NRA Gun of the Week: Marlin Firearms 1894 CSBL Rifle

American Rifleman Staff

posted on May 18, 2019

Support NRA American Rifleman DONATE

** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Lever-action rifle enthusiasts seeking an example built for the modern era, yet rugged enough to sustain hard field use, need look no further than the Marlin Firearms Model 1894 CSBL chambered for .44 Mag. and .357 Mag. Weighing in at 6.5 lbs. with an overall length of 35”, the 1894 CSBL proves a handy and capable pistol-caliber carbine, whether for trekking the back country providing camp meals or punching targets all day at the range. The rifle's polished stainless steel receiver combined with wood-laminate furniture contributes to its rugged nature, and the use of a big-loop lever makes fast-action shooting enjoyable. Ushering the rifle into the modern era is the addition of the included XS Sights Lever Rail mounted atop the receiver. To learn more, check out this week’s NRA Gun of the Week video hosted by American Rifleman's David Herman.

Specifications:
Model: 1894 CSBL
Manufacturer: Marlin Firearms
Action Type: lever-action center-fire rifle
Chambering: .357 Mag.
Receiver: stainless steel
Barrel: 16.5”, stainless steel
Stock: wood laminate
Magazine: six-round tubular
Sights: adjustable ghost ring rear, post front; XS Sights Lever Rail
Trigger: 5-lb., 4-oz. pull
Weight: 6 lbs., 9 ozs.
MSRP: $1,215

Additional Reading:
Tested: Marlin 336 Dark Lever-Action Rifle
Lever-Actions for Personal Defense
The Lever-Action Rifle: An American Classic
Video—ARTV: Marlin Firearms Today

Latest

Gun of the Week: Heckler & Koch CC9

The Heckler & Koch CC9 isn't merely just another micro-compact. It's the result of a significant amount of work on the part of the company's US subsidiary to create the first truly American-made HK.

Reviews, NRA Gun of the Week

The Armed Citizen® May 22, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Armed Citizen, News

Political Report | Braced Pistols’ Status Unresolved

The U.S. Supreme Court has characterized handguns as the “quintessential” Second Amendment arm. Pistol braces increase accuracy and ease of operation for large-format handguns, especially for users suffering from physical disabilities.

News, Political Report

The PROOF Research PXT: A New Approach to Barrel Rifling

PROOF Research has introduced PROOF eXponential Twist (PXT)—an advancement in rifling that improves durability, accuracy and shootability—to the commercial market.

News, Gear

Review: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker

Back when American Rifleman reviewed Springfield's Model 2020 Waypoint, we noted that we “...couldn’t help but wonder if a tactical-version Model 2020 rifle might be a logical future offshoot of the Waypoint hunting rifle." With the Model 2020 Heatseeker, that version is finally here.

Reviews, News

Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker 1

Marlin Goes Mad: The Marlin Mad Pig Customs Model 1894

Marlin’s latest Model 1894 lever-action rifle, a collaboration with Mad Pig Customs that is a far cry from traditional, delivers “modern, factory‑installed features previously found only on custom builds.”

News, Guns