Marlin 22

The Marlin .22 rifle represents one of the most enduring categories of American rimfire firearms. Marlin Firearms, founded by John Mahlon Marlin in New Haven, Connecticut in 1870, built its reputation on affordable, reliable rifles that served equally well for small game hunting, pest control, and casual target shooting. Over the decades, Marlin produced a wide variety of .22 caliber rifles in bolt-action, lever-action, and semi-automatic configurations, all sharing the company’s commitment to practical accuracy and solid construction at a working person’s price point.

Marlin’s .22 rifles typically feature clean, straightforward designs with walnut or hardwood stocks and blued steel barrels and receivers. Whether in a tubular-magazine lever-action like the beloved Model 39 series or a reliable bolt-action like the Model 80 or Model 25, these rifles earned a loyal following among shooters who valued function over flash. The .22 Long Rifle cartridge itself is one of the most versatile rounds ever produced, offering minimal recoil and noise while remaining effective for squirrel, rabbit, and other small game out to moderate distances.

For generations of American families, a Marlin .22 served as the quintessential first rifle, the gun that taught young shooters the fundamentals of marksmanship, safe handling, and respect for firearms. Its light weight, gentle recoil, and inexpensive ammunition made it an ideal trainer, while its genuine hunting capability ensured it never gathered dust in the back of the gun cabinet. Many collectors hold onto their Marlin .22 rifles not just for their modest monetary value, but for the memories attached to them of afternoons spent plinking tin cans or walking fence rows in search of cottontails.