, wipe out the receiver, and clean the barrel from the breech.

Oil, put in the ejector and bolt, put in the lever, put the screw back in, and you're done with a complete cleaning.

The reason that the lever isn't as smooth as the 1892 is that the mechanism is simpler. No free lunch, I guess.

At 6 lbs., my 1894C doesn't weigh more than an equivalent 1892, AFAIK. Can't feel the difference, though the balance and feel of an old 1892 are different from the Marlin, kind of like a Ruger single action vs. a Colt single action, maybe.

 

[Asherdan]

I'll let someone else describe the Win action because I looked inside an 1892 action once but had to go lay down awhile.

 

[rhernandez914]

Surprised at some of the comments

I am surprised at some of the comments I have seen on this thread. It is clear some of the comments and opinions do not reflect experience with these firearms. I own both the Henry Big Boy and a Marlin 1894 limited edition in 44 Magnum.

The are both great weapons and deserving of consideration.

Henry Big Boy rifles are made of a special brass alloy that was chosen for strength. They are not "Painted". In a .22 what is wrong with an alloy receiver? My Ruger 10/22 has the same thing. The Henry .22 works great and I find it as pleasurable to own and shoot as my Browning BL-22 which also rocks and has a blued steel receiver.

The tube feed is way easier to use than the loading gate of the Marlin. If you shoot lots of rounds this is an advantage. Loading gates are a pain!

The Henry looks better to me but the limited edition Marlin with it's octagonal barrel also looks great.

The Marlin is lighter weight and faster handling but recoils a little more because it is lighter. Because I bought the limited edition Marlin it cost as much as the Henry Big Boy.

I love both guns and can recommend both without reservation. Buy American and skip the Rossi lever action!

 

[PO2Hammer]

I like the Win 1892 clones. The Marlins are good, but I think the 1892s have a smoother action and look better. I had one (Rossi 1892) years ago, switched to Marlin with a caliber change. I shot a friends 16" 1892 Rossi stainless Trapper in .45 Colt on Friday. It was an eye opener. Smooth action, better sights than Marlin, nice trigger and the feel of the 1892 action. With my eyes getting older, the flat, square notched rear blade combined with a plain post front sure help with the sight picture compared to buckhorn sights.
I'm getting a Rossi myself, a stainless Trapper in .357.

 

[MachIVshooter]

My take on it:

Weight-2 pounds is alot in a rifle. The 1894 is much handier.

Actions-marlins are tight compared to other leverguns (hence their reputation for accuracy). This can make one perceive the action to be less smooth than a winchester, henry or other. It never bothered me enough to work on them, but they can be slicked up real good with some 600 grit and a bit of time. Having owned mostly marlins, other leverguns just feel loose to me.

Durability-Marlin and Winchester have it with the forged steel receivers. You simply cannot argue that brass or some other zinc alloy is stronger than forged steel.

History-If this is a concern, then Marlin and Winchester also win. The Henry's are good Replicas, but do not have the pedigree. It's like comparing a Uberti to a Colt. The Ubertis are good guns, but they're just not the real thing for so many reasons.

Up to you, and I'm sure you'd be happy with the Henry if that's what you choose. But the Marlin is simply a better rifle.

 

[SwampWolf]

Henry Big Boy rifles are made of a special brass alloy that was chosen for strength.

If Henry was really prioritizing strength they would have made their rifles out of a good grade of steel.

 

[eastbank]

i have winchester 92,s and i strip them down to clean them once a year, after i shoot them i clean the barrel and use air to blow the action out, lightly oil and am done. if you strip one apart to clean, do it on a table with good light,after you do it 2 or three times its a breeze. i have also owned marlins and rossies and they have needed to be worked on to work as i like them too. i admite i bought most of my winchesters when they were no so high priced. but if you shop around a little bit you can get a good buy, i just bought a 1892 rifle in 44-40 made in 1894 that was reblued some time ago for 700.00, it did not need reblued other than the owner at that time wanted it to look new again(no pits or rust) and it has a near new bore. i was offered 1000.00 for it not long after i got it. eastbank.

 

[cane]

History-If this is a concern, then Marlin and Winchester also win. The Henry's are good Replicas, but do not have the pedigree. It's like comparing a Uberti to a Colt. The Ubertis are good guns, but they're just not the real thing for so many reasons

The "Henry Big Boy" is a totally new design, it is not a replica of an 1860 Henry rifle, nor does the "Henry" manufacturing company have any historical ties to the original company.

 

[rhernandez914]

This is correct, the Henry is a totally new and modern design and not a replica like the Uberti guns. The reason a brass alloy is used is for looks (similar to the original Henry rifle).

The Henry uses the finest steel including the barrel, bolt and lug. This handles the pressure of the round. Using the right brass alloys of the correct type will give you strength similar to steel and the receiver is thick and massive as is the bull barrel (thus the weight).

I am not speaking about things I don't have experience in like some have here. I own a 1894 CB and a Big Boy in 44 magnum and if I could own only one, I would lean to the Henry. Both are great guns but the Henry is much better finished and much more heavy duty.

Both are far superior to the Rossi Puma which is almost as pricey with the octagonal barrel. I handled one at a gun shop just the other day which had a real Winchester 92 to compare to it. The Rossi finish is good but inferior to the Marlin and not is the same class as the Henry. The Winchester was much nicer but 4 times as much given it's great condition (an original).

The New Rossi's have a funny safety lever on top of the bolt which does not look right. I want a 92 and may break down and buy one but it will have to be at a gun show at the right price. An older one without the wierd safety. I saw one last month at a gun show. A browning is better but real pricey and double the price used. If only one was made in the USA. Buy American!

Check this out for those interested in learning about Henry Firearms, a TV interview with the owner:
http://www.henryrepeating.com/freestuff_rfd1.cfm

Also Gun Test, the guys that don't take advertising dollars loved the Henry Big Boy and Golden Boy. You can read about the Big Boy on the Henry website. I wish I had kept the magazines:
http://www.henryrepeating.com/bigboy-guntests.cfm

 

[GRAYRID3R]

My Son in law owns a Marlin (I gave it to him for Christmas), I own a Henry Big Boy .45 mag. that I bought AFTER shooting his Marlin. When it came time to buy his son his 12th birthday present we both deceided on the Henry Golden Boy. The Marlin is a fine rifle and I may get one in a caliber that Henry doesn't offer, but for a .45, .44m, 30-30, or .22 IMO it's Henry over Marlin. Plus the brass on the Henrys just looks awsome, as does the American Walnut.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

The Henry is a LOT heavier.

And, that extra weight COSTS you money - evidently Henry thinks it should run about $75 per pound for every pound its rifle has in weight "better than" the Marlin.

Henry Big Boy rifles are made of a special brass alloy that was chosen for strength. They are not "Painted".

The Big Boy may not be painted, but the black rimfires certainly are - the paint flakes off in largish chips over time leaving silvery aluminum alloy exposed - they certainly know how to take an apparently good design and finish it cheaply enough to make me want to never own one again. I'm sure the brass alloy ones' finish will hold up, though.

 

[Maverick223]

Henry Big Boy rifles are made of a special brass alloy that was chosen for strength.

LOL, because everyone knows brass is stronger than wimpy chrome-moly steel.