MARLIN

In 1863, John Marlin left his job as a machinist and toolmaker at Colt's to open his own gun company in New Haven, CT. He began by manufacturing a line of moderately priced single shot pistols and eventually single action revolvers. During the 1870s, Marlin manufactured Ballard rifles under contract. In late 1880, John Marlin debuted the lever action repeater Marlin Model 1881, but required additional funding to produce it. In January 1881, The Marlin Fire Arms Company was formed in New Haven, CT, with Charles Daly as its first president. During 1893, Charles Daly sold his stock in the company to John Marlin, and in 1899, he passed away. John Marlin died in July, 1901.

Variants located in New Haven, CT include:
Marlin, John Mahlon, 1863-1881
Marlin Firearms Company, 1881-1915
Marlin Rockwell Corporation, 1915-1921
Marlin Firearms Company, 1921-1969
From 1969-2010 the business was located in North Haven, CT.
The Marlin Firearms Company (and variations) originally started during 1870 in New Haven, CT. For more information on models/variations manufactured after Dec. 31, 1898, please refer to the Blue Book of Gun Values. Also available online - please visit bluebookofgunvalues.com.
MARLIN logo

MARLIN Antiques Models

MARLIN FIRST MODEL "VEST POCKET" DERRINGER Image

MARLIN FIRST MODEL "VEST POCKET" DERRINGER

.22 rimfire cal., single shot single action, 2 1/16 in. part octagon/part round side pivoting blued barrel, no sights, spur trigger, full nickel or silver plated brass frame, wood bird's head grips, barrel marked "J.M. Marlin New Haven...

MARLIN MODEL 1898 Image

MARLIN MODEL 1898

12 ga., slide action shotgun, 26 to 32 in. barrel marked "MARLIN FIREARMS CO., NEW HAVEN CT., U.S.A." and "1894" or "1896" in two lines, various chokes, blued finish, wood pistol grip stock, grades differ in qu...

MARLIN MODEL 1881 Image

MARLIN MODEL 1881

.32-40 WCF, .38-55 WCF, .40-60 Marlin, .45-70 Govt., or .45-85 Marlin cal., tube mag., 28 in. octagonal barrel standard, top ejection, blued finish with case hardened hammer, lever, and buttplate. Approx. 20,000 mfg. 1881-1892. RF=1.

MARLIN O.K. POCKET REVOLVER Image

MARLIN O.K. POCKET REVOLVER

.22 Short rimfire cal., single action, solid frame, 7 shot unfluted cylinder, 2 1/4 in. round barrel, unmarked or marked "O.K." or "C.K." on top and "J.M. Marlin, New Haven, Conn. U.S.A." on side, bird's head g...

MARLIN MODEL 1888 Image

MARLIN MODEL 1888

.32-20 WCF, .38-40 WCF, or .44-40 WCF cal., 24 in. octagonal barrel (most common) marked "MARLIN FIREARMS CO. NEW HAVEN, CT. U.S.A./PATENTED OCT. 11, 1887." top ejection, blued finish with case hardened hammer, lever, and buttplat...

MARLIN O.K. DERRINGER Image

MARLIN O.K. DERRINGER

.22, .30, or .32 rimfire cal., single shot single action, full nickel or silver plated brass frame, 2 3/4 or 3 1/8 in. part octagon/part round side pivoting blued barrel marked "O.K." on top and "J.M. Marlin New Haven, Ct&quo...

MARLIN LITTLE JOKER POCKET REVOLVER Image

MARLIN LITTLE JOKER POCKET REVOLVER

.22 Short rimfire cal., single action, full nickel plated frame, 7 shot unfluted blued cylinder, 2 1/4 in. round blued barrel, marked "Little Joker" on top and "J.M. MARLIN NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A." on left side, spur tri...

MARLIN MODEL 1889 Image

MARLIN MODEL 1889

.25-20 WCF (very rare), .32-20 WCF, .38-40 WCF, or .44-40 WCF cal., 24 (approx. 39,300 mfg.) or 28 (approx. 2,260 mfg.) in. octagonal barrel most frequently encountered, side ejection with solid top frame, blued finish with case hardened ha...

MARLIN VICTOR DERRINGER Image

MARLIN VICTOR DERRINGER

.38 Long rimfire cal., single shot single action, flat full nickel or silver plated brass frame, side pivoting 2 3/4 or 3 1/4 in. part round/ part octagon blued barrel marked "Victor" on top and "J.M. Marlin New Haven, Ct&quo...

MARLIN XXX STANDARD 1872 1ST VARIATION Image

MARLIN XXX STANDARD 1872 1ST VARIATION

.30 Short rimfire cal., single action, full nickel plated or silver plated brass frame, marked "XXX Standard 1872" on top, "J.M. Marlin New Haven, Ct." in two lines on left side, 5 shot blued cylinder, 3 1/8 ribbed octag...

MARLIN XXX STANDARD 1872 2ND VARIATION Image

MARLIN XXX STANDARD 1872 2ND VARIATION

.30 Short rimfire cal., full nickel plate or silver plated brass frame, 5 shot, non-fluted blued cylinder, 3 in. round ribbed barrel marked "XXX Standard 1872" on top with "J.M. Marlin New Haven, Ct. Pat. July 1, 1873" o...

MARLIN NEVER MISS DERRINGER Image

MARLIN NEVER MISS DERRINGER

.22, .32 (most common), or .41 rimfire cal., single shot single action, side pivoting 2 1/2 in. barrel marked "J.M. MARLIN, NEW HAVEN, CT. PAT. APRIL 5, 1870" in three lines on right side and "NEVER MISS" on top, spur tr...

MARLIN MODEL 1891 Image

MARLIN MODEL 1891

.22 rimfire and .32 rimfire/Centerfire cal., 24 in. octagonal barrel most often encountered, choice of side loading (1st variation) or tube loading (2nd variation), blued finish with case hardened hammer, lever, and buttplate, sear safety s...

MARLIN MODEL 1892 Image

MARLIN MODEL 1892

.22 S, L, or LR, .32 S or L cal., 16, 24, 26, or 28 in. barrel, tubular mag., open sight, plain straight stock. Mfg. circa 1892-1916.

MARLIN STONEWALL DERRINGER Image

MARLIN STONEWALL DERRINGER

.41 rimfire cal., single shot single action, side pivoting 2 1/2 in. blued round barrel marked "J.M. Marlin New Haven, Ct. Pat. April 5, 1870" in three lines and "Stonewall" on top of barrel, spur trigger, brass frame wi...

MARLIN XXX STANDARD 1872 3RD VARIATION Image

MARLIN XXX STANDARD 1872 3RD VARIATION

.30 Short or Long imfire cal., full nickel plate or silver plated brass frame, 5 shot, fluted cylinder, 2 1/8 (very rare) in. round ribbed blued barrel marked "XXX Standard 1872" on top with "J.M. Marlin New Haven, Ct. Pat. J...

MARLIN MODEL 1893 RIFLE Image

MARLIN MODEL 1893 RIFLE

.25-36 Marlin, .30-30 Win., .32 Spl., .32-40 WCF, or .38-55 WCF cal., 20-32 in. round or octagonal barrels, blue (Model B) or case colored receiver, 10 shot tube mag., straight grip stock. Mfg. circa 1893-1936.

Marlin XX Standard 1873 1st Variation Image

Marlin XX Standard 1873 1st Variation

.22 Long rimfire cal., single action revolver, full nickel plated or silver plated brass frame, 3 1/8 in. octagon ribbed blued barrel marked "--XX Standard 1873--" on top and "J.M. Marlin New Haven, CT." in two lines on ...

Marlin XX Standard 1873 2nd Variation Image

Marlin XX Standard 1873 2nd Variation

.22 Long rimfire cal., single action, full nickel plated or silver plated brass frame, 2 1/16 (very rare) or 3 (common) in. round blued barrel marked "XX Standard 1873" on top and "J.M. Marlin New Haven, CT. July 1, 1873"...

MARLIN MODEL 1893 CARBINE Image

MARLIN MODEL 1893 CARBINE

.30-30 Win., .32 Spl., .32-40 WCF cal., or .38-55 WCF cal., 15 (only 61 mfg.) or 20 in. round barrel, case colored receiver, 7 shot tube mag., straight or pistol grip stock. Mfg. 1893-1935.

Marlin Model 1893 Carbine 1st Model Image

Marlin Model 1893 Carbine 1st Model

.30-30 Win., .32 Spl, 32-40 WCF, or .38-55 WCF cal., 1st Model, 7 shot tube mag., 15 or 20 in. round barrel marked "MARLIN FIRE-ARMS CO. NEW -HAVEN, CT. U.S.A. PATENTED. OCT. 11. 1887. APRIL 2. 1889. AUG.1. 1893", folding leaf rea...

MARLIN NO. 32 STANDARD 1875 POCKET REVOLVER Image

MARLIN NO. 32 STANDARD 1875 POCKET REVOLVER

.32 Short or .32 Long rimfire cal., single action, brass frame with full nickel/silver plating, plain or with engraving, 5 shot fluted short or long blued cylinder, 2 1/4 (very rare) or 3 1/4 in. round blued ribbed barrel marked on top &quo...

MARLIN MODEL 1894 Image

MARLIN MODEL 1894

.25-20 WCF, .32-20 WCF, .38-40 WCF, or .44-40 WCF cal., case colored receiver, marked "MARLIN SAFETY" on top, 10 shot tube mag., 24 in. round or octagon barrel, straight or pistol grip stock. Mfg. 1894-1934.

MARLIN MODEL 1887 DA REVOLVER Image

MARLIN MODEL 1887 DA REVOLVER

.32 or .38 centerfire cal., double action, solid frame, top break, 5 (.38) or 6 (.32) shot fluted cylinder, 3 1/4 in. round ribbed barrel marked on top "Marlin Firearms Co. New Haven Conn. U.S.A.", "Patent Applied For", ...

Marlin Model 1894 Musket Image

Marlin Model 1894 Musket

.25-20 WCF, .32-20 WCF, .38-40 WCF, or .44-40 WCF cal., possibly marked "BUREAU COUNTY" on frame or receiver, 30 in. round barrel with two barrel bands, case colored receiver, straight or pistol grip stock, carbine style buttplate...

MARLIN MODEL 1895 Image

MARLIN MODEL 1895

.33 WCF, .38-56 WCF, .40-65 WCF, .40-70 WCF, .40-82 WCF, .45-70 Govt., or .45-90 cal., case colored receiver, 9 shot tube mag., 24 or 26 in. round or octagon barrel standard, other lengths were available, open sights, plain straight or pist...

MARLIN MODEL 1897 Image

MARLIN MODEL 1897

.22 S, L, or LR cal., tube mag., 16, 24, 26, or 28 in. barrel, case colored receiver, takedown, open sights, plain straight or pistol grip stock. Mfg. circa 1897-1922.