Marlin Model 1895
Marlin Firearms · Rifle · In Production · 1972
Also known as: Marlin 1895, Model 1895, 1895G, 1895GBL, 1895SBL, 1895M, 1895 Dark, 1895 Trapper, 1895 Cowboy, 1895 Guide Gun
Overview
The Marlin Model 1895 is an American big-bore lever-action rifle chambered primarily in .45-70 Government, originally introduced in 1895 and revived under the 1895 name in 1972 as a modernized scaled-up version of the Marlin Model 336 action. Designed around L.L. Hepburn's original Marlin 1893 lever action, the modern 1895 pairs a solid-top receiver and side-ejection with a six-round tubular magazine, a hammer-fired action with rebounding hammer, cross-bolt safety, and a heavy 18.5- to 22-inch barrel optimized for large-bore cartridges. Available chamberings have included .45-70 Government, .444 Marlin, .450 Marlin, .338 Marlin Express, and - in the discontinued 1895M variant - .480 Ruger. Variants include the iconic 1895G Guide Gun (18.5-inch barrel, ported or unported), the 1895GBL (big-loop lever, laminate stock), the 1895SBL stainless laminate, the tactical 1895 Dark, the compact 1895 Trapper, the 1895 Cowboy, and the 1895 Limited. Production of the 1895 paused in 2020 during Remington's bankruptcy and was relaunched in 2021 by Sturm, Ruger & Co. - the 1895 was the first Marlin model Ruger reintroduced after acquiring the brand.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3402 g (120.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1016 mm (40.00") |
| Barrel Length | 470 mm (18.50") |
| Action Type | Lever Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Trigger Pull | 22.2 N (5.0 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Tube |
| Muzzle Velocity | 545 m/s (1788 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2753 J (2031 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 150 m (164 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1800 m (1968 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 508 mm (20.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .45-70 Government · primary — also known as .45-70 Govt, .45-70, .45-70 Springfield, 11.63x53mmR
- .444 Marlin — also known as .444 Marlin, .444 Mar
- .450 Marlin — also known as .450 Marlin Mag
- .338 Marlin Express — also known as .338 ME, .338 Marlin Exp
- .480 Ruger — also known as .480 Ruger
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Tubular Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Cross Bolt Safety, Half Cock Safety, Rebounding Hammer
- Features: Lever Action, Tubular Magazine, Side Ejection, Solid Top Receiver, Drilled And Tapped For Scope, Cold Hammer Forged Barrel, American Black Walnut Stock, Pistol Grip Stock, Laser Checkering, Hooded Brass Bead Front Sight, Adjustable Semi Buckhorn Rear Sight, Offset Hammer Spur, Soft Rubber Recoil Pad, Sling Swivel Studs, Gold Trigger, Bullseye Stock Inlay, Big Loop Lever, Picatinny Rail Optional
Variants
- Marlin 1895 Standard — Standard
- Marlin 1895G Guide Gun — Guide Gun
- Marlin 1895GBL — Big Loop Laminate
- Marlin 1895SBL — Stainless Laminate
- Marlin 1895 Dark Series — Tactical
- Marlin 1895 Trapper — Trapper
- Marlin 1895M — 450 Marlin
- Marlin 1895 Cowboy — Cowboy
- Marlin 1895 Limited — Limited Edition
Service history
Operators
- United States Civilian Market · adopted 1972
- Alaskan Hunting Guides · adopted 1998 · as Guide Gun
- Canadian Civilian Market
Production
Production years: 1972-2020, 2021-present
The original Marlin Model 1895 was produced 1895-1917. The modern Model 1895 was reintroduced in 1972, produced by Marlin Firearms until 2007, then by Remington (Freedom Group) 2007-2020. Production paused during Remington's 2020 bankruptcy and resumed in 2021 under Sturm, Ruger & Co., which relaunched the 1895 SBL as its first new Marlin model. Exact lifetime production unknown but estimated in the hundreds of thousands across all modern variants.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: L.L. Hepburn
Notes
Specifications reflect the current-production Ruger-made 1895 SBL in .45-70 Government: 7.5 lb (3402 g) empty, 40 in (1016 mm) overall, 18.5 in (470 mm) stainless threaded barrel, 1:20 twist with 6 grooves, six-round tubular magazine, approximately 5 lb (22.2 N) trigger pull. Earlier Guide Gun variants used a 457 mm (18.5 in) barrel and Ballard-style rifling with 1:20 twist. Effective hunting range is commonly cited at 150 m due to the low-BC round-nose bullets required by the tubular magazine, though handloaders using Hornady FTX bullets can extend this meaningfully. Maximum range reflects the ballistic limit of a 300-405 gr projectile with no sight consideration. The 1895 is rated for standard SAAMI .45-70 loads only - NOT the high-pressure +P 'trapdoor-only' or 'Ruger No. 1 only' handloads. Marlin Firearms was sold to Remington (Freedom Group) in 2007, production quality declined through the 2010s, and after Remington's 2020 bankruptcy, Sturm, Ruger & Co. purchased the Marlin brand and assets for approximately 30 million USD. The 1895 SBL was the first Ruger-made Marlin rifle shipped in 2021.
Background
The Marlin 1895 Guide Gun, introduced in 1998 with its stubby 18.5-inch ported barrel chambered in .45-70, became the unofficial defensive sidearm of Alaskan hunting and fishing guides against brown bears - a short, heavy-hitting lever gun that could be swung one-handed while the other hand wrangled a client or a rifle case. When Remington collapsed into bankruptcy in 2020, Sturm, Ruger & Co. bought the Marlin brand and tooling for roughly 30 million USD, and rather than resurrect the bestselling 336 first, Ruger chose the iconic 1895 SBL in .45-70 as the debut rifle of the new Ruger-made Marlin era in 2021.