Home Forums Lever Action Central Rimfire Levers New Marlin 56

Picked up a beautiful marlin model 56 a couple days ago. Can't believe how good of condition this one is in. Can't find a mark / ding on it anywhere. It'l keep my 57 company till I can find a resonable .22 mag in 56 or 57. Toped it off with a redfield wideview 4x. Not a great shooter, but it will give me "moment of squirrel".
Jerry

What's the story on the Marlin 56 and 57 rifles? I've never seen one before. When were they produced from?

I believe the model 56 came out in 1955 or 1956. The model 57 was introduced in 1959. Their big selling point was a 2" throw on the lever to chamber the next round. Didn't have to take you hand off the grip. Production ended in 1965. I think they are too darn good lookin to pass up.
Jerry

They are pretty neat! I like the one with the tube mag. Might have to keep an eye out for one of those. They almost remind me of a Savage 99.

As I recall, Marlin dubbed them LEVERMATICS....also came in .256, I think.

They did come in 256 Winchester Magnum. Which was the .357 Magnum case necked down to 25 caliber.

They also came in 30 Carbine, which used the M1 Carbine round.

Bill

If I live to be 100, I still won't be able to figure who the %#!?) thinks gold triggers are good looking. Thats the only thing about the 56 & 57s thats less than desireable. IMHO.
Jerry

The rights to the patent for this short throw lever design were obtained by Marlin when Kessler went out of business. Kessler produced 20, 16, and 12 Gauge lever action shotguns of this design. I have been looking for a 12 gauge for years and would take one of the others but I have yet to find any of them. I have not even found good pictures of any to see what they looked like. Numrich got the parts and actually sold kits for the 16 gauge. Gene