It was the fast-handling, tack-driving carbine that proved most popular and, while not as prolific, became a serious challenger to Winchester’s Model 94 carbine. In 1923, Marlin also offered a five-shot Sporting Carbine with a three-quarter magazine. 32 High Power Special) and a proprietary. In 1895, Marlin began chambering its Model 1893 for smokeless powder cartridges, including. 38-55 blackpowder cartridges Marlin had developed for the Ballard. Marlin christened the improved lever-action the Model 1893, and offered it as a rifle or a saddle-ring carbine, both featuring casehardened receivers and sporting blued Ballard match-grade barrels. Hepburn joined Marlin in 1886 and, realizing the firearms world was entering the era of smokeless powder, decided to update the 1889 by lengthening its action, strengthening the bolt and devising a two-piece firing-pin safety-a feature still in use by Marlin today. These features were the result of a collaboration between John Mahon Marlin and Lewis Lobdell Hepburn, a noted firearms designer who had been on the winning Creedmoor rifle team in 1874. The latter was stamped “Marlin Safety,” implying it was safer than Winchester’s open, top-ejecting system.

45-70 Gov’t cartridge (the Model 1881), but the Model 1889 introduced Marlin’s side-ejecting, solid-topped receiver. Not only was Marlin first with a lever gun that could chamber the popular.

During the latter part of the 19th century, Marlin was giving Winchester a run for its money.

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