Is Marlin Firearms Dying?

welnet · September 2, 2009, 08:20 PM

I'm wondering about the life expectancy of Marlin Firearms. Late last year they announced the "New 1895SBL Model for 2009" which still is not readily available and now 2009 is almost over. Seems since they were bought by Remington in 2007 that production is either way down or non-existent. Go to Davidson's Gun Gallery (seems to be the primary distributor for Marlin) and look at the available models. The only things available are mostly off-caliber rifles which most likely have been on the shelf for quite awhile. All the online and local dealers I contact say they can't get the 1895SBL and have no idea if they will be able to get one - no projected production dates from Marlin. I hope they are not going under, I REALLY want one of the 1895SBL models, but not if I can't get warranty work due to no one left to ship it to

If lack of product was due to selling as fast as they come out the door - then why no sales reports. Most of the forums are full of "wish I could get it, but can't find it" reports.

Anyone know what's going on with Marlin? I would hate to see these high quality firearms become a casualty of the economy......

zoomie · September 2, 2009, 08:27 PM

The SBL is already out for sale. Guys are giving range reports.

I'm not sure if you have to join to read, but in case not:
http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/i...c,49107.0.html
http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/i...c,49173.0.html

GONIF · September 2, 2009, 08:28 PM

I would hate to see them go ,I have never had a bad Marlin product.

welnet · September 2, 2009, 08:29 PM

It is out for sale, in VERY limited quantity. But the point is it "seems" that there have not been many of any models rolling out recently.......

sholling · September 2, 2009, 09:55 PM

I think Marlin like everyone else is selling everything they can produce.

JWT · September 2, 2009, 10:07 PM

Don't seem to be in bad shape. Lots of different models available from them. 'Spect they'll be around for quite some time.

.300 Weatherby Mag · September 2, 2009, 10:54 PM

All the marlin dealers I've been to in the last three months has had a good selection of guns... Rimfires, XL-7s, 336, 1894, 1895 etc... I've even handled a 1895SBL, but wasn't ready to drop the $980 on it..... Are they dying?? I think not....

Dikran Yacoubian · September 2, 2009, 11:02 PM

I got an SBL about 3 weeks ago - I've been waiting since SHOT, and it finally came in. $899.

-- Dikran Yacoubian
Columbia, SC

CraigC · September 3, 2009, 01:48 AM

This is how rumors get started....never a good thing.

Skan21 · September 3, 2009, 02:02 AM

I don't know, but I hope so! That way the first run .444 Marlin, that my uncle said I could have when he flunks Earth, will skyrocket in price. That way I can feel smug, and still not sell it to anyone! That thing is mint. He's shot about 50 rounds through it. After shooting it with a full power load, I know why. It hurts on both ends.

2DaMtns · September 3, 2009, 02:12 AM

I hope you're joking, Skan. If you are, please ignore the following, but I feel it is very uncool to hope that an entire American gun company will go under just so that the value of a firearm you own will go through the roof, especially considering you just said you'd never sell it. If you are that attached to it, then the monetary value doesn't matter. Whether it's worth $1 or $1,000,000, to you it would be priceless. Again, I hope you're joking, otherwise this is ridiculous.

CajunBass · September 3, 2009, 04:11 AM

Of course he's joking. Did you even read all of what he wrote?

If they are the rifles they're making look as good or better than ever. Not usually a sign of a company that's struggling.

Skan21 · September 3, 2009, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Some of you guys need to trade in a few of those Safe Queens and see if you can get a good deal on a Sense of Humor.- Me

There's your answer right there 2DaMtns.That's my signature. Of course I would care if Marlin went out of business. They own a piece of American firearms history.

Gunsby_Blazen · September 3, 2009, 04:47 AM

Marlins are out but they sell so fast that it seems like there are none...
last month there was a 357 i was going to get. i looked at it the first day it came in and my local gun shop owner was putting it on the shelf. i was running late for other things i had to get done that day so i decided to come by early the next day to check it out and the sucker was gone in less than a day. Marlins sell like hotcakes, all of their guns. that is what i see anyway... now pumas and other leverguns dont sell quite so quick at the shop. come to think about it, i have only seen 2 Winchesters in the past couple years in the gun shop also.....
quality guns sell, thats what i got to say, and thats a good thing. as for the 1895sbl, one of the distributors at my club has a few for sale every now and then but they are selling fast. some in stock one day and then none the next; i think that speaks for what is going on. i am still looking for those stainless 1894c that are supposed to be out... they are sold out too from the distributor when i ask about inventory...

JagFarlane · September 3, 2009, 05:43 AM

Somehow I doubt it. But finding one in .357 or .44 is a pain because they're very popular for the cowboy action shooters.

Waterengineer · September 3, 2009, 07:04 AM

Is the OP trolling or is this a serious question?

welnet · September 3, 2009, 09:25 AM

I don't know what "OP trolling" is, but before I spend around $900 on a rifle, I want to make sure the manufacturer will still be around if/when it needs warranty work. 6 months of watching for a specific model and also paying attention to availabilty of other models has me a little concerned. It seems the general concensus here is that I have nothing to worry about (other than keep waiting)

Dr Raoul Duke · September 3, 2009, 12:14 PM

If Marlin is dying, they must be doing it in style. I went to a Cowboy Action Match last Sunday and the boys from Rancho Cordova Guns and Ammo were there with their tent and had at least 10 Marlins for sale. The shoot was, as usual, 75% Marlins against all other comers. I have five Marlins (2 .44 Mag, 1 .45 Colt, 1 .45-70 and one .22 LR) and if I want to buy another lever action rifle it will be a Marlin.

Dr. Raoul Duke
Gonzo Forever

moosemike · September 3, 2009, 12:27 PM

Marlins' doing great especially since there are no more Win 94's being made. Their only competition is Mossbergs goofy lever action attempt.

gb_in_ga · September 3, 2009, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Marlins' doing great especially since there are no more Win 94's being made.

IMHO, this is true. If it came down to it, they could do quite well just focusing on making 336's. They sell 'em as fast as they can make them as it is, and that isn't showing any signs of changing any time soon.

SeekHer · September 3, 2009, 03:17 PM

From The Firearms Blog

Quote:

Cerberus are in big trouble!
ZeroHedge via. WSJ report that investors in the Cerberus hedge fund want out.

Quote:

Cerberus Capital Management has been swamped with redemption requests with the Wall Street Journal reporting that investors are asking to pull out $5.5 billion or 71 percent of assets from its hedge funds.

Cerberus last month tried to entice investors into staying with the firm, but found that its clients overwhelmingly wanted to leave, the newspaper reported.

Last year, when the average hedge fund lost 19 percent, Partners lost 24.5 percent on investments.

I am not sure how this is going to effect the other assets owned by Cerberus. According to Wikipedia Cerberus have $24 billion in assets.

Among their assets is the Freedom Group which owns Remington, Bushmaster, Marlin and other gun manufacturers.

azredhawk44 · September 3, 2009, 03:23 PM

Cerberus must have some losing ventures elsewhere than firearms that got hurt big-time, then.

Anyone running a firearms company into a 25% loss over the last year needs to be shot, hanged, horse-whipped, keel-hauled then shot again for good measure.

(Sportsman's Warehouse, anyone?)

csmsss · September 3, 2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Cerberus must have some losing ventures elsewhere than firearms that got hurt big-time, then.

Sure do - can you say Chrysler? Before the bailout and bankruptcy, Cerberus was the 80% majority shareholder of Chrysler Corporation.

Willie D · September 3, 2009, 05:29 PM

Someone on another board tried to get a 918t special ordered to a Walmart and apparently Marlin told Walmart they were "out of stock". No 'we'll have a few in a month", etc.

Micropterus · September 3, 2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Marlins are out but they sell so fast that it seems like there are none...

Agreed. A high quality, affordable gun has been a hot commodity recently. I've checked several local shops for a simple Marlin Model 60 SS and ended up having BPS ship one from Georgia. No one can keep them on the shelves.

September 2, 2009, 08:20 PM	#1
welnet Junior Member Join Date: November 21, 2008 Location: Vashon, WA Posts: 10	Is Marlin Firearms Dying? I'm wondering about the life expectancy of Marlin Firearms. Late last year they announced the "New 1895SBL Model for 2009" which still is not readily available and now 2009 is almost over. Seems since they were bought by Remington in 2007 that production is either way down or non-existent. Go to Davidson's Gun Gallery (seems to be the primary distributor for Marlin) and look at the available models. The only things available are mostly off-caliber rifles which most likely have been on the shelf for quite awhile. All the online and local dealers I contact say they can't get the 1895SBL and have no idea if they will be able to get one - no projected production dates from Marlin. I hope they are not going under, I REALLY want one of the 1895SBL models, but not if I can't get warranty work due to no one left to ship it to If lack of product was due to selling as fast as they come out the door - then why no sales reports. Most of the forums are full of "wish I could get it, but can't find it" reports. Anyone know what's going on with Marlin? I would hate to see these high quality firearms become a casualty of the economy......

September 2, 2009, 08:28 PM	#3
GONIF Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2009 Location: PHOENIX IT'S A DRY HEAT AZ Posts: 844	I would hate to see them go ,I have never had a bad Marlin product. __________________ WHO ME ?

September 2, 2009, 09:55 PM	#5
sholling Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 1999 Location: Hemet (middle of nowhere) California Posts: 4,252	I think Marlin like everyone else is selling everything they can produce. __________________ Proud Life Member: National Rifle Association, California Rifle & Pistol Association, and the Second Amendment Foundation. Annual Member: Revolutionary War Veterans Association (Project Appleseed) and the Madison Society.

September 3, 2009, 02:02 AM	#10
Skan21 Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2009 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 463	I don't know, but I hope so! That way the first run .444 Marlin, that my uncle said I could have when he flunks Earth, will skyrocket in price. That way I can feel smug, and still not sell it to anyone! That thing is mint. He's shot about 50 rounds through it. After shooting it with a full power load, I know why. It hurts on both ends. __________________ "An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life."- Robert Heinlein Some of you guys need to trade in a few of those Safe Queens and see if you can get a good deal on a Sense of Humor.- Me

September 3, 2009, 04:11 AM	#12
CajunBass Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2005 Location: Chancellorsville, Virginia Posts: 3,101	Of course he's joking. Did you even read all of what he wrote? If they are the rifles they're making look as good or better than ever. Not usually a sign of a company that's struggling. __________________ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV) Last edited by CajunBass; September 3, 2009 at 04:16 AM.

September 2, 2009, 08:27 PM	#2
zoomie Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2006 Location: SEUS Posts: 1,684	The SBL is already out for sale. Guys are giving range reports. I'm not sure if you have to join to read, but in case not: http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/i...c,49107.0.html http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/i...c,49173.0.html

September 2, 2009, 08:29 PM	#4
welnet Junior Member Join Date: November 21, 2008 Location: Vashon, WA Posts: 10	It is out for sale, in VERY limited quantity. But the point is it "seems" that there have not been many of any models rolling out recently.......

September 2, 2009, 10:07 PM	#6
JWT Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 2,823	Don't seem to be in bad shape. Lots of different models available from them. 'Spect they'll be around for quite some time.

September 2, 2009, 10:54 PM	#7
.300 Weatherby Mag Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2008 Posts: 1,707	All the marlin dealers I've been to in the last three months has had a good selection of guns... Rimfires, XL-7s, 336, 1894, 1895 etc... I've even handled a 1895SBL, but wasn't ready to drop the $980 on it..... Are they dying?? I think not....

September 2, 2009, 11:02 PM	#8
Dikran Yacoubian Member Join Date: May 10, 2009 Posts: 35	I got an SBL about 3 weeks ago - I've been waiting since SHOT, and it finally came in. $899. -- Dikran Yacoubian Columbia, SC

September 3, 2009, 01:48 AM	#9
CraigC Junior member Join Date: November 28, 2001 Location: West Tennessee Posts: 4,300	This is how rumors get started....never a good thing.

September 3, 2009, 02:12 AM	#11
2DaMtns Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2008 Posts: 430	I hope you're joking, Skan. If you are, please ignore the following, but I feel it is very uncool to hope that an entire American gun company will go under just so that the value of a firearm you own will go through the roof, especially considering you just said you'd never sell it. If you are that attached to it, then the monetary value doesn't matter. Whether it's worth $1 or $1,000,000, to you it would be priceless. Again, I hope you're joking, otherwise this is ridiculous.

September 3, 2009, 04:47 AM	#14
Gunsby_Blazen Member Join Date: April 21, 2009 Posts: 23	Marlins are out but they sell so fast that it seems like there are none... last month there was a 357 i was going to get. i looked at it the first day it came in and my local gun shop owner was putting it on the shelf. i was running late for other things i had to get done that day so i decided to come by early the next day to check it out and the sucker was gone in less than a day. Marlins sell like hotcakes, all of their guns. that is what i see anyway... now pumas and other leverguns dont sell quite so quick at the shop. come to think about it, i have only seen 2 Winchesters in the past couple years in the gun shop also..... quality guns sell, thats what i got to say, and thats a good thing. as for the 1895sbl, one of the distributors at my club has a few for sale every now and then but they are selling fast. some in stock one day and then none the next; i think that speaks for what is going on. i am still looking for those stainless 1894c that are supposed to be out... they are sold out too from the distributor when i ask about inventory... __________________ Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it. -Pericles

September 3, 2009, 05:43 AM	#15
JagFarlane Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2008 Posts: 282	Somehow I doubt it. But finding one in .357 or .44 is a pain because they're very popular for the cowboy action shooters. __________________ Too many to list...enjoy em all!

September 3, 2009, 07:04 AM	#16
Waterengineer Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2006 Location: Aurora, CO and Palm Beach, FL Posts: 861	Is the OP trolling or is this a serious question?

September 3, 2009, 09:25 AM	#17
welnet Junior Member Join Date: November 21, 2008 Location: Vashon, WA Posts: 10	I don't know what "OP trolling" is, but before I spend around $900 on a rifle, I want to make sure the manufacturer will still be around if/when it needs warranty work. 6 months of watching for a specific model and also paying attention to availabilty of other models has me a little concerned. It seems the general concensus here is that I have nothing to worry about (other than keep waiting) Last edited by welnet; September 3, 2009 at 09:28 AM. Reason: add final comment

September 3, 2009, 12:14 PM	#18
Dr Raoul Duke Junior member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Location: On the Left Coast of North America Posts: 104	Is Marlin Firearms Dying? If Marlin is dying, they must be doing it in style. I went to a Cowboy Action Match last Sunday and the boys from Rancho Cordova Guns and Ammo were there with their tent and had at least 10 Marlins for sale. The shoot was, as usual, 75% Marlins against all other comers. I have five Marlins (2 .44 Mag, 1 .45 Colt, 1 .45-70 and one .22 LR) and if I want to buy another lever action rifle it will be a Marlin. Dr. Raoul Duke Gonzo Forever

September 3, 2009, 12:27 PM	#19
moosemike Senior Member Join Date: July 4, 2009 Location: Lebanon PA Posts: 370	Marlins' doing great especially since there are no more Win 94's being made. Their only competition is Mossbergs goofy lever action attempt. __________________ et cognoscetis veritatem et veritas liberabit vos

September 3, 2009, 03:23 PM	#22
azredhawk44 Junior member Join Date: September 28, 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 6,465	Cerberus must have some losing ventures elsewhere than firearms that got hurt big-time, then. Anyone running a firearms company into a 25% loss over the last year needs to be shot, hanged, horse-whipped, keel-hauled then shot again for good measure. (Sportsman's Warehouse, anyone?)

September 3, 2009, 05:29 PM	#24
Willie D Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2007 Posts: 1,090	Someone on another board tried to get a 918t special ordered to a Walmart and apparently Marlin told Walmart they were "out of stock". No 'we'll have a few in a month", etc.