Marlin 1893 Lever Action .32 Rifles

A very good and all original Marlin 1893 special order 32-40 rifle.

Octagon barrel with a very good dated to 1897

Obsolete calibre no license required.

Towards the end of the 19th century, Marlin was increasing its stance as a main competitor to Winchester. Not only was Marlin first with a lever gun that could chamber the popular .45-70 Gov’t cartridge (the Model 1881), but the Model 1889 introduced Marlin’s side-ejecting, solid-topped receiver. The latter was stamped “Marlin Safety,” implying it was safer than Winchester’s open, top-ejecting system.

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. Hepburn joined Marlin in 1886 and, realising 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.

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. Initial chamberings were for the .32-40 and .38-55 black powder cartridges Marlin had developed for the Ballard. In 1895, Marlin began chambering its Model 1893 for smokeless powder cartridges, including .30-30 Win. and later the .32 Win. Spl. (Which Marlin called the .32 High Power Special) and a proprietary .25-36 Marlin.

This was a successful design and was manufactured until 1925 but in smaller numbers than Winchester.

An opportunity to purchase an iconic historical range rifle in a calibre that can be owned in the UK as a collectible item without the necessity of obtaining a Firearms Certificate. An interesting rifle that is a little different from the much more prolific Winchester 1894.