The one thing Ruger can do, to vastly improve a Marlin, is recreate the 1894 in 44 Magnum with a 1:20 barrel. If they can accomplish this in blue & walnut, I'll bite.
I find it distasteful Ruger chose to keep checkered stocks from the Remington days and I don't need or want a threaded barrel. It would be nice to have options.
