why are lever actions 357/38 so difficult to find?

[Charly]

I am in the market for Marlin 357 mag / 38 spcl , the 1894 round barrel 24'.

I gto my licence for it in August '07 and since then am looking to buy it but none of my firearms dealers can get hold of one !!

I am putting lots of hope in the present IWA show in Germany to finaly get a possitive response on my request .

[Anvil]

thought those were common as dirt. I know where you can find a 1894 carbine 357 right now.

Taurus also makes a lightening rifle in 38/357 you may want to look at. (it's stainless)

[Charly]

Anvil thanks but you forget I am living in Belgium.

I had people looking for a Marlin for me in Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany to no availe.

[freakshow10mm]

Remember he is in Europe. Some stuff is hard to find over there that are a dime a dozen here.

[Anvil]

You live in Belgium? WOW! You've got the trappist monestary eh?

I've got some Trappist Westeverlen 12 in the fridge right now chillin for the right occasion.

Are there firearm export laws that govern lever actions?

[Charly]

beer:
yes, the country of the trappist monastery !!
matter of fact I am meeting the guys from Dillon at the IWA show in Germany on Monday and I packed 4 different types of trappist beer for them together with some Belgian Chocolates.

laws:
lever actions are under the same laws as all the other firearms.

[CZ93X62]

Charly--

The "common" Marlin 357 Magnum leverguns in the USA are the Model 1894C carbines, and these have 18.5" barrels. If you are committed to the 24" length, it might be quite a long search--if you limit yourself to Marlin. There are Italian- and Brazilian-made reproduction Winchester 1892's available, and most of the USA importers show both rifle (24") and carbine length 16.5"-20") barrels. If it were me, I would avoid the repro Model 1873s in 357 Magnum. They may indeed be "safe" with the current factory 357 ammo that runs at ~36K PSI, but their longevity might be a question. The Marlin 94 and repro Win 92 can run forever on REAL 357 Magnum loads (42K PSI), and would be a better buy in my view. MUCH stronger actions.

I don't think there will be a tremendous BALLISTIC advantage with the 24" barrel over the 18"-20" tube. Straight-walled pistol calibers have very low expansion ratios, and don't benefit significantly in terms of velocity by lengthening the barrel. SIGHT RADIUS can benefit from increased barrel length, though--and might enable a shooter to hit better with the rifle's open irons or aperture sights.

Marlin rifles are A LOT easier to mount optics upon, if that is a question.

[WILL TERRY]

The 357 leveraction rifle I currently own.
PLEASE NOTE THIS : To the absolute best of my knowledge MARLIN has never made a leveraction 357MAG 24" round barrel rifle. NEVER !! THeir 18.5" carbines have a round barrel but all the long barreled rifles have octagon barrels.
Now, I may be wrong, I was wrong once back in '66 and haven't heard the end of that one yet !!!

[Anvil]

Are there any leverevolution 24" 1894's?

[BIGGUNGOBOOM]

I agree i have never seen a marlin with a round 24 inch barrel, But i know that Puma is makeing one. I dont know much about the transfer rules from the United states to other country's but if it can be done i know where a 20 inch marlin is for sale.

[BIGGUNGOBOOM]

ohh yea how hard is it to transfer beer???? i likes german beer.

[CZ93X62]

Will--

I think you are correct in saying that 24" round-barrel Marlin 94s are not a serial-production item, but I've seen just enough weird Marlins to "never say 'never'".