The resurrected Marlin Firearms company, now under the umbrella of Sturm, Ruger & Co., brought back its first product to the market with the re-introduction of the classic lever-action 1895 in late 2021. This year, Marlin will be re-introducing two more iconic lever actions designs—the 1894 and the Model 336.

First to market from Marlin Firearms this year will be the Model 336, an iconic lever gun with its roots in a late 19th-century Marlin lever-action design—the Model 1893. The original 336, an update of the Model 1936, was introduced in 1948. Over the next 70 years, it became one of the most popular rifles in America, with more than 6 million produced, and is an iconic eastern whitetail hunting firearm.

Marlin’s rebirth of the Model 336 is called the “Classic,” implying that the 336 line-up will eventually include multiple models, like the 1895. The 336 Classic stays true to the original with a few subtle updates. It uses a 20.25” cold-hammer-forged, steel barrel that is rifled with six grooves with a twist rate of 1:12” RH for the .30-30 Win. chambering. Sights are adjustable with a semi-buckhorn rear and a hooded ramp with brass bead up front. The receiver is drilled and tapped for scope mounts. A side-eject action and offset hammer-spur will make adding optics a snap.

Marlin’s new Model 336 Classic features a checkered American black walnut stock and forearm and a satin-blue finish on the metal parts, with the exception of the bolt, which is nickel-plated, and the gold-colored trigger.

Though Winchester’s venerable .30-30 cartridge has undergone many updates in the 75 years since the 336 was first introduced, such as the addition of polymer-tipped bullets, Marlin has taken special care to make sure the new Model 336 Classic feeds all modern .30-30 Win. ammunition. A classic under-barrel magazine tube is retained on the new-model Marlin, and it is loaded through a side gate in the receiver providing up to six rounds of .30-30 Win. onboard. While the hammer features a traditional half-cock notch, the rifle also uses a manual push-button, cross-bolt safety for secure loading, unloading and carry. In homage to classic Marlin lever actions, the trigger is gold-colored.

The receiver is CNC-machined from forged carbon steel. Receiver and barrel are satin-blue finished and the bolt is nickel-plated. The stock and forearm are of American black walnut with both pieces checkered. The buttstock ends in a thin soft rubber recoil pad, and a cap on the stock’s full pistol grip is embellished with the Marlin horse-and-rider medallion. Quick-detachable sling swivel studs are mounted on the buttstock and barrel band. The overall length of the Model 336 Classic is 38.63” with a length of pull of 13.38”. The rifle weighs 7.5 lbs.

The Model 336 Classic has a pistol grip cap with the Marlin horse-and-rider logo.

The Marlin Model 336 Classic in .30-30 Win. will be available late March 2023 and will have an MSRP of $1,239. For more information, visit marlinfirearms.com.

Article by JEREMIAH KNUPP