Why Is the Marlin 1895 SBL So Hard to Find?

Introduced in 2016, Marlin 1895 SBL has become one of the most popular lever-action rifles on the market. Being behind the production since it took over from Remington, Ruger has managed to upgrade an old-school rifle with a few modern touches that nearly touched perfection.

Despite creating such a quality gun, Ruger didn’t expect its popularity to skyrocket. These days, despite not being rated as a collectible, Marlin 1895 SBL is a rare find. Finding one in stock is a real challenge, causing potential owners to struggle.

Now, why is the Marlin 1895 SBL so hard to find?

What made Marlin 1895 SBL become so popular overnight First of all, you’ve got the name. Marlin has always made incredibly accurate and reliable guns.

Indeed, those years producing under the Remington umbrella didn’t show much improvement, causing its popularity to go down. But once Ruger took over, old-fashioned guns became modern overnight.

The gun is extremely popular among hunters in particular because it has just the right features and top-notch performance. Like other Marlin guns, it has a rough and solid design. It’s well put together and will last for decades if well looked after. Throw in the super powerful caliber and you have the perfect rifle.

The rifle comes in the .45-70 Government caliber. For around 150 years, the cartridge is famous for its exquisite power, hence its popularity in the hunting world. While some rifles may struggle with it, Marlin 1895 SBL shoots it smoothly, with no issues at all, mainly because of its robust build.

The appearance doesn’t disappoint either. Stainless steel is beautiful and gives it a fresh upgrade from previous guns made by Marlin. It’s also corrosion-resistant. The stock is laminated and just as attractive, but it can also take all kinds of weather conditions.

As if all these were not enough, Marlin’s guns are super reliable and accurate and Marlin 1895 SBL makes no exception either. The trigger is smooth and accuracy doesn’t change too much over long distances. Another bonus? The gun is simple to clean as well.

So, why is the Marlin 1895 SBL so hard to find? It’s fairly simple to understand why it’s so popular, but its rare profile is not only because of its features and capabilities.

Reasons behind Marlin 1895 SBL’s popularity

A popular rifle will automatically sell very fast, especially if there’s literally nothing to complain about. The problem is Ruger never expected it to grow so fast. Therefore, the demand quickly outweighed the production, leaving Ruger with an incredible struggle to keep up with it.

These features are not random either. Marlin 1895 SBL is not the easiest rifle to produce. In fact, it’s pretty complex. It’s time-consuming and expensive, which is another major issue for solid and constant production.

Many of the parts feature intricate designs and details. Even the stock and barrel are challenging to produce, not to mention the lever-action mechanism.

Since it’s made in limited production, there’s a long waiting list, so available rifles get sold almost instantly. The production is limited on a yearly basis and despite efforts to increase it, it looks like the demand goes up proportionally.

The demand isn’t for Marlin 1895 SBL only. In fact, over the past few years, there’s been a consistently growing interest in firearms in general. Ruger is not the only manufacturer out there struggling with the production, other brands also struggle.

But then, the more popular a gun is, the higher the struggle.

All these factors mixed in have made Marlin 1895 SBL an incredibly rare find. Produced less than a decade ago, it’s harder to find than some of Marlin’s first rifles, which are actually considered collectibles.

It’s definitely frustrating for gun enthusiasts looking for a top-notch gun, but the wait is totally worth it. After all, Marlin 1895 SBL is not hard to find because of a fault, but because of its performance. This gun is a victim of its own popularity.

Are used guns any worth?

A well-maintained and regularly cleaned firearm is as good as a new one, assuming it was a good release. Some of Marlin’s oldest firearms are still in use today and they still impress with their power and accuracy.

When it comes to Marlin 1895 SBL, buying a used unit will most likely give you access to a quality gun, especially since it won’t be very old.

But then, there’s also an issue that contributes to its rare profile. Marlin 1895 SBL has a solid reputation for holding value. In fact, given the demand, these rifles are expected to actually gain value in the long run. This means it’s also considered a quality investment over time.

As crazy as it may seem, you might be able to find used Marlin 1895 SBL guns that cost more than the new ones.

This aspect has led to a very competitive market for this lever-action rifle, with some buyers willing to spend a fortune to get one on their hands.

It doesn’t seem to be a temporary trend, but a growing one. The value keeps going up because Marlin simply cannot keep up with one of the best firearms ever made. It’s a vicious circle that only adds to the value of the gun, as well as its rarity.

As a final conclusion, why is the Marlin 1895 SBL so hard to find? There are obviously more reasons behind it. The fact that Marlin can’t keep up with the demand is probably the most important one. There are long waiting lists and production is still limited, despite efforts to increase it.

Marlin 1895 SBL brings back the old-fashioned reliability of lever-action rifles, but it also features modern upgrades that dominate the market. It’s a rifle with literally nothing to complain about, making a good collectible and a strong companion in all weather conditions.

This being said, hunters and shooting enthusiasts can only hope things will get better and stock will improve.