Think of it as a Marlin 1894 in a Modern .44-40 WCF Chambering

While companies like Henry and S&W (through Volcanic) produced some of the first lever-action rifles, the Marlin Firearms Company wasn’t far behind. Founded in 1870, the company introduced the Marlin Model 1881, a design by Andrew Burgess, just a decade later. It was then quickly followed by a series of rifles from Lewis “L.L.” Hepburn: the Models 1888, the solid-topped 1889, and the side-ejection 1893. The Marlin 1893, complete with a loading gate, solid top receiver, and side ejection (Photo: Guns.com) Although the Model 1893 was a sound design, Lewis Hepburn saw opportunities to simplify and improve it. He removed the rear locking lug, which extended into the trigger guard and could pinch the shooter’s finger as the action cycled, and simplified the design with a one-piece trigger and a two-piece firing pin, the latter a safety feature. With that, the 1894 was born. Hepburn’s 1893 patent on the design that would become the Marlin 1894. It was initially introduced in four popular…