I need a Marlin expert! I've got a Marlin Mod 444SS With a 22" microgrove barrel and a ser#0503XXXX.
What does the SS in the model mean? The gun is blued not stainless and any idea to date of manufacture because it's not in the range on the site I found to get the date? Thanks for any help!

Yes, the SS had me confused in the past as well... especially since the 1894ss is a stainless gun. But alas, such is not the case with the 444ss. Prior to your model, there was the 444s where s stood for sporter. In 1983, or thereabouts, Marlin added the crossbolt safety and renamed the 444s to 444ss (sporter, safety).

Generally, the date of manufacture for a modern Marlin (post-79), is found by subtracting the first two serial # digits from 100. So your rifle would be a 1995 vintage. Does that sound right?

I have a copyright 1989 Marlin firearm book covering history of company and it is a 1 of 1000 signed by Col Brophy. It has a lot of good info on Marlin guns from day one through 1988. The 444SS came out in 84 and the 444S in 71. I also notice that they made 16,315 375 model guns (name to 375 win models) from 80 to 83 and only 2,441 336ER's in 356 from 83 to 86.

Yes, the SS had me confused in the past as well... especially since the 1894ss is a stainless gun. But alas, such is not the case with the 444ss. Prior to your model, there was the 444s where s stood for sporter. In 1983, or thereabouts, Marlin added the crossbolt safety and renamed the 444s to 444ss (sporter, safety).

Generally, the date of manufacture for a modern Marlin (post-79), is found by subtracting the first two serial # digits from 100. So your rifle would be a 1995 vintage. Does that sound right?
That makes sense, it has the crossbolt safety and it's condition is as nib but i bought it used at a small gun shop so have no idea of it's history. It looks like someone bought it and shot a half of box of shells through it and said "enough!" and traded it in.
Thanks guys!