Categories
Rifles

Marlin 1894 CSS

marlin_1894_css_01aThe Marlin Model 1894 CSS was a 2009 SHOT SHOW special exhibition, but the company received such positive feedback from SHOT SHOW attendees and gun enthusiasts alike that they decided to make it a part of their standard product line. The “CSS” stands for Cowboy Stainless Steel.

The rifle comes chambered in .357 Mag./.38 Spl. caliber and has a 9-shot tubular magazine underneath the barrel. That barrel is 18.5″ long, and has Ballard-style rifling (six grooves). The shorter than standard barrel is just another feature that makes this carbine a nice brush gun or fun gun. The overall length of the rifle comes in at 36 inches. As the name implies the barrel, magazine, receiver, trigger, and lever are also stainless steel.

Categories
Rifles

Marlin Model 336 BL

marlin_336bl_01aThe new Marlin Model 336 BL has arrived.  I got to handle one of these rifles at the 2010 SHOT SHOW in Las Vegas.  The BL version stands for “Big Loop Lever”.

This new Model 336 version offers a slight variance of their highly popular lever action rifle with a hint of old West flavor.  The Model 336 BL has an 18.5″ barrel that has a highly polished blued finish.  The stock and fore grip are composed a brown laminate finish that will be familiar to Model 336 owners.  And the Model 336 BL has the standard 6-shot tubular magazine that extends underneath and to the end of the barrel. Interior firing mechanisms are exactly the same as the standard Model 336.

The major difference in this model is the “BL”, the Big Loop Lever and the slightly shorter barrel than the standard Model 336.  Those changes may seem like small differences, but the handling and speed of manipulating the lever are noticeable.