What can you guys tell me about the Marlin 1894Cowboy rifles...Cowboy II also. I mainly am interested in the 38/357 versions & wanted to know if these are made to shoot only Lead bullets or anything? How do they handle & shoot? I really am interested in the CowboyII with the 24inch barrel- I gotta think that in 38cal- that rifle feels like a 22lr! :p Thanks

I have a .44 magnum with the 24" barrel, it is a real nice and accurate rifle. I really think the long barrel makes them handle better.

I would like to have the same in .357 and actually found one in a gun store today. It appeared to have only very light use and the guy wanted $500 for it. He had cut the stock to put a recoil pad on and it had some ugly (to me) wood... I gave it a pass.

I've got the 1894 Cowboy Limited with 24" octagon barrel in .45 Colt. I've finally gotten a chance to get it out on the range. I love this gun!! The balance is truly amazing! The gun seems to shoot anything I put through it, really well. However, I prefer Beartooth cast bullets.

I currently own 3 marlins 2 1894c models in .44 & .357 but the one that I always reach for is the 24 inch Cowboy Ltd in 38/357, its a far nicer gun to use and the balance and extra weight make for better handling. I've found it accurate and consistant with lead bullets even with light .38spl loads.

I found a colt .45 Marlin Cowboy a few years back. Used from a gun store. Very good shape , 400 out the door. I haven't got to shoot it a lot But I like the 24" Oct barrel, and it dose balance very well. Great handling and easy to site for firing. Just bring it to position and it fits me perfect . Love the looks and everything about it. Plus I"ve good results with the Colt .45. My Lovely Wife has the '94 standard , before lawyer fixes in .357. Both guns are great, and the .357 was bought second hand also. About three years back she gave 300 out the door . Seems like both were a little high but they were in very good condition.



MUTT












:D

I have the 44mag with a Marble sight, its great!

I have the cowboy II with a 24" barrel .44 mag. it's a great gun to have for a brush gun for deer, hogs and black bear, and a good little close range varmit rifle for arounf the farm or fishing cabin. I to love the balance of mine.

I have a 94CB with 24" bbl and in .357 it handles very nice is light recoiling and very accurate. With heavy loads and a hornady XTPHP 158gn it drops deer in their tracks.

I have the cowboy II with a 24" barrel .44 mag. it's a great gun to have for a brush gun for deer, hogs and black bear, and a good little close range varmit rifle for arounf the farm or fishing cabin. I to love the balance of mine.
I did the same thing with mine, even made a skunk fly once with it too. (240 grain XTP exploded on the rock he was standing on, sent the critter rocketing off into space) The whole truck and it's contents (us) were skunked for a few hours after that as well.

Just one of the dumb things I've done in my life was to sell/trade it for a Cowboy Comp. in .45, which works just fine for CAS matches and hunting; just loved that 24 inch barrel and checkered stock.

I have 3 1894 Marlins. The standard 20" .44 Mag, and 2 Cowboy guns, one in .357 and the other in .45 Colt. Both have 24" barrels. I haven't shot the .44 much yet, but I have put thousands of rounds through the Cowboys. Both are very accurate. I smoothed up the actions and both are now very slick and quick to use. I kept the original rear sight and deepened the notch. The front sights were replaced with square posts. I don't care for the bead front sights. This sight setup seems to work well for me in competition.

I am looking at a Marlin 2006 catalog and it makes absolutely no reference to a pistol caliber Model 1894 with a 24" barrel. What are you people talking about - a discontinued model???

24" was the original barrel length for the Cowboy series. After what must have been a bunch of arm twisting, Marlin went to 20" to keep SASS shooters happy. I don't believe the 24" are currently available. If you want one, you will have to look around.
My Cowboys in .357 and .45 Colt both have Ballard rifling and shoot lead bullets very well.

I wish they would bring back the 24" barrels. I also wish the would bring back the 30-30 with a 24" octagonal barrel too.

Boom-Clang, Or Anyone else for that matter,
Could you post a picture of your rifle with the marbles sight? I have the 44 Mag 24" barrel and would like to see the Marbles sight mounted before I spend the money to buy one. All help would be appreciated.
Thanks, Joe

I shoot the CB in 44-40 cal. 24" Octagon barrel that's balanced just right.Very accurate, and fun to shoot.The Cowboy loads make it a real pleasure to shoot.Standing up offhand shooting I can ring the 100 yard gong 4 out of 5 times.Wish Marlin had stayed with this caliber.Unfortunately they don't make the 1894 in this caliber anymore.

Boom-Clang, Or Anyone else for that matter,
Could you post a picture of your rifle with the marbles sight? I have the 44 Mag 24" barrel and would like to see the Marbles sight mounted before I spend the money to buy one. All help would be appreciated.
Thanks, Joe .

Joel,

I don't have an 1894 Cowboy but do have a 336CB Cowboy in 38-55 with a Marbles tang sight and a Lyman globe front sight.

Hope this helps.

.

Joel,

I don't have an 1894 Cowboy but do have a 336 Cowboy in 35-55 with a Marbles tang sight and a Lyman globe front sight.

Hope this helps.
Nitro thanks for the pics, that looks really good.
Joe in Fl

I bought a Marlin 1894CB this year in .45 Colt because I wanted to finally get a rifle chambered in the same caliber as my sixguns, I have several in .45. I could never get it to shoot lead worth a darn, sent it back five times, ended up going thru 4 rifles and still never got a good one, rifling on all of them looked horrible.Each one I recieved I would take to the gunsmith just to get a second opinion before sending it back, gunsmith could not believe what he was seeing, the barrels were basically ruined right from the factory, VERY course cut rifling enough that you almost couldn't make it out. While at the range shooting some Hornady XTP's through the third rifle I had three rounds go off in the magazine while holding the gun in my hand, gun flew apart like a piece of baked fish, I came out of that basically without a scratch somehow(I have a small piece of Marlin stuck in my finger, but no big deal). I finally refused to accept the last one, which by the way had the same rifling problem and got my money back. Real weird experience to say the least, I have owned and shot others Marlins in the past and they have always been build solid and good shooters. I had a 1895CB and it was built very good and the bore was slick and smooth. Have any of you heard of quality issues with Marlins pistol caliber carbines ?

Since then I picked up a Win. Trapper, what a difference. The fit and finish and more importantly the bore and finish of internal parts is MUCH better than any of the Marlins that I went through during my 1894CB ordeal.

Boom-Clang, Or Anyone else for that matter,
Could you post a picture of your rifle with the marbles sight? I have the 44 Mag 24" barrel and would like to see the Marbles sight mounted before I spend the money to buy one. All help would be appreciated.
Thanks, Joe

Here's mine, a CowboyII in 44 mag. The rear hole is factory, the front hole I drilled, on a drill press.
Humpty

http://home.pcisys.net/~dandunphy/graphic/MarbleSite.jpg

I have the 30-30 CB and love the rifle. Well balanced and a tack driver to boot ! I have a Williams FP peep sight on the rear and a fiber optic post on the front. Helps these old eyes zero in.

I'd love to snag one of the 24" CB's in 357 or 44. Perhaps one day I'll bump into one and actually have some money to walk out with it !

Regards, Vic

I just bought an 1894 Cowboy Limited, with a 24" octagonal barrel. I'm not sure of the date of manufacture, 'cause the rifle won't be here till Thursday for me to get the serial number. I've heard about some oversize bores in some Marlin rifles, and I was wondering if any of you knew if the Cowboy Limited series also had an oversize bore. The rifle is NIB, so I wouldn't think it was more than a few years old, but I don't know for sure.


edit
Here's the rifle...... all looks to be well with it. I'm looking forward to getting out and shooting it. .....well, seems as if I can't post a pic after all.

Marlin and Ruger both dropped the ball on some great guns.

Marlin dropped the 24 inch barrel 1894s and the 30/30 Cowboy model.

Ruger went to the NEW VAQUERO and dropped the big frame VAQUERO and BISLEY VAQUERO and THE .44 magnum chambering.

The prices and availability of them all will show the wisdom of those moves. The 30/30 Cowboy rifle is almost impossible to find, even at premium prices....and the others aren't far behind.

Hello all,

My father recenty passed away at age 77. I have his grandfather's Marlin 44-40. I have checked Marlin's website and it appears to be the 1894 Cowboy. All of the wood is solid, no etching. The barrel appears to be 24", it measures 23.5, but I guess another 1/2" is accounted for within the receiver.

On the top of the barrel there are markings that show: Marlin Firearms Co. New Haven Ct.
Patented Oct. 11 1187, April 2 1189, August 1 1893

There is also a number under the receiver, forward of the trigger assembly that is, 233896.

The butt of the gun is curved and the barrel is octagon.

Without a picture, can someone confirm what it is and many thanks for replies

Marlin and Ruger both dropped the ball on some great guns.

Marlin dropped the 24 inch barrel 1894s and the 30/30 Cowboy model.

Ruger went to the NEW VAQUERO and dropped the big frame VAQUERO and BISLEY VAQUERO and THE .44 magnum chambering.

The prices and availability of them all will show the wisdom of those moves. The 30/30 Cowboy rifle is almost impossible to find, even at premium prices....and the others aren't far behind.

I agree with you on Marlin dropping the ball with these two rifles. I wish I was able at the time to pick up a 30-30 CB. I already have a 1894 CB with a 24" barrel but would be nice to have another one of those.

[QUOTE=fwebb]Hello all,

My father recenty passed away at age 77. I have his grandfather's Marlin 44-40. I have checked Marlin's website and it appears to be the 1894 Cowboy. All of the wood is solid, no etching. The barrel appears to be 24", it measures 23.5, but I guess another 1/2" is accounted for within the receiver.

On the top of the barrel there are markings that show: Marlin Firearms Co. New Haven Ct.
Patented Oct. 11 1187, April 2 1189, August 1 1893

There is also a number under the receiver, forward of the trigger assembly that is, 233896.

The butt of the gun is curved and the barrel is octagon.

Without a picture, can someone confirm what it is and many thanks for replies[/QUOTE)

Judging by your fathers age when he passed away, and the fact that it was your grandfathers gun, the serial # indicates that the date of Manufacture is 1902.

Hope this helps.

Hey Lee,

Thanks for the reply. The gun is my father's grandfather's gun. In otherwise, my greatgrandfather. Does that change your opinion?

thanks,
frank

Hey Lee,

Thanks for the reply. The gun is my father's grandfather's gun. In otherwise, my greatgrandfather. Does that change your opinion?

thanks,
frank

Nope! I got the information from the ArmsCollectors.com website.

Thanks for the replies. The gun appears to be in great shape. I would really like to take a hog or maybe a deer with it. Where is a good place to look for ammo.

I apologize for the thread highjack.

frank

Due to the Cowboy Action shooting game, 44-40 ammo is fairly plentiful. The nearest gunshop to me carries Winchester 44-40.

Midway shows 44-40 ammo from several manufacturers. www.midwayusa.com

I was out on the road today and stopped in to a gun shop I've never visited before. Among the leverguns on the rack were two different Marlin 44 mag CB's, one with a checkered stock and one with an uncheckered stock. Both appeared to be about 95%......gets a guy thinking !

Vic

I was out on the road today and stopped in to a gun shop I've never visited before. Among the leverguns on the rack were two different Marlin 44 mag CB's, one with a checkered stock and one with an uncheckered stock. Both appeared to be about 95%......gets a guy thinking !

Vic
What length barrels? If one is the 24 inch w/ checkered stock and it's a fair price, snatch that one up! Then put the other one on layaway!:cool:

What length barrels? If one is the 24 inch w/ checkered stock and it's a fair price, snatch that one up! Then put the other one on layaway!:cool:

They were both 24" barrels. One was $499 & the checkered stock was $550 or so.

Vic

[QUOTE=Vic]They were both 24" barrels. One was $499 & the checkered stock was $550 or so.

Vic[/QUOTE

Too much for used; I'd pass.

[QUOTE=Vic]They were both 24" barrels. One was $499 & the checkered stock was $550 or so.

Vic[/QUOTE

Too much for used; I'd pass.

Agreed ! If I were really interested - I'd dicker him down and I believe he would get down to an acceptable price. If not - just walk..................


Regards, Vic

Agreed ! If I were really interested - I'd dicker him down and I believe he would get down to an acceptable price. If not - just walk..................


Regards, Vic

Same here; pawn shops always tell you they've got the same amount of money in the gun as it's listed for, when you know good and well they bought it for half of what it's worth. Ask if that's the price for NIB and then tell them it's used and you're not going to pay the same price for a used one as you would for new; then sit back and listen to what kind of BS they come up with. Ask them if either 1894 model has had an action job to preclude the "Marlin Jam", and if not then ask if either one is developing it (a clear line etched on the carrier). You'll quickly learn how little they know about any type of rifle action, model, type, or calibers for that matter.