Make: Marlin
Model: 1894
Serial Number: 409152
Year of Manufacture: 1906-1915 / C&R
Caliber: .25-20 Winchester, .25-20 Marlin
Action Type: Lever Action with Full Length Tubular Magazine
Barrel Length: 15" Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade integral to a raised block fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a ladder sight which presents a fixed v-notch when down and a v-notch sliding leaf when up, dovetailed to the barrel. The top of the receiver and tang are drilled, tapped, and filled.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece smooth walnut with a straight grip, straight comb, steel curved buttplate, and a banded forend. There are no cracks. There are losses at the top and bottom edges of the wrist at the receiver. There is some sort of red paint around the loss on the top right of the wrist, some of which is on the tang as well. There are scattered scratches, nicks, and compressions. The LOP measures 13 1/4” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stocks rate in about Good overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blued, Case Color
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is faint erosion in the muzzle. The rest of the bore is pristine. In this writer's opinion the bore rates 8/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 30% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows modest to heavy handling wear. Most of the case color has muted and taken to a dark mottled patina with some figuring preserved in the protected areas. There is intermittent oxidation throughout and the sides of the barrel along the length of the magtube has scattered pitting. The condition of the magtube is significantly better than the barrel which indicates the magtube may have been replaced. The screw heads are sharp to tool marked with serviceable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety. The trigger is light and crisp. 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 includes serial matched NFA exemption paperwork dated March 17, 2026.
Our Assessment: The Marlin Model 1894 refined the company’s earlier short-action lever guns while retaining the solid-top receiver and side-ejection system that distinguished Marlin from its top-ejecting competitors. Sized for compact cartridges including the .25-20, .32-20, .38-40, and .44-40, it became a well-regarded sporting arm for small game, ranch use, and general field carry. This example’s 15-inch round barrel, full-length magazine, ladder rear sight, banded forend, and curved carbine buttplate give it the compact proportions associated with Marlin’s collector-sought “Trapper” carbines.
This carbine retains about 30% of its original blue and case-colored finish, with muted case colors, protected traces of figuring, intermittent oxidation, and scattered outer-barrel pitting. The walnut stocks remain in Good condition with scattered handling wear and localized losses at the wrist, but no cracks. Its bore is bright with sharp rifling, faint erosion near the muzzle, and an 8/10 rating, while the action functions correctly with a light, crisp trigger. The comparatively strong magazine-tube finish suggests a possible replacement, but the compact configuration, attractive bore, original surviving finish, and accompanying exemption paperwork give this early .25-20 Marlin substantial collector interest.
