Make note - that is probably a Model 1894 Marlin, which is a short action lever rifle.
They first chambered the little Marlin in 41Mag with a straight grip back in 1984 - my first daughter was born that year and makes it easy to remember. I think. I found one new in the box at a Gun Show at the Salt Palace in Salt lake City in 1990. My last son was about 2 weeks old. I bought it on the spot. Figured I'd give it to him when he got bigger. I love it and figure he will get it when he's through college - he just graduated high school this last spring. I may have to get him another one! A few years ago they made another run in 41Mag, but this time it came with a pistol grip. Guess I still prefer the old straight grip stock, but they are both sweet handling little guns.
Factory fodder will run into real money, like most magnums, but it will deliver the goods if you can put the bullet where it needs to go. I know those who have taken moose with it, and I have personally taken antelope at over 100 yards with mine. If you don't reload - you should. I find easily as much fun at the reloading bench as I do at the range or in the hunting fields. I like to tinker and this is yet another avenue I can tinker in. You can keep it as basic as you want and branch out as you go. There always seems to be something that needs to be researched or discovered. After 50 years of using the best jacketed bullets I could afford, I'm finding a real interest in cast bullets. I've been casting for over 15years, but just recently found a real interest in it - other than economics. My last elk went to down to my own cast bullet from a 32Spl 94WInchester. Sad to say, my last deer went down to a handloaded Remington Corelokt from my 8mm Persian Carbine - I haven't found my niche in cast bullets with that rifle, yet. I have some made, but not to the point of hunting with it, yet.
In 1984, you could have one of the first run of 41mag rifles from Marlin for around $185. MSRP ran near $260. When I got mine in 1990, they were selling for close to $300 and I gladly paid the asking MSRP of $256 plus shipping as I lived in Wyoming then. Most of the new run seems to be in the mid to high $400's, if that's any help. (I had to rescue mine from a pawn shop after my son's mother pawned it, so I've paid for it twice and have near $450 in it - to me it's worth it) You get to make that decision. Happy Shooting!!
Regards,
Sweetwater
