It's a bit hard to believe, but up until about 4 years ago, I only owned 6 guns. Then, through a series of both fortunate, and unfortunate events, my "collection" tripled. On the fortunate side, I won a 3 gun raffle through RMEF; a SCCY 9mm, a Ruger American Rimfire in .17HMR (I'd never even heard of the cartridge), and a Mossberg .30-06 that went down the road within days of shooting it. On the unfortunate side, my daughter's grandfather passed away (it's complicated) and I was left a few more, including my first OM Super Blackhawk. Almost immediately I wanted a lever gun in the same caliber, and I found the (recently) discontinued 1894 SBL. Ruger had just bought Marlin, and the 1894 SBL was not being made... yet. Eventually I picked up a Chiappa 1892 Trapper in .44 that is a beauty of a gun.
I still had the itch for the 1894 SBL. I love the SS and Lam combo on those guns. As soon as I saw that Ruger was releasing them and that .357 was coming soon, I started watching my gunsmith's catalog (I built his website so have access).
Here she is:
I could not be happier. Everything about this Rarlin ticks every box I have. So much so that I put myself on the waiting list at Altamont so I could get a matching revolver. Well, I just ordered the silver/black grips from Altamont, so as soon as they show up I will pick up a NM BH in .357 for them to go on.
The rifle is smooth as butter out of the box. The only thing I have done to her is mount the scope because my eyes suck.
The Chiappa has had some issues, but nothing that was a "deal-breaker"So few threads... here's my 1894 SBL in .357
- t.hinckley
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2024 7:44 am
- Location: UT, MT
Re: So few threads... here's my 1894 SBL in .357
Like the Lays Potato Chip commercial used to say, "No one can eat just one." So it is with rifles and pistols and ... you know. Sincerely. bruce.
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- Posts: 1117
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Re: So few threads... here's my 1894 SBL in .357
Good looking piece! Nothing better than a handgun and rifle in the same caliber. The old time cowboys and lawmen had something when they started carrying 2 guns chambering the same round.
Some people sit on $.05 of knowledge like it is the treasure of Egypt. I will teach anyone $.10 worth just to prove a point...
Re: So few threads... here's my 1894 SBL in .357
I agree and sure like the levers.
FT44
FT44