The Marlin 1895 SBL lever-action rifle is once again available, and for the first time since the company was acquired by Ruger.
Marlin is back, and 1895 SBL lever-action rifles are now shipping again for the first time since the company ceased production in August of 2020. Many lever-gat fans retained hope for the company’s future since Marlin was acquired by Ruger amid Remington’s declaration of bankruptcy, but they were left waiting for any news all of this year. Luckily for them, their patience has finally paid off, as Ruger and Marlin have recently announced that the 1895 SBL lever-action will soon be seen on store shelves once again. Now produced in Ruger’s North Carolina facility, the 1895 SBL lever-action will have the same features as previous examples from Marlin, only now they will be made using revamped manufacturing methods.
President of Ruger, Chris Killoy, said this on the new 1895 SBL:
We are excited to officially flip the switch and let our customers know that Marlin is back…Since the move of over 100 truckloads of equipment and inventory back in November 2020, our engineering team took the 1895 through a complete design and production review focused on achieving the highest quality, accuracy, and performance standards. The end result is a quality rifle, produced using modern manufacturing methods, that consumers will be sure to enjoy and proud to own.
The 1895 SBL in .45-70 Gov’t is the first Marlin lever-action to be produced by Ruger, but the company says it has plans to eventually expand into new models and calibers including the Model 336 and Model 1894. As of now, besides the overhauled manufacturing process, the only real differences on the new Ruger-made 1895 SBL are its markings. The 1895 SBL has an MSRP of $1,399 and models should start hitting store shelves soon.
For more information, please visit ruger.com and marlinfirearms.com
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I would prefer it without the top rail and drill and tap the receiver, if I wanted to mount optic. Also, why not a more common cartridge like the 450 Bushmaster, which has similar performance to the .45-70.
Jim, the rail, which I believe to be an XS Sight Systems off-the-shelf piece, is removable, and the receiver is drilled and tapped for other sighting options. Additionally, some Ruger owned-and-built Marlin improvements include a cold hammer-forged barrel, a threaded muzzle, and a nickel-plated spiral-fluted bolt. They’re very, very nice rifles.
https://1895gunner.com/gunroom/marlin1895SBL.html
Regarding the 1895 SBL’s chambering, these are marketed to truly big game hunetsr and Alaskan guides.
Lever action rifle actions, by design, are most effective with rimmed cartridges, and the .45-70 Gov’t is not only a traditional choice, but a very common and robust one. Perhaps a .450 Bushmaster is in the works, but the .45-70’s .458″ bore provides for better-quality bullets, more bullet weight options, and more juice in a modern lever action rifle than a .450 Bushmaster, which, compared to the .45-70, is not only still in its infancy but considered kind of a curiosity in many parts of the country.
when will it be available in the United States and what’s the estimated cost
when will it be available in the United States and what’s the estimated cost
CSBL in 357 magnum when!?!?