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Well built and contemporary to Winchester. And you can still purchase a circa 1900 lever gun +/- 20 years with condition and dripping with special order features for a mere fraction of the cost of a comparable Winchester.
John Wayne didn’t hold one!
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
twobit said
John Wayne didn’t hold one!
That’s about the size of it. Far as I know, Marlin collectors don’t have to ask why their guns have forging marks & flaking blue.
The name recognition a company acquires by being “first” can become a sales advantage impossible for competitors to overcome.
twobit said
John Wayne didn’t hold one!
Clarence already said what I would have: That’s about the size of it.
Online
I do have some love for the lowly Marlin, and Bullard, Whitney-Kennedy’s, Colt Lightnings and a few others. However, the Winchester has very special iconic status.
Let’s remember that not only did John Wayne not hold a Marlin, Lucas McCain didn’t either. Can anyone here picture Lucas McCain using a Marlin SRC?
It’s funny… I’m not one prone to giggling, but nearly did when I pictured Lucas using a Whitney-Kennedy .44-40 SRC. Anyone familiar with W-K’s should get a chuckle as well, given the very long lever throw.
Marlin was always a leader in innovation: reversible firing pins to shoot both RF & CF, 1st repeater to chamber .45-70 (big deal when it was the US service cartridge), 1st solid top lever gun, making scope mounting easy, 1st .22 repeater to handle S, L, LR interchangeably, 1st lever gun for smokeless.
All that forgotten because John Wayne didn’t hold one.
November 7, 2015
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I’m actually somewhat fond of the modern Marlins and even have an old 1894 in 32-20. Marlins bring a pretty respectable price around here and I’d like to have a 39A but the prices have gone up to more than I want to pay. I’ve studied the Marlins, even bought Brophy’s book, to better understand Winchesters.
Mike
I believe many here have had a strong Marlin connection. I recall Henry had been very involved with Marlins. Me too. I like them.
Here’s a Marlin I have in .33 –
I have a couple of Marlins as well. My favorite is an 1892 .32 Long Colt. I’ve been hand loading for it with brass I got from RCC Brass for several years. I load cast heeled bullets with both Black and smokeless powder. Also have one that’s rechambered for .32 S&W.
U.S. Army combat vet, 32 years CCFD Lt. (retired), NRA Benefactor member, Marlin Firearms Collector Asso., Cody Firearms Museum member - 89213093, WACA member - 11928, Griffin Gun Club board member, Hunter, BPCR shooter, Hand loader, Bullet Caster
My range trips routinely include one or more Marlins. Usually a M1893, M1894 or M1895.
On the topic of Winchesters, it occurred to me that all the Cartwright brothers carried Winchesters.
Lt. Mike said
I have a couple of Marlins as well. My favorite is an 1892 .32 Long Colt. I’ve been hand loading for it with brass I got from RCC Brass for several years. I load cast heeled bullets with both Black and smokeless powder. Also have one that’s rechambered for .32 S&W.
Sounds like a couple of fun rifles.
Oh yeah, they’re fun especially with the BP loads.
Come to think about it I don’t remember a Marlin in any of the Magnificent Seven movies either. Can anyone name a movie that did feature a Marlin.
U.S. Army combat vet, 32 years CCFD Lt. (retired), NRA Benefactor member, Marlin Firearms Collector Asso., Cody Firearms Museum member - 89213093, WACA member - 11928, Griffin Gun Club board member, Hunter, BPCR shooter, Hand loader, Bullet Caster
I have several Marlins I pack here in Alaska for Bears. My current favorites are a JM stamped .45-70 and a .444 that I customized years ago. I have owned quite a few Marlins over the years and still have several, some of them being quite old. I think the model number of my old .45-70’s (I own 2) is 1881. I sold a 92 in .22 that had checkered wood, pg, globe sights, and other special order features. Still have some 93’s and a few others. I’m sitting on a .375 and a .219 Zipper also.
Shoot low boys. They're riding Shetland Ponies.
Old Logger said
I have several Marlins I pack here in Alaska for Bears. My current favorites are a JM stamped .45-70 and a .444 that I customized years ago. I have owned quite a few Marlins over the years and still have several, some of them being quite old. I think the model number of my old .45-70’s (I own 2) is 1881. I sold a 92 in .22 that had checkered wood, pg, globe sights, and other special order features. Still have some 93’s and a few others. I’m sitting on a .375 and a .219 Zipper also.
TWO 1881s? Awesome! But is it possible they’re 1895s?
Lt. Mike said
I have a couple of Marlins as well. My favorite is an 1892 .32 Long Colt. I’ve been hand loading for it with brass I got from RCC Brass for several years. I load cast heeled bullets with both Black and smokeless powder. Also have one that’s rechambered for .32 S&W.
I rechambered a .32 L.C. Ballard to .32 S&W L. with a hand chamber reamer–only difference between the two cases is the thickness of the brass. .32 S&W is a very accurate cartridge still used in Olympic pistol competition.
Lt. Mike said
Oh yeah, they’re fun especially with the BP loads.\
Except for the cleaning part–not only the bore but the cases too. Had my fill of that!
Sure can’t knock a Marlin. I had one once and it was one of the nicest lever guns I have had. But nice doesn’t drive the market. Winchesters and Colts do. Right or wrong, good or bad that’s the truth.
Chuck said
Sure can’t knock a Marlin. I had one once and it was one of the nicest lever guns I have had. But nice doesn’t drive the market. Winchesters and Colts do. Right or wrong, good or bad that’s the truth.
Winchester & Colt; Ford or G.M.
I’ve always been the underdog…I lean G.M., Remington, S&W. 
Andrew Burgess was certainly a genius firearms designer, possibly second only to John M. Browning. I think that Winchester dominated the sales and marketing for repeating firearms during the late 19th century. The Marlin Model 1881 rifle was a great leap forward but never really threatened Winchester’s sales. The Model 1881 was a fine rifle but the Winchester Models 1876 and later 1886 simply outsold it.
All that being said, I think the Winchester rifles are better looking than the contemporary Marlin guns. Blonde vs. brunette I think…
I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder
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