Need Some Marlin Decyphering

[MI2600]

I have to admit I have very little knowledge of Marlins except for a 39A and a 62. But recently I have thought of buying a lever .38/.357.
The Marlin 1894 caught my eye, but that's where the confusion begins. I see 1894C, 1894 CS, and even a 1894 CSBL.There may even be more.

Could someone please educate me?

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I have to admit I have very little knowledge of Marlins except for a 39A and a 62. But recently I have thought of buying a lever .38/.357.
The Marlin 1894 caught my eye, but that's where the confusion begins. I see 1894C, 1894 CS, and even a 1894 CSBL.There may even be more.

Could someone please educate me?

Are you talking their new line?

Back aways, the *S* denoted the then newly engineered safety where now it denoted stainless. You can see how that matters.

On the new line, Marlins 1989 page is excellent. C is carbine, B is whatever rifle you're talking about in a hexagon rather than round barrel, S is now stainless..... and so on.

Todd.

 

[MI2600]

Thanks, Tod.
Are there any particular models I should be weary of?

 

[Tommygunn]

I would gratuitously advise one thing; when you decide what model you want, try real hard to Check out the particular rifle that you will be bringing home. Examine fit and finish. Does the wood mate with metal acceptably? Do the sights look aligned correctly (obviously only shooting them will show accuracy)?
In the past few years Marlin has had some quality problems. Recently they seem to be improving, but some people still say they make some lemons. I bought a Marlin 1894 "Cowboy" a few months back and it is a nice enough gun so there ARE good new ones out there.
Remington's takeover a few years back hurt the quality, and you might try checking used ones marked "JM" for pre-Remington Marlins, as many people feel their quality was more uniformly good.

 

[MI2600]

Thanks again.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

As Tommy notes - be sure to SEE and hold the gun. Let conventional wisdom be your guide. If it looks not right... consider it wrong.

I look at most Remington phase guns as project guns. Even if only in re-fitting. That seems to be going away though.

Even in the Remington phase, there are some well assembled guns but they are all intermixed now with some having gone unsold from the worst period.

Generally, Marlin nuts not only want their rifles to be pre-remington but pre-cross-bolt safety as well.

Personally, I look at the Cross-bolt safety, though pre-Remington as the killer deals of the equation.

I personally, in fact, like the safety for the rare instances when it is rally worthwhile. It is considerably quieter and safer to slide the safety over than to cock the hammer (as quietly as possible requiring loading of the trigger while doing so) and anyone who's contended with the Jedi-like hearing of a white tail or mule deer knows THAT score.

So, I like the safety and you don't pay a pre-safety premium.

Models that are particularly hinky relative to their contemporaries? I don't know of any problems in that vein.

Todd.

 

[chicharrones]

Are you talking their new line?

Back aways, the *S* denoted the then newly engineered safety where now it denoted stainless. You can see how that matters.

On the new line, Marlins 1989 page is excellent. C is carbine, B is whatever rifle you're talking about in a hexagon rather than round barrel, S is now stainless..... and so on.

Todd.

Makes me wonder about the CSBL and SBL which have round tapered barrels. The BL could be as simple as Big Loop lever, but who knows?

Then there is the CST where the T might stand for Threaded barrel, yet it too has a big loop lever and no BL in its designation.

 

[chicharrones]

Generally, Marlin nuts not only want their rifles to be pre-remington but pre-cross-bolt safety as well.

Personally, I look at the Cross-bolt safety, though pre-Remington as the killer deals of the equation.

I personally, in fact, like the safety for the rare instances when it is rally worthwhile. It is considerably quieter and safer to slide the safety over than to cock the hammer (as quietly as possible requiring loading of the trigger while doing so) and anyone who's contended with the Jedi-like hearing of a white tail or mule deer knows THAT score.

So, I like the safety and you don't pay a pre-safety premium.

Todd.

I also like the safety for unloading the magazine when cranking that lever repeatedly. If for whatever reason the trigger were hit while unloading, the safety keeps the hammer from hitting the firing pin. Not a bad thing to have, IMO.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Makes me wonder about the CSBL and SBL which have round tapered barrels. The BL could be as simple as Big Loop lever, but who knows?

Then there is the CST where the T might stand for Threaded barrel, yet it too has a big loop lever and no BL in its designation.

Good point, the *B* seems to B beyond logic after all.

Todd.

 

[chicharrones]

Beyond Logic for the win.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Last year I bought a new Marlin 1894 in .44Mag. Overall, it was a decent rifle. Even the metal was decently finished.
However; the bore was the roughest I’ve ever dealt with from a new rifle.
Repeated attempts to lap, and “shoot in “ or break-in the barrel were fruitless. It was a 5-8” shooter at 100yds. I was very disappointed. I tried .429”,.430”, and .431” jacketed and cast bullets.
The barrel had noticeable tool marks in the barrel.

It fed .44spl, .44mag Semi Wadcutters. I really wanted to like it, but the accuracy was just too poor. Best load was a Lee 200gr RFN over 6.0gr of HP38. Fun short range plinker.

I sold it...

 

[earlthegoat2]

This is from Marlin Owners. I could spend half the day amending it but this will give you the jist. Just for grins Ill add a few hasty additions and notes in (parentheses)

These are specifically for 336 rifles. 1895s, 1894s, and 444s will have a few others I will detail below.

CS .... Carbine Safety
C........ Carbine. 1968 and up
RC......Regular Carbine same as C prior to 1968
T .......Texan. Carbine with straight stock, 20 inch barrel (quite uncommon and from pre-1970. Not all 336s dubbed "Texan" will have a T designation)
TS.......Texan Safety with 18.5 inch barrel.
SC.......Sporting Carbine, 20 inch barrel, 2/3 mag tube, pistol grip.
CB.......Cowboy, 24 inch octagon barrel and straight stock.
A.........Prior to 1980 24 inch round barrel PG stock
A........ Most recent, 20 inch PG carbine with birch wood, end cap forend.
W........ 20 inch PG carbine, birch wood, and two barrel bands (I always joke the "W" is for WalMart as these were plentiful economy options mostly sold at WalMart type retailers)
Y......... Spikehorn youth model short PG walnut stock 16.5 inch barrel.
LTS...... Texan Safety, 16.25 inch barrel. (Special run)
Marauder.. same as 336 T except has 16.25" barrel and SG. Roll marked RC. (Pre-1970)
ER......... Extra Range PG stock in 356 Winchester. (2/3 mag tube only made a few years in the 80s)
375....... PG stock 20 inch barrel in 375 Win. (2/3 mag tube. May have been made concurrently with the 336ER but was, once again only produced for a few years in the 80s)
XLR.......Stainless steel 24 inch barrel PG laminated stock (Just a guess but ??Extra Long Range?? Maybe since it was developed in conjunction with Hornady Leverevolution ammo)
CC....... 20 inch carbine with camo pattern birch PG stock (Carbine Camo)
SS........20 inch PG stock Stainless steel. (This can also mean Safety Stainless)
ZG....... Zane Grey Century PG stock, 22 inch octagon barrel.
336 Octagon.. 22 inch octagon barrel SG stock.

D - Davidsons Exclusive- Specifically 336D. A 336 in 35 Remington that is in ported guide gun format. Only 1001 made.
336BL.... big loop lever and laminated PG stock.
P - Ported - Marlin released a bunch of P models in the late 90s They are pretty common still but will probably become collectors items as Marlin slowly disintegrates
G - Guide - 18" barrel
SBL - Nobody really knows. Stainless Big Loop and Stainless Black Laminate are popular guesses though
GBL - Once again, a bit fuzzy. Guide Big Loop is a popular though.

In an 1894, "C" generally means 18" barrel but more reliably, denotes the chambering as 357 Mag. Anytime you see a C in 1894 format it will be a 357.

1894C - 1894 with 18" barrel in 357 Mag
1894CS Same as above but an older designation for the, then newer, cross bolt safety equipped models
18894CSBL Same as 1894C but with stainless black laminate (or big loop) additions.

 

[CraigC]

I'd get the one with the features I wanted and not worry about the nomenclature.

 

[MI2600]

Craig, I agree, but when you are browsing on line it helps when a seller of an 1894 CSBLAX only says it is a "nice gun".

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

This is from Marlin Owners. I could spend half the day amending it but this will give you the jist. Just for grins Ill add a few hasty additions and notes in (parentheses)

These are specifically for 336 rifles. 1895s, 1894s, and 444s will have a few others I will detail below.

CS .... Carbine Safety
C........ Carbine. 1968 and up
RC......Regular Carbine same as C prior to 1968
T .......Texan. Carbine with straight stock, 20 inch barrel (quite uncommon and from pre-1970. Not all 336s dubbed "Texan" will have a T designation)
TS.......Texan Safety with 18.5 inch barrel.
SC.......Sporting Carbine, 20 inch barrel, 2/3 mag tube, pistol grip.
CB.......Cowboy, 24 inch octagon barrel and straight stock.
A.........Prior to 1980 24 inch round barrel PG stock
A........ Most recent, 20 inch PG carbine with birch wood, end cap forend.
W........ 20 inch PG carbine, birch wood, and two barrel bands (I always joke the "W" is for WalMart as these were plentiful economy options mostly sold at WalMart type retailers)
Y......... Spikehorn youth model short PG walnut stock 16.5 inch barrel.
LTS...... Texan Safety, 16.25 inch barrel. (Special run)
Marauder.. same as 336 T except has 16.25" barrel and SG. Roll marked RC. (Pre-1970)
ER......... Extra Range PG stock in 356 Winchester. (2/3 mag tube only made a few years in the 80s)
375....... PG stock 20 inch barrel in 375 Win. (2/3 mag tube. May have been made concurrently with the 336ER but was, once again only produced for a few years in the 80s)
XLR.......Stainless steel 24 inch barrel PG laminated stock (Just a guess but ??Extra Long Range?? Maybe since it was developed in conjunction with Hornady Leverevolution ammo)
CC....... 20 inch carbine with camo pattern birch PG stock (Carbine Camo)
SS........20 inch PG stock Stainless steel. (This can also mean Safety Stainless)
ZG....... Zane Grey Century PG stock, 22 inch octagon barrel.
336 Octagon.. 22 inch octagon barrel SG stock.

D - Davidsons Exclusive- Specifically 336D. A 336 in 35 Remington that is in ported guide gun format. Only 1001 made.
336BL.... big loop lever and laminated PG stock.
P - Ported - Marlin released a bunch of P models in the late 90s They are pretty common still but will probably become collectors items as Marlin slowly disintegrates
G - Guide - 18" barrel
SBL - Nobody really knows. Stainless Big Loop and Stainless Black Laminate are popular guesses though
GBL - Once again, a bit fuzzy. Guide Big Loop is a popular though.

In an 1894, "C" generally means 18" barrel but more reliably, denotes the chambering as 357 Mag. Anytime you see a C in 1894 format it will be a 357.

1894C - 1894 with 18" barrel in 357 Mag
1894CS Same as above but an older designation for the, then newer, cross bolt safety equipped models
18894CSBL Same as 1894C but with stainless black laminate (or big loop) additions.

Wow... just - wow!

Thanks for taking the time even if the information from Marlin is *locked in jell-o*. Still a good guide and I'm going to print it in a file.

Nope, I won't throw you under the buss for the inevitable variation from time to time.

Todd.