Mad Pig Customs has been doing the lever-action modernization thing in the custom shop for years. Now that work comes out of the box with a Marlin roll mark on the receiver. Ruger and Marlin announced the Mad Pig Customs Model 1894, a factory collaboration with Mad Pig Customs that brings purpose-built tactical lever upgrades to production guns for the first time. Developed alongside Midwest Industries, the rifle packages a complete suite of custom-grade components into a single, ready-to-run platform rather than sending buyers down the usual path of piecemeal parts sourcing and gunsmith time. The collaboration centers on three areas: grip, cycling, and the sighting and furniture system. Mad Pig's grip inserts give the stock a texture and look that the factory walnut crowd won't recognize, but the lever-action tactical community certainly will. The Mad Pig lever itself is a visual and functional departure from the standard loop, designed for more efficient cycling and a distinctly modern aesthetic. Then there's the Midwest Industries package: an aluminum handguard built from hard coat anodized 6061 with a full-length Picatinny rail and a fully adjustable heavy-duty ghost ring, paired with a Midwest Industries aluminum stock featuring adjustable comb height, M-LOK slots for shell holders, and QD sockets for sling swivels. That's a lot of rail estate on a 357 Magnum with a 16.1-inch barrel, which is exactly the kind of setup that's found a home in competitive lever-action circles and backcountry carry alike. The barreled action ships in Cerakote, which accounts for the rest of the durability equation. Eight rounds of 357 Magnum on tap, factory-finished and collaboration-badged, with limited availability as stated directly on Marlin's product page. That last part is worth noting: if the first wave of Ruger-era Marlin SBL models taught the market anything, it's that these limited-run collaborations don't sit on dealer shelves for long. The Model 1894 platform has been through a lot since Ruger acquired the brand, and the post-2022 guns have largely erased the quality skepticism that followed the Connecticut factory's closure. This collaboration represents the next logical step: a validated platform, capable partners, and a production route to upgrades that would otherwise require custom work and a waitlist. Specs list:Caliber: .357 MagnumBarrel Length: 16.1 in.Capacity: 8Stock: Midwest Industries aluminum with Mad Pig Customs grip panelsHandguard: Midwest Industries 6061 aluminum, full-length Picatinny railSights: Midwest Industries fully adjustable heavy-duty ghost ringLever: Mad Pig CustomsFinish: Cerakote M-LOKSlots: Yes (shell holders)QD Sockets: Yes (sling swivels)The suggested retail price is $2,999.00.Here’s a direct link: https://marlinfirearms.com/s/model_70924/ Does the factory Mad Pig collaboration change your approach to lever-action upgrades, or do you still prefer sourcing parts and doing the work yourself?If this post has you ready to hit the range, head over to gunranges.com - a free directory to help you find shooting ranges near you, wherever you are in the United States.