NRA Gun of the Week: Marlin Firearms 1894 CSBL Rifle

by
posted on May 18, 2019
** 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

Henrylasr 01
Henrylasr 01

The Lever Action Supreme Rifle: Henry's 21st Century Lever Gun

The Henry Lever Action Supreme Rifle (LASR) is a step away from the company’s traditional-styled lever-actions, providing a number of features that carry the lever gun into the 21st century.

The Seekins Precision SIC: A Modular Rifle for Special Operations Use

Originally designed for a SOCOM military contract, the Seekins Precision SIC is designed for anyone who wants extreme long-range accuracy.

I Carry: Taurus TX9 Compact in a Galco Holster

In our latest "I Carry" segment, we pair the new Taurus TX9 Compact with a leather Stow-N-Go holster from Galco, Inc. This compact, concealed-carry kit is rounded out with an Xolotl automatic knife produced by CRKT.

The Armed Citizen® March 13, 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.

Review: Canik USA MC9 Prime

Canik USA built out its concealed-carry handgun lineup with the MC9 Prime, which is a larger, yet still slim, CCW gun that sits in the same category as other upsized micro-compacts.

U.S. Army Awards Mossberg Contract for Additional 590A1 Pump-Action Shotguns

The U.S. Army has awarded O.F. Mossberg & Sons a contract for approximately $11.6 million dollars to supply the U.S. Army with additional Mossberg 590A1 pump-action shotguns.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.