Tell me about my Marlin 444S

[Elkins45]

I picked up a 444S at a good local shop recently (see the Local marlins thread) and I was wondering if anybody can comment on it. I've been reading around on the web but I know there are folks on here I trust way more than random websites found with a Google search.

The SN starts with 71. Does this in fact mean it was made in 1971? It has a dovetailed front sight if that means anything. It's a microgroove barrel, so I'm thinking I'm going to need to get my hands on a .432 sizer somehow. Right?

I will post some pix later.

[pietro]

You should have a Model 444, since the Model 444S wasn't introduced until 1972, with a 22" bbl.

Model: Marlin 444
Years made: 1965-71
Serial Numbers (first 2 digits): AA, AB, AC, AD, and 69 through 71
Barrel Length: 24"
Barrel Rifling: Micro-Groove, 12 lands
Barrel Twist: 1/38
1971: Mar-Shield finish and vented recoil pad appear.

Model: Marlin 444S - Sporter
Years made: 1972-83
Serial Numbers (first 2 digits): 27 descending through 17
Barrel Length: 22"
Barrel Rifling: Micro-Groove, 12 lands
Barrel Twist: 1/38
Notes:
1976: Forearm cap replaces barrel band.
1978: Honed chamber

Model: Marlin 444 SS
Years made: 1984-98
Serial Numbers (first 2 digits): 16 descending through 00 (2000). Year 2001 starts 99 descending.
Barrel Length: 22"
Barrel Rifling: Micro-Groove, 12 lands
Barrel Twist: 1/38
Note: The side safety appeared with this model change.

Model: Marlin 444 SS
Years made: 1999-2002
Serial Numbers (first 2 digits): 01, 00, 99, & 98
Barrel Length: 22"
Barrel Rifling: Ballard, 6 lands
Barrel Twist: 1/20


.

[6pt-sika]

You should have a Model 444, since the Model 444S wasn't introduced until 1972, with a 22" bbl.

[i]Model: Marlin 444
Years made: 1965-71
Serial Numbers (first 2 digits): AA, AB, AC, AD, and 69 through 71
Barrel Length: 24"
Barrel Rifling: Micro-Groove, 12 lands
Barrel Twist: 1/38
1971: Mar-Shield finish and vented recoil pad appear.

Model: Marlin 444S - Sporter
Years made: 1972-83
Serial Numbers (first 2 digits): 27 descending through 17
Barrel Length: 22"
Barrel Rifling: Micro-Groove, 12 lands
Barrel Twist: 1/38
Notes:
1976: Forearm cap replaces barrel band.
.

WRONG

The 444S was made in 1971 I've owned two that seriel numbered to 1971 !

The barrel banded 444S was made from 1971 to 1975 .

They also claim the "original" 444 was made from 1965 to 1971 and that is WRONG also !

I own one original 444 that seriel numbers to 1964 . And to make it even more broad I presently own two of the "original" style 444's that seriel number to 1972 !


So then as long as our original poster has a gun that is barrel banded and has a pistol grip , 22" barrel and is rollstamped "444S" then he most certainly has a "444S" that was made in 1971 .

[pietro]

[So then as long as our original poster has a gun that is barrel banded and has a pistol grip , 22" barrel and is rollstamped "444S" then he most certainly has a "444S" that was made in 1971 . ]

Could be - but the OP has yet to describe what he has, beyond "444S" & the 1971 SN, so we really have no clue as to exactly what he does have, until he's more forthcoming.


.

[Elkins45]

It's banded and the serial number stars with 71.

[helice]

It's banded and the serial number stars with 71.

Nice Gun. You are going to like that one. And I'm certain you'll enjoy the 444M caliber.

[6pt-sika]

[So then as long as our original poster has a gun that is barrel banded and has a pistol grip , 22" barrel and is rollstamped "444S" then he most certainly has a "444S" that was made in 1971 . ]

Could be - but the OP has yet to describe what he has, beyond "444S" & the 1971 SN, so we really have no clue as to exactly what he does have, until he's more forthcoming.


.

There was only one thing he could have had if it were rollstamped "444S" which he said and in the picture he posted .

A little more history for you !

The gun from 1964 is rollstamped " 444 Magnum" .
All the guns with the monte carlo straight grip stocks were either roll stamped "444" or "444T" and the ones with "444T" were only made in 1971 and 1972 . Many folks think just because they have a 444 with a 24" barrel , straight gripped monte carlo stock that it's a "444T" and thats wrong also . If it isn't rollstamped "444T" then it isn't one . I have 2 or 3 made in 1971 that are not stamped "444T" . I also have another that seriel numbers to 1971 that is rollstamped "444T" and both my 1972 rifles in this configuration are rollstamped "444T" .

I've only seen or heard of about maybe a dozen of the original configuration that sereil number to 1972 and as well as I can remmember they all were roll stamped "444T" .

Another small fact , the first "444S" rifles that were not barrel banded were actually made in 1975 . While I never owned one I have seen several of the dovetailed mag tube 444S that seriel numbered to 1975 . Always meant to pick one of those up but never did !

In 1970 we're all aware Marlin put the medallion in the stock . That same year Marlin made some cosmetic changes . All 1971 and 1972 First model 444's had the squared lever . I also have a couple from 1970 that have the squared lever and one of those is without the medallion . I am assuming once they ran out of the rounded levers in 1970 they started up with the squared lever . The 1970 rifle I have without the medallion in the stock appears to be original and the sereil number is a larger number which makes me think it was most likely made in the latter part of the production run in 1970 and was probably started for the 1971 market and then again it may just have been when they ran out of straight grip monte carlo stocks with medallions in them .

For awhile I looked for a circa 1969 rifle with the medallion in the stock assuming they may have made some late in 1969 . But I never did run across one of those .

[rcn11thacr]

I know im waking up an old thread, but ive got some additional data for it. I recently picked up a 444 that does not match up with most of the conventional wisdom regarding the T model. Mine does not have any letters in the sn, and no medallion and it does have 72 as the first 2 numbers in the sn. It has the square lever, monte carlo stock with soft rubber recoil pad. The 24 inch micro grove barrel and there is only 444 stamped on it, nothing else. I swapped for the equivalant of $500 to get it. Seems the price was good, although im not too sure what the price should have been. Its in 95+% condition with no rust anywhere and virtually no rub marks on the wood. Zero scratches anywhere to be seen and factory sights that i'd love to change but may not due to de-valuing the rifle. The other part of me has every intention of huntin the **** out of it. I like it better than the 444 guide gun i had when it first came out.

[nekshot]

I had one with the medallion and left it get away!!!!!! Still wondering why?

[Guesser]

And mine serials to 71 but it has a straight stock, no monte carlo, crescent butt, squared lever, and barrel band with 24" barrel. Marked 444. Doesn't seem to fit anywhere I've looked. Worse than Colt for not following the identification rules.

[Clay M]

Nice gun. I have one I got for Christmas in '73. I still enjoy hunting with it. I put a Leupold VX-3 1.5X5 on it.

[John Allen]

I do not have a 444 yet but will at some point.

[Janoosh]

I don't have one either, but the model "outfitter" has got my attention.

[Sagebrush7]

I have a few Ranch Dog .432 Lee sizers left. I give members a discount. I have a new .438 check die that makes .444 OD checks out of .020 metal. Need some testers that have over bore .44s to test. I know some Winchester 1886 fans that will benefit from them. They are testing now.

I picked up a 444S at a good local shop recently (see the Local marlins thread) and I was wondering if anybody can comment on it. I've been reading around on the web but I know there are folks on here I trust way more than random websites found with a Google search.

The SN starts with 71. Does this in fact mean it was made in 1971? It has a dovetailed front sight if that means anything. It's a microgroove barrel, so I'm thinking I'm going to need to get my hands on a .432 sizer somehow. Right?

I will post some pix later.

[6pt-sika]

I know im waking up an old thread, but ive got some additional data for it. I recently picked up a 444 that does not match up with most of the conventional wisdom regarding the T model. Mine does not have any letters in the sn, and no medallion and it does have 72 as the first 2 numbers in the sn. It has the square lever, monte carlo stock with soft rubber recoil pad. The 24 inch micro grove barrel and there is only 444 stamped on it, nothing else.

I've got two from 1972 that are rollstamped "444T" . Both seriel numbers begin with 72 then a space and the rest of the numbers . Both these guns have squared levers . Also on any of the guns rollstamped "444T" that I've seen they alsways have a dovetailed front sight while all the others before the "444T" had a ramp front sight that was D&T'd to the barrelw ith two screws .

I actually have three 444's that are roll stamped "444T" one from 1971 and the other two from 1972 .

To clarify some the seriel numbers on the early 444's were ,
Z or Y for 1964
AA for 1965
AB for 1966
AC for 1967
AD for 1968

69 for 1969
70 for 1970
71 for 1971
72 for 1972

There was an overlap of two years for the original 444 and the 444S both were made and seriel numbered for 1971 and 1972 .

[6pt-sika]

I don't have one either, but the model "outfitter" has got my attention.

I had two of the Marlin "444P" or Outfitter as you call it rifles . They worked great and as a matter of fact a 444P was the first 444 I ever bought and the third Marlin I ever bought .

The 444P has one downfall , the way they did the stock it isn't the best for scope mounting . Although it will work .

I took a circa 1966 444 that was in need of a blue job and lopped the barrel off to 19" and with the monte carlo stock and a Weaver K3 it is quite nice and does well with cast up to 375 grains . One day this past spring I took the 19" gun and another 444 with the standard 24" Micro Groove 1-38 barrel and ran them over the chronograph using the Ranch Dog 432-240GC , 432-265GC , 432-300GC , 432-350GC and my versions of the RD in 432-325GC and 432-375GC . Based on 3 shots of each weight in both guns with the exact same powder charge after cutting 5 inches from the barrel the greatest loss for the short barrel was about 165 FPS most were closer then that .

The only reason I would opt for a 444P over my short rifle is if I wanted to shoot 390-450 grain bullets as the 444P can handle them I already tried . But then I have a 2001 standard 444 I restocked with some nice walnut with a monte carlo stock thats 1-20 Ballard rifled that handles the 390 grains plus bullets quite nicely !

[6pt-sika]

And mine serials to 71 but it has a straight stock, no monte carlo, crescent butt, squared lever, and barrel band with 24" barrel. Marked 444. Doesn't seem to fit anywhere I've looked. Worse than Colt for not following the identification rules.

I suspect the stock on your rifle has either had the monte carlo removed and a crescent buttplate added or someone just swapped the stock from another gun . To the best of my knowledge nothing fitting that description ever left the factory from 1964 to 1972 when all the monte carlo 24" guns were produced .

[Guesser]

6pt: Thanks. The crescent butt plate is Marlin with Logo and all, it's not the full crescent of the 19th century guns but very definitely crescent. The stock is cut crescent, not just the butt plate. Very sharp toe on the stock. I'll see if I can get a pic up.

Attachment 91710Attachment 91707Attachment 91708Attachment 91709

[Janoosh]

6pt-sika, Thanks for the info. I've been looking in local gun shops, but 444's are now as rare as hens teeth, and priced accordingly! Thanks for the idea of shortening the barrel. I was under the impression the 45/70 was the "Guide" gun and the 444 was the "Outfitter".

[rcn11thacr]

I have a few Ranch Dog .432 Lee sizers left. I give members a discount. I have a new .438 check die that makes .444 OD checks out of .020 metal. Need some testers that have over bore .44s to test. I know some Winchester 1886 fans that will benefit from them. They are testing now.

Pm me with your info and asking price. I have to buy everything for reloading this one.