The serial number places it in early 1965. I topped it with a K6 in pivot mounts. Shoots sub MOA
This one stayed in a closet for over 40 years. The owner thought it kicked too bad. He had the pad changed to the vented pad but still thought it kicked too much so back in the closet it went. Love these old closet guns.

Very nice!!!! I love my 72 vintage its a great caliber....

This is the only 1964 I have ever seen. I am lucky enough to have a 1968 as well. reflex264

gotta love a 444 mine is newer a 44ss with crossbolt safety but shoots very well

Nice rifle. I had it's twin, first year gun, that I bought for a song. Couldn't get the dang thing to shoot anything worth a darn, my "hunting" load that shot the best would put 3 Nosler SJHPs in a 3 1/2" group at best on good days. Any other bullet I tried, about 10 of every weight, shape, and material would shoot 5 to 8 inch groups. I shot a young bull bison with it and it performed admirably but I just couldn't make myself love it, shooting like it did. I figured that since it shot like a shotgun I may as well turn it into one, so I swapped it for a Remington SP10.

Wouldn't mind grabbing another some day to try my luck again though.

back in 1966 my uncle bought one of those 444 marlins, he still has it and loves it, but hes in his late 80s now
one of my elk hunting camp friends bought a marlin 444 to camp one year (about 1967), it was one of the early models with the longer barrel and cheek piece stock,

btw the load we found worked the best on elk in those marlin 444 rifles a few years later when hornady came out with them, was the hornady 265 grain bullet over 45 grains of imr 4198 and a 215 fed primer

I think they were only available that way for a couple years before the barrels were shortened and the stock was changed, he loaded it with 240 grain pistol bullets and a stiff load of RL7 powder and it shot 1.3" groups at 100 yards consistently.
the first ELK he hit was a average 4 point bull at about 120 yards
the bullet destroyed the lungs and dropped the bull in under 10 yards.
the second bull he killed was 3 years later at about 230 yards,the bull started to turn as he fired, the bull gave zero indication it was hit, as it spun and ran, we went over to look for sign and found a weak blood trail, but about 60 yards away the bull was down, the problem was the shot placement was a bit far back in the liver,and angled up taking out one lung
the 444 certainly will kill elk effectively but at least with the bullets he had used penetration was less than impressive, but expansion and resulting internal damage is very impressive.I think a great many guys who stick their nose up at the idea of using what they perceive as older lower velocity cartridges like a hot loaded 45/70 or 450 marlin have that opinion because they have little or no experience in the field with someone using one.
at the risk of proving Im an old geezer,Ill tell you this.
as an example,
back in the late 1969 season here in Florida I was hunting with a guy, who had just purchased a 444 marlin, JACK, had sighted it in 3" high at 100 yards the previous weekend and had a weaver 4x scope on the rifle,he had loaded it with speer 3/4 jacket hollow points.
JACK, was using the rifle he had purchased for an up coming elk hunt after reading the advertizement posted below.

we were walking across a large field when we saw two bucks stand up at about 150 yard out and stand staring at us, in those days the daily bag limit was two deer a day. before I could even say a thing JACK, fired that rifle twice in very rapid succession and to my amazed young eyes both deer dropped on the spot. I,d never seen deer drop instantly when hit and I sure as hell never saw two deer shot and dropped almost instantly within feet of each other.
right then I knew I needed to buy a similar rifle, which I did as soon as funds allowed and it worked great for several decades.

Man, who wouldn't want one of those!

Local gun shop owner asked if I was interested in an old Marlin. Sure, what do you have? He pulled out from the back a 1965 444 Marlin without having been molested in any way. I would say conservatively 85% overall condition. After reading and researching over several weeks, I decided to buy the rifle and see what I had.

The rifle was benched and target placed at 50 yards with a Nikon 3-9 scope. The ammo was Remington factory 240 and the new Hornaday Leverevolution 265 FTX. The 265 printed a 3 shot cloverleaf and the 240's were nearly the same. I was impressed. I intend to load Hornady 265 FP and 300's as well. Powder will be either H335 or IMR 4198. I think this rifle is going to be a hoot to shoot.

Nice rifle reflex. This reminds me that I need to pay attention to mine. It also is a 1965 444 Marlin.

My Dad had an ARGOSY magazine way back in the mid-60's that featured the Marlin .444 on the cover.
It's the first time I remember being really interested in a gun.

I have one of those, from my brothers estate. Ugly in a cute way. Fun to shoot. Nothing in Illinois I can use it on but varmints.

So! Does that make it a closet queen?

I’ve got Dad’s now. It’s a 1969 model. It also has an old Weaver K4 on it. Bet it hasn’t had a half a box a shells through it! He always said it kicked like a damn mule! LOL. Still looks brand new too.

I always wanted one of those when I was in highschool!

A beaut of sure. Sotty I got rid of mine, but it was more of a 1980s time frame....

Great story 340! Thanks.

The 444 is one of my favorites as well.

T.S.

I just picked up a perfect 1967 today. Not a scratch or blemish on it. I'm super-stoked. I've been watching for a good one for 5 years and finally found one.

Congrats.

in about 1970 my brothers buddy brought one of those out to the range and let me shoot it. i was 9 or 10. i had never heard of a 444 before. it was impressive to say to least. he let me keep the empties and i had them for years. i always like the look of those guns and that shell. looked like a mini artillery round.