Description

There’s a reason pistol-caliber lever guns never really disappear.
They carry easily, balance naturally, and turn practical ammunition into useful time afield.

The Marlin 1894 Classic in .357 Magnum / .38 Special is built squarely in that tradition—but executed with modern manufacturing discipline. Light in the hands, quick to shoulder, and calm in recoil, it’s the kind of rifle that feels equally at home on a long walk, behind a truck seat, or leaned against a fence post at the end of the day.

The 18.63″ cold hammer-forged barrel strikes a deliberate balance between velocity and handling. Long enough to give .357 Magnum room to perform, yet compact enough to stay lively in brush or tight terrain. Paired with a 1:16 twist, the rifle stabilizes common .357 and .38 Special bullet weights reliably, keeping recoil smooth and accuracy predictable across a wide range of factory ammunition.

Traditional sighting keeps the rifle honest. A hooded brass bead front sight draws the eye quickly, while the adjustable semi-buckhorn rear allows fine zeroing without turning the rifle into something it isn’t. The straight-grip American black walnut stock completes the picture—classic lines, crisp checkering, and a soft rubber buttpad that takes the edge off recoil without breaking period character.

Feeding is through a receiver loading gate into a tubular magazine, holding 9 rounds of .357 Magnum or 10 rounds of .38 Special. A positive cross-bolt safety provides an extra margin of control when moving between vehicle, field, and stand, without changing the familiar manual of arms that makes the 1894 so intuitive to run.

This isn’t a tactical lever gun or a showpiece throwback.
It’s a working classic, built for people who value balance, simplicity, and ammunition they can actually find.

Technical Scope

This rifle configuration is optimized for general-purpose, short- to mid-range use where controllability, ammunition flexibility, and natural handling take priority over maximum velocity or extended-range performance. The 18.63″ barrel and 1:16 twist are tuned for stable performance with common .357 Magnum and .38 Special bullet weights, supporting consistent accuracy, modest recoil, and practical effectiveness across range, field, and homestead roles.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Marlin Firearms (Ruger)

• Model: 1894 Classic

• Action: Lever-Action

• Caliber: .357 Magnum / .38 Special

• Barrel Length: 18.63″

• Barrel Construction: Cold Hammer-Forged Alloy Steel

• Twist Rate: 1:16″

• Finish: Satin Blued Steel

• Receiver: CNC-Machined Alloy Steel Forging

• Stock: American Black Walnut, Straight Grip, Checkered

• Buttpad: Soft Rubber Recoil Pad

• Front Sight: Hooded Brass Bead

• Rear Sight: Adjustable Semi-Buckhorn

• Magazine: Tubular, Receiver Loading Gate

• Capacity:

  • 9 rounds (.357 Magnum)

  • 10 rounds (.38 Special)

• Safety: Cross-Bolt Manual Safety

• Hand: Right-Hand

• Intended Use: Range shooting, hunting, ranch / field work, general-purpose lever-gun use

• MPN: 70410

Relevant Technical Notes

• TN-01: Lever-Action Receiver Geometry & Materials (CNC-machined alloy steel fundamentals)

• TN-05: Sight Systems in Lever-Action Rifles (brass bead, semi-buckhorn lineage)

• TN-07: Walnut Stock Architecture & Recoil Management (straight stocks, era patterns)

• TN-15 — .44 Magnum Lever-Action Twist Rate Selection (1:20 vs 1:16)