[3] All of these firearms featured a solid-top receiver made of forged steel and incorporated side ejection of fired cartridges.

Design improvements include a stronger and simpler round-profile chrome-plated breech bolt, a redesigned cartridge carrier, an improved extractor,[4] and coil-type main and trigger springs in place of the flat springs used in earlier Marlin rifles.

[3] With its solid, flat top receiver and side ejection of fired cartridges, the Marlin 336 is prime candidate for use with a rifle scope.

The Glenfield For many years, Marlin produced a less-expensive Glenfield line of Model 336 rifles for retail at mass merchandise and department stores including: J.C. Penney, Sears Roebuck & Company, Western Auto, K-Mart and Wal-Mart.

Mechanically identical to the Model 336, these mass market rifles were typically fitted with lower-cost hardwood (birch) stocks and forearms, and some metal finishing operations were eliminated in the interest of lowering unit cost.

[3] By marketing a less-expensive version of the same rifle under a different name to mass merchandising stores, Marlin protected its customer base of small specialty gun dealers.

[3] Store Brand Models By 1983, most of Marlin's mass merchandise retailers were in a position to insist on name-brand firearms, and the Glenfield line was dropped.

The magazine tube, springs, and loading gate are also fabricated from stainless, while other metal parts are nickel-plated steel.

[3] With a muzzle energy of more than 3000 ft-lb, the Model 444 was intended for the largest North American game animals.

[3] The Model 444 holds 4 cartridges in the magazine and one in the chamber, and was originally fitted with a 24-inch barrel and a straight grip buttstock.

In 1971, Model 444's barrel length was reduced to 22 inches, and the rifle's buttstock was changed to a full pistol-grip design.

[3] Later production rifles received a change in barrel twist to 1 in 20 inches to stabilize longer and heavier bullets.

[3] In 1963, Marlin added the .44 Magnum cartridge as an optional chambering in the Model 336T carbine, which featured a straight grip, a 20-inch round tapered barrel, and a full-length magazine.

[3] Marlin was well aware of continued demand for a lever-action carbine in .44 Magnum caliber, and began searching for a replacement.

[3] The Model 1894 is particularly popular with cowboy action shooting enthusiasts, as well as shooters who desire to carry a shoulder arm and a revolver in the same caliber.

With increasing numbers of modern .45-70 rifles built with high strength actions (including the current Model 1895, the Ruger No.

1 single shot, the Browning BLR or the Siamese Mauser conversions), handloaders and specialty ammunition makers like Hornady, Buffalo Bore and Garrett produce high intensity .45-70 loadings that may equal or exceed the power of the .444 Marlin.

Some approach the power of the .458 Winchester Magnum (although with smaller bullets with a much lower sectional density) and are effective against dangerous game.

The name most probably originates from the types of longarms favored by Alaskan hunting and wilderness guides as a defense against attacks by bears.

These custom rifles are increasingly popular in the western United States, Canada, and Alaska where encounters with grizzly bears and other potentially dangerous animals can be expected.