Make: Marlin
Model: 1894
Serial Number: 263114
Year of Manufacture: 1903, Factory Letter / C&R
Caliber: .32-20 Winchester
Action Type: Lever Action with Full Length Tubular Magazine
Barrel Length: 24" Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a u-notch elevator sight, dovetailed to the barrel. The tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight, none present.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece smooth walnut with a straight grip, straight comb, and a steel crescent buttplate while the forend has a steel nose cap. There is a small crack on the left side of the forend at the cap. The right side of the forend appears to have a repaired loss on at the cap along the upper edge. There are grain separations on the top and bottom of the wrist at the end of each tang. The toe is cracked on each side. There are scattered scratches, nicks, and compressions. The LOP measures 13" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stocks rate in about Good overall condition as refinished.
Type of Finish: Blued, Case Color
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is well defined. There is light erosion. In this writer's opinion the bore rates 7/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 0-5% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows standard handling and operational wear. There is scattered intermittent oxidation. Most of the rifle has worn to white and taken to a light mottled patina. The case color has completely muted and taken to a nickel color on the receiver. There is intermittent erosion and fine pitting. The screw heads are sharp to tool marked with serviceable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fair condition.
Mechanics: The rifle chambers a round but will not extract properly and needs assistance to release the cartridge. Otherwise, the action functions correctly. Half-cock safety. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with a factory letter which states that this rifle originally shipped as a .25 caliber rifle with a 24" Octagon barrel in 1903. The barrel on this rifle has been replaced with a .32-20 round barrel.
Our Assessment: Introduced in 1894, the Marlin Model 1894 refined the company’s earlier Model 1889 into a compact lever action designed around the popular revolver cartridges of the period. L.L. Hepburn’s action combined a solid-top receiver, side ejection, and tubular-magazine feeding, distinguishing the Marlin from competing top-ejecting designs. The Model 1894 was offered in .25-20, .32-20, .38-40, and .44-40, making it a versatile sporting and utility rifle for small game, ranch use, and woods carry.
The accompanying factory letter documents this rifle as originally shipped in 1903 with a 24" octagonal barrel and .25-20 chambering; it has since been fitted with the present 24" round .32-20 barrel. The rifle retains about 0–5% of its remaining metal finish, with the surfaces largely worn to silver-gray and mottled patina, scattered oxidation, fine pitting, and muted receiver case colors. Its refinished walnut stocks rate in Good condition with several cracks, grain separations, and a repaired forend loss. The bright bore retains well-defined rifling with light erosion and rates 7/10. The action chambers properly but does not extract without assistance, so mechanical attention is required. While altered from its factory-lettered configuration, this remains an honest early Marlin with valuable documentation and the enduring appeal of the company’s classic solid-top, side-ejecting lever action.
