By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
Since acquiring the Marlin Firearms Company brand, Sturm, Ruger has allowed the legendary lever-action rifle manufacturer to do what it has done best for decades: produce quality lever-guns at affordable prices, and always keep up with the times.
That says it all for Marlin’s “Dark Series” of rifles, now in four popular calibers, .45-70 Govt., .44 Magnum, .30-30 Winchester and .357 Magnum. All feature nylon-reinforced polymer stocks with M-LOK attachment slots, 16.17-inch cold hammer-forged alloy steel barrels, and slightly oversized loop levers for use while wearing gloves, and Picatinny rails on top. The forward handguard is made from anodized aluminum, also with M-LOK attachment slots for accessory mounting.
The stocks come with a cheek riser which may be added when using optical sights, and the butt is fitted with a good recoil pad.
The Model 1895 is chambered for the venerable .45-70 cartridge. Its tubular magazine holds five cartridges, giving this model a six-shot capability with one up the spout. The barrel is cut with six lands and grooves on a 1:20-inch right-hand twist. The barrel is threaded with an 11/16”-24 twist.
Another Marlin favorite now offered as a Dark Series model is the M336, chambered for the legendary .30-30 Winchester. It’s tubular magazine also holds five cartridges, and the barrel is cut with six lands and grooves on a 1:11-inch right-hand twist. This barrel is threaded with a 5/8’-24 pattern.
There are now two versions of the Model 1894 lever-action on the Dark Series, one in .44 Magnum and the other in .357 Magnum.
The .44-caliber gun holds eight cartridges in the magazine, and the barrel is cut with six grooves on a 1:20-inch twist. The barrel threading on this model is also 5/8’-24, according to Marlin.
The .357 Magnum version holds eight cartridges in the magazine, and the barrel is cut with six grooves on a 1:16-inch right-hand twist. Barrels on the .357 Magnum are threaded with a 1/2”-28 pattern.
According to Marlin, major components are finished with Graphite Black Cerakote, and the bolt and lever feature a nitride finish for superior wear protection.
Barrels feature a fiber optic front sight and muzzle brake.
The basic Marlin design has been around for generations, and these Dark Series rifles represent how well the lever-action rifle adjusts to 21st Century technology and tastes.
