Value of my JM 444?

BigBadAl said:

if their is a demand, how come Marlin is not taking advantage of the market and making money.... I agree with you, 45-70's are everywhere....Good rifles, but everywhere...

Click to expand...

I would speculate their are two reasons for the 444 not being in production now...........

First, FGI has all the trouble they can handle just building passable 30-30's..........

Secondly, and this is the "real" reason, IMO............The 444 is the MOST difficult Marlin to get to load smoothly. The Mag Tube Cartridge Clearance Bulge is MUCH different, and LESS forgiving than the 45-70 Bulge.
There is/was only ONE small company in CT that could produce that Mag tube reliabably. They did it with Hard Hydraulic Tooling and a Soft Eurathane plug......Other vendors have tried and failed.

I think the ability to get working, reliable mag tubes in quantities, along with what FGI perceives as the 444 Market demand, with regard to the 45-70's are the reasons the 444 is not being made.

When Marlin North Haven closed, I was working on a Hydraulic Forming Fixture with a heating element, that would form the bulge on a heated 444 tube......... I was about 85% successful, and making changes to the tool, when that activity came to a halt, as things having to do with the closure became more important...........

As the closure got closer, I was told to stop all work , and disgard the whole project to concentrate on other things. and I'm sure all drawings records and details were lost...........

I don't know if that one little CT company maintained a working relationship with Remington. At the time, Remington was pretty arrogant, and took the position they had their own string of NY vendors and didn't really need most of the CT Vendors.

Remington was only interested in things that got rifles "out the door"..........NOT in any uncompleted tools or projects.

Thats my perception re: the lack of new 444's ............but don't blame it all on me!

Tom

Flat Top,

Yes, escentially, I agree with your thinking..........

Re: 444 values...........Based on the available 444's on the used market, I think it is somewhat a seller's market, particularly if the seller has a very good one or a unique one............

Older 444T's will continue to bring good prices due to the earlier workmanship. And 444 Outfitters will be very scarce and hard to find.

Like you and others, I have a 444, and mine is quite unique with lettered provanance...........I really don't see myself selling it too soon.

I suspect 444 Brass will become harder to find just like 35Rem or 218 Bee, but then............Most owners seem to find what they need, and secure a good quantitiyof components in the process.

I'm planning to hunt at least some with my 444 again this coming year with std 240Gr Handloads............unless I get distracted...:hmmmm:..... by a Model 375 that has become a Safe Queen,or the 336ER which has become so reliable in VT..........

Its (MY444) is just a heavier gun now, and I like a lighter carry in VT now ........


Tom