Marlin 1894 CL

[TraderVic]

Reading through the 32-20 thread posted by Jim reminded me of this rifle that Marlin marketed for only a short time, maybe two or three years, and I don't believe many were produced as they have always been scarce.
I wanted one from the start, but have only ever seen and handled one of these. It was a used 218 Bee and I felt it was overpriced at the time. Stupidly I passed and have never seen another since. Marlin made them in 218 Bee, 25-20 and 32-20. Slick little leverguns.

[gamekeeper]

Reading through the 32-20 thread posted by Jim reminded me of this rifle that Marlin marketed for only a short time, maybe two or three years, and I don't believe many were produced as they have always been scarce.
I wanted one from the start, but have only ever seen and handled one of these. It was a used 218 Bee and I felt it was overpriced at the time. Stupidly I passed and have never seen another since. Marlin made them in 218 Bee, 25-20 and 32-20. Slick little leverguns.

You and me both....

[JimT]

Reading through the 32-20 thread posted by Jim reminded me of this rifle that Marlin marketed for only a short time, maybe two or three years, and I don't believe many were produced as they have always been scarce.
I wanted one from the start, but have only ever seen and handled one of these. It was a used 218 Bee and I felt it was overpriced at the time. Stupidly I passed and have never seen another since. Marlin made them in 218 Bee, 25-20 and 32-20. Slick little leverguns.

I got one of the first 1894CL's in .32-20. Carried it on my horse quite a bit and shot coyotes, Javelina and some deer with it. In the 1990's I had a full length magazine tube installed. Then I went through it and made a "race" gun out of it, removing the lever safety, the cross-bolt safety and the two-piece firing pin and lightening all the springs. I used it for nothing but CAS and often shot Blackpowder Class with it and with an old 1st Generation Colt SAA in .32-20. When I moved to Africa I sold both of 'em.

3220-1894_4.jpg

colt3220 (1)a.jpg

[jkbrea]

Reading through the 32-20 thread posted by Jim reminded me of this rifle that Marlin marketed for only a short time, maybe two or three years, and I don't believe many were produced as they have always been scarce.
I wanted one from the start, but have only ever seen and handled one of these. It was a used 218 Bee and I felt it was overpriced at the time. Stupidly I passed and have never seen another since. Marlin made them in 218 Bee, 25-20 and 32-20. Slick little leverguns.

Did you look in Classifieds? Sixer has ome for sale on there.....

[.45colt]

I think it was around '08 or '09 KirkD did a piece on the 32-20 ,I picked up a MarlinCL 32-20 not long after .fast forward about six years and I'm in a local shop looking at the used gunrack behind the counter. I see a Marlin Bullseye on a stock a clerk walks up ,is it a .22? No , it's an old 218 Bee. comes with two boxes of shells. He hands it to Me and it's about as dirty as any used gun I ever saw. tag on the lever says $349.00 . I broke my arm getting the CC out . an hours worth of cleaning and it was an 80% gun. sweet little Guns.

[Old Savage]

I have one in 25-20. I was buying a Ruger auto of some kind which was recalled before I could pick it up. Had the money on store credit, this was the most interesting alternative.

Looked at a 32-20 back when they came up but some other gun always stepped in front of it until it wasn’t there.

[joepb]

At one time I had both a 218 bee and 32-20. Like a ##### I sold the 218. I still have the 32-20 and it is a great turkey gun. I also picked up a ruger buckeye in 32-20, and they make a great pair.

[765x53]

I desperately wanted the .32 H&R Magnum. I was even one of those who lobbied Marlin to make it. They were always beyond my reach and now they are unobtainable.

[6pt-sika]

I had two of the CL’s in 32-20 a 70’s 80’s one and another made more recently . Had CL’s in 218 and 25-20 as well and one of the 1894CB’s in 32 MAG . And I divested myself of them all over ten years ago .

[BenT]

I have the Marlin in 32-20 and a Henry in 327 Federal. I could never find a Marlin in 32 H&R that wasn't over priced. The Marlin is more appealing and less bulky. I never found a good load that worked well in both in the handguns and the leverguns. I use the 115 grain in the rifles and 100 gr bullets in the handguns.

[TedH]

I also had one in 218 Bee, and in a moment of foolishness, I sold it to a fellow member here. At least it's in good hands I suppose.

[Sixgun]

Enough of talk! Buy! ----006

[AJMD429]

At one time I had both a 218 bee and 32-20. Like a ##### I sold the 218. I still have the 32-20 and it is a great turkey gun. I also picked up a ruger buckeye in 32-20, and they make a great pair.

I’m lucky enough to have both CL’s and a Ruger Buckeye in the family, but still working 75 hour weeks; HOPEFULLY before long I can scale back and enjoy some shooting of them.

[Nicknack]

My little Marlin CL 218 BEE, someone replaced the front sight dovetail post with a ramp, would love to get an original front sight, though it has an old steel lyman receiver sight.

CL BEE 2.JPG

[Sixgun]

My little Marlin CL 218 BEE, someone replaced the front sight dovetail post with a ramp, would love to get an original front sight, though it has an old steel lyman receiver sight.

I had a 218 Bee in the Cl version and killed many a fox and crow with it…….

Take off the ramp……it’s probably silver soldered on. While I can’t see it, the ramp could be dovetailed in and if that’s the case, just drive it out. A receiver sight has no place on a varmint cartridged gun…..get rid of that and put a scope of your choice on there.

Or you could leave the ramp on and put a scope on it…..put filler screws in where the factory drilled receiver sight was on……that sight is probably a Lyman 56 or 66 and is worth what a decent scope costs.

[Rockrat]

Had a CL in 218 Bee and one of the 32 Mag Marlins. Both went down the road. Wished I had the 32mag back!! Wouldn't mind finding a 32-20 Marlin or a Model 53 (missed one by a few hours!!).

[EdinCT]

I found a 32-20 at Cabelas for a good price during the Obama ammo shortage. I found I could cast a Lyman 115 flat point and put it over 4 gr of Unique and get 1170 FPS. It became my plinking rifle instead of 22's. Shooting it into a bullet trap and remelting the lead made it cheap to shoot and it killed coyotes very well too!
I still have it but never thought I would have issues getting powder, timers and brass as well has 22's. Its here if I need it but I don't shoot it for play anymore.

[JimT]

I still have it but never thought I would have issues getting powder, timers and brass as well has 22's. Its here if I need it but I don't shoot it for play anymore.

That's one reason oldtimer's like Sixgun bought primers by the hundred thousand and powder by the truckload.

[jnyork]

My 32-20 gets used quite a bit a lever action silhouette, knocks 'em right down. Fun

[Nicknack]

My little Marlin CL 218 BEE, someone replaced the front sight dovetail post with a ramp, would love to get an original front sight, though it has an old steel lyman receiver sight.

I had a 218 Bee in the Cl version and killed many a fox and crow with it…….

Take off the ramp……it’s probably silver soldered on. While I can’t see it, the ramp could be dovetailed in and if that’s the case, just drive it out. A receiver sight has no place on a varmint cartridged gun…..get rid of that and put a scope of your choice on there.

Or you could leave the ramp on and put a scope on it…..put filler screws in where the factory drilled receiver sight was on……that sight is probably a Lyman 56 or 66 and is worth what a decent scope costs.

Hi Sixgun, the rifle barrel has the dovetail filled and three attempted screw holes, a rough job that the ramp hides the other two holes. I've learned to live with it, a great little rifle chambered in a great little cartridge i'm saving up for a nice small Leopold VX-FREEDOM 2-7X33 , Cheers

[Scott Tschirhart]

I desperately wanted the .32 H&R Magnum. I was even one of those who lobbied Marlin to make it. They were always beyond my reach and now they are unobtainable.

Same here.

[JOG]

I've yet to ever see one in person.
Looks like a fun little shooter!

[4t5]

I’m hoping Ruger makes it in .327 federal

[Ragnor]

I bought one at an estate auction this summer. 32/20. First I have seen but heard about them for years. Got it for a good price all set up with a Williams receiver sight and a small white bead up front. Shooting a cast bullet load with 5gr of Unique I was told. Very accurate and fun to shoot. I have bagged 2 big possums with it so far. The Bee would be fun to shoot too. I would think the 32 would make a great turkey gun. Great fun!

[High Desert Hunter]

IMG_20230212_181215_679.jpg

I love my 1894CL in 32-20, has a Marlin coin in the stock showing limited edition, believe it is from 2008, although it does have the JM stamp. Arsenal 115gr powder coated bullet over AA#9 for 1850fps.