1870
Connecticut, New York, Kentucky
- 1870 founded by John Marlin in North Haven, Connecticut
- side ejection lever action rifles
– good for shooters who need to use optics - World War I one of the largest machine gun producers
– M1895 Colt–Browning - 1917 bought Hopkins & Allen Arms Company
- 1953 patented MicroGroove Rifling
- Nov 2000 purchased H&R 1871, Inc
- Dec 2007 bought by Remington Arms
- 2010 moved to Remington plants
– Ilion, New York
– Mayfield, Kentucky
https://marlin-collectors.com/forum/
1-800-544-8892
marlinfirearms.com
About Marlin Firearms
Marlin Firearms was founded in Connecticut by John Mahlon Marlin, who began making pistols in New Haven in 1863 and was operating as the Marlin Fire Arms Company by 1872. In 1881 Marlin introduced its first lever-action repeating rifle, the Model 1881, built for large-bore cartridges such as the .45-70. It was followed by the Model 1893, the forerunner of the Model 336, the Model 1894 carbines in revolver calibers, the Model 1895, and the Model 1897, ancestor of the Model 39 and 39A .22 rifles. Marlin’s solid-top, side-ejecting receivers made its lever guns popular with hunters who mount scopes.
Marlin was one of the largest machine gun producers for the United States and its allies during World War I, and in July 1953 it introduced MicroGroove rifling in its .22 rimfire barrels. The company bought the assets of H&R 1871 in November 2000 and was itself acquired by Remington in December 2007; production moved from North Haven to Remington plants in Ilion, New York and Mayfield, Kentucky after 2010. When Remington’s assets were auctioned in its 2020 bankruptcy, Sturm, Ruger & Co. bought Marlin for $30 million and shipped its equipment to Ruger’s Mayodan, North Carolina facility in December 2020. As of 2026 Marlin lever-action rifles are made under Ruger ownership.
Key Facts
- 1881: Model 1881, Marlin’s first lever-action repeating rifle
- July 1953: MicroGroove rifling introduced
- November 2000: Marlin buys the assets of H&R 1871, Inc.
- December 2007: Remington acquires Marlin
- September 2020: Sturm, Ruger & Co. buys Marlin from the Remington bankruptcy for $30 million
- December 9, 2020: Marlin’s equipment ships to Ruger’s Mayodan, North Carolina facility
Learn More
Sources
Profiles on Minuteman University.com are editorial content compiled from public sources. Inclusion does not imply endorsement of, sponsorship by, or affiliation with this site or the Gun Websites Firearms Network. Corrections and removal requests are welcome through Contact Us.