Ruger Marlin

[Pat C]

Well what do you people think of the new Ruger Marlin 1894's at $1k -$1200 ???

[Bill in Oregon]

Gimme a Rossi.

[Pat C]

I'd rather have the Ruger any day but thinking price may not get the sales for them .

[JBowen]

They probably will sale all they can make for a little while. Then the competition will tell them they are priced a little high.
Just my 2 cents,

JBowen

[jeepnik]

Once upon a time, when the visonary that started the coompany still ran it, Ruger stood for high quality and fair pricing. Now that they are run by businessmen the quality has slipped as prices have risen. In short, I gave up buying Rugers of any stripe. there are too many other gun companies that still produce good quality arms for better prices.

By the way, have you ever heard the life span of a company.
Started by a visionary. When he leaves the company the beginning of the end happens.
Then the businessmen take over and decide to increase profits. They do this by decreasing quality and increasing prices.
As things continue to slide then come the accountants. They decide to save the company by cutting costs. This is done with poorer quality raw materials, replacing higher priced experienced workers with new hires, moving suppliers and even manufacturing off shore and purchasing other companies or product lines which also degrade.
When the accountants fail and the company is on it's last legs the lawyers come along and handle the bankruptcy and disaloution or the company. This usually results in the company and product lines being sold to another company on a downward slide of it's own. (Marlin-Remington-Ruger-?)

Ruger has hit the accountant phase. The lawyers likely won't be far behind.

[marlinman93]

Just got my latest copy of The American Rifleman with a writeup on the R-M 336 and 1894 in the Classic models with nice walnut stocks, checkering, etc. They look like extremely nice guns, and if everything Ruger makes is as nice they'll sell.
I of course never bought new Marlins, even when the Kenna Family owned Marlin, and wont start now. But I can appreciate a well made rifle with real wood, and nice fitted metal.

[Pat C]

I thought I read tge receivers and barrels were made from forgings?

[Grizz]

Well what do you people think of the new Ruger Marlin 1894's at $1k -$1200 ???

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Screenshot 2023-10-29 185349 Rossi 454.png

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this is the 454 I contemplated buying. I can't buy the 1894 44 because of the rifling handicap. . .
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[TomF]

I've not seen one in person but they do look to be well fitted in the magazine articles. Ruger as did Marlin is turning out the same boring products as before, 20" barrels with hooded ramp sights and barrel bands.

The cowboy line and the guide gun configurations certainly changed the catalog for the better. It'd be nice to see Ruger producing 1894P and CP, 1894&336CB, and the 1894CL (long barrel, short mag). Short rifles would be a welcomed addition.

[Sarge]

With conventional rifling and finally, a 1:20 twist, I'd expect these new 1894s to be more accurate than previous versions, and with a wider range of 44 bullets. That said, I don't want or need one bad enough to cough up that kind of cash.

[Grizz]

With conventional rifling and finally, a 1:20 twist, I'd expect these new 1894s to more accurate than previous versions, and with a wider range of 44 bullets. That said, I don't want or need one bad enough to cough up that kind of cash.

It seems like a lot of dinero, but if it could shoot my hand gun load it would be worth it in exchange for rifles that are gathering dust. Or a half-ounce of gold . . .

[AJMD429]

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I remember when M1 Carbines were priced at $100-150 and the consensus was that it was a ripoff.

A 'reasonable' price is defined by nothing more than the demand, so time will tell.

So far the Henry and Rossi leverguns are cheaper, but perhaps the Rugerlins will be deemed good enough to compete at a higher price point.

When it comes to leverguns, I could (but wouldn't want to) make do with just a couple short-action Marlins - one in 32-20 and another in 44 Mag., and one long-action, say in 45-70. So if Ruger is the only source (although the Henry's are pretty similar) and enough people agree, they will sell at that price, as long as the quality is decent.

[Streetstar]

I dont know what an equivalent Winchester 1892 (modern Miroku made) is selling for, but i thought they were in the neighborhood of starting at $1500

If i am correct and that is the case, from a practical standpoint a thousand bucks seems like a reasonable price -- in line with a Henry Big Boy i think.

The Rossi's look great, but if you get one that needs $300 in tuning from a guru like Nate Kiowa Jones, is it a bargain? IDK -- for 1k the Rossi might work like a slicked up rifle ready for a CAS meet though.

Depends on what a guy values or is into. For some of us out there (and i know im not alone) name recognition is worth a few more bucks too

[Grizz]

I dont know what an equivalent Winchester 1892 (modern Miroku made) is selling for, but i thought they were in the neighborhood of starting at $1500

I believe the Miroku 92s in 44 have 1:38 barrels. The draw for me of the Ruger 1894 is the 1:20 barrel. I think the Winchester 1892 is the most best and finest carbine slash short rifle on the planet, but'cept for the twist rate in the 44s . . . the Marlin 1894 I gave my son would not stabilize a 300Gr bullet with the fatal twist . . .

I looked at some 45s today advertised by sportsmans and they spec 1:38 barrels. WTH? I've never seen a 45 Colt with that twist rate, and it makes me think the website I was looking at is a fake. IDK

I'm just going to stop shopping and keep the cheap old Marlin made guide gun in 45, and be glad for it. It won't refuse any load I want.

But man those trappers are neat . . . LOL

[marlinman93]

I've not seen one in person but they do look to be well fitted in the magazine articles. Ruger as did Marlin is turning out the same boring products as before, 20" barrels with hooded ramp sights and barrel bands.

The cowboy line and the guide gun configurations certainly changed the catalog for the better. It'd be nice to see Ruger producing 1894P and CP, 1894&336CB, and the 1894CL (long barrel, short mag). Short rifles would be a welcomed addition.

Agree. I recall back in the 1990's when Marlin began stepping up their game and building various 100th Anniversary models that were tributes to the 1890's Marlins. I thought those special rifles, and the non engraved lower priced versions were just great! They brought back octagon, and half octagon longer barrels, and nice checkering. Then once the anniversary years went by, they seemed to just give up and fall back and the same old same old. Hope Ruger doesn't stop at 20" carbines, but not holding my breath.

[FLINT]

yeah, I can certainly sympathize with having a hard time coming to grips with the current prices of many things - not just shooting sports related (have you checked the prices of homes and cars lately???!!!!)

However, the price of the new marlins does not at all seem out of line with the 'competition'. Henry's are at least a grand, japchesters are $1500, and even Rossi's are $750. The new marlin's look really really nice to me and worth the asking price.

I bought my "new" marlin 336 new almost exactly 20 years ago and paid $350 for it. but at the time I was also able to pick up a perfectly usable used car for a grand. and 20 years isn't really that long ago.

[KWK]

Uberti has no problem selling their dodgy levers for more money than Ruger is charging for the new Marlins.

I wonder if Ruger will do an 1895 CB. The late model Remington Marlin was the nicest handling 45-70 I've ever tried. Perhaps I should have bought that one.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Your dollar isn’t what it used to be. I have bought houses for less money than my pickup costs today.

Seen from that perspective, I’m not sure that the price is out of line.

[JimT]

Your dollar isn’t what it used to be. I have bought houses for less money than my pickup costs today.

Seen from that perspective, I’m not sure that the price is out of line.

One of the problems is that most people only see prices going up. They don't see the real issue is that the dollar is becoming worth less and less. And they complain about high prices instead of holding our elected officials responsible for what they are doing to the dollar.

We were in Mexico when they devalued the Peson in the 1980's. We were in Mozambique when the Meticais lost 50% value overnight. I have personally seen what inflation does to people .. the common people. The politicians usually never suffer.

[AJMD429]

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Yeah, keep in mind that a rifle is a lifetime investment that generally will not need much in the way of maintenance or repair, and take into account that the dollar is not worth nearly as much these days whether you are buying bread or gasoline or firearms or real estate.

People complaining about the cost of 22 ammunition but a brick was on sale at $10 in the 1970’s so that would probably equate to about $50-$60 now, which is about what you find the sale prices to be.

Many things that I could’ve gotten in high school (1970’s) for $200 now cost about $1,200, and that would include a decent quality basic rifle. The merchandise has changed somewhat, in that there is less walnut and blues steel and nostalgic hand-craftsmanship, but there is also much more precision, machining, interchangeable parts, and accuracy.

So I don’t see anything to complain about.

[RIDERED350r]

yeah, I can certainly sympathize with having a hard time coming to grips with the current prices of many things - not just shooting sports related (have you checked the prices of homes and cars lately???!!!!)

However, the price of the new marlins does not at all seem out of line with the 'competition'. Henry's are at least a grand, japchesters are $1500, and even Rossi's are $750. The new marlin's look really really nice to me and worth the asking price.

I bought my "new" marlin 336 new almost exactly 20 years ago and paid $350 for it. but at the time I was also able to pick up a perfectly usable used car for a grand. and 20 years isn't really that long ago.

Very much agree with this. I find the new Rug-Lin pricing to be very much in line with the the rest of the biggest manufacturers.....if we are talking about their MSRP.

The prices being asked and in large part paid for the first Rug-Lin SBLs and other similar late Rem-Lins on the other hand was the definition of insanity to me. I recall seeing the first Ruger made SBLs on GB for north of $3g. Ummm.....no. For the same money or even less one could get a vintage Winchester 71, 1886, or other similar specimen which would actually retain it's value. Since the first ones, the prices on the new Rug-Lins has been inching steadily down toward normalcy and is settling right in the pocket alongside their equivalent Henry models.

[Pat C]

I thought I read the receiver and barrel were made from forgings ? If that is true that in itself explain some of the extra cost .
Most companies have been using investment castings to reduce cost and machining time.

[Grizz]

I thought I read the receiver and barrel were made from forgings ? If that is true that in itself explain some of the extra cost .
Most companies have been using investment castings to reduce cost and machining time.

Ruger pioneered and perfected casting fan blades for jet engines, and probably sell billions of them . . . their castings aren't a knock on quality. chicom castings? NG Their after-market aircraft parts can get people killed.

Barrels have forged rifling, one way or another. I think zinc parts are cast because they can't be machined, not sure about this. Also I think castings usually get machined, threads etc.

[Pat C]

I found out the receivers,internals,and barrels are all forged steel . With this in mind one can expect to pay a premium over any foreign arms.

Only critique I would give is I don't like the Marlin style checkering and I do not like later fat forend wood.

Option for plain wood and bone charcoal color case would be fantastic.

[44shooter]

Everything is much higher than even five years ago. That price point is in line with a nice traditional bolt action rifle like a M70 Featherweight. The bargains and availability of the early oughts are no more.

[horsesoldier03]

I was just reading that assembly line workers at Ruger start at $11.50 an hour and tool makers start around $18 an hour. Their machine operators are sitting at about 26% less than the national average for their job skills. IMO, that equates to dissatisfied workers that probably took the job to get by until they found a good one, and that you probably won't find many skilled craftsmen that care about the quality of their production. I think I will stick to buying the older JM stamped Marlins or a Winchester.