Tipping the scales at almost 10 lbs., the 28"-barreled Marlin Model 1881 was a very hefty gun ... Although many of Marlin’s early firearm records are incomplete, thanks to Brophy’s efforts ...

and in 1897 a 15" barreled model was offered. These featured a saddle ring—Marlin called it a sling ring—on the left side of the receiver. Carbine versions of this early 1895 are very rare.

Dark Series configurations for the Model 336 and 1894 should be out in early 2024. But I’d like to see Marlin expand the concept and offer an identical version in flat dark earth and call it the ...