Marlin Model 101
- Category
- Rifle
- Barrel
- 559 mm
- Weight, empty
- 2.04 kg
- Introduced
- 1947
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Marlin Model 101 is a single-shot, bolt-action .22 rimfire rifle produced by Marlin Firearms from the late 1940s into the 1970s as an inexpensive youth and beginner's plinking rifle. Chambered for interchangeable .22 Short, .22 Long, and .22 Long Rifle cartridges, it feeds one round at a time through a simple bolt loaded by hand, with a manually cocked striker for maximum safety awareness during training. Fitted with a Micro-Groove rifled barrel, adjustable open sights, and a hardwood Monte Carlo stock, the Model 101 was prized for its accuracy and near-indestructible simplicity, making it a common first rifle for generations of American shooters.
For decades the Model 101 and its Marlin single-shot .22 kin were the archetypal 'first rifle' sold through hardware stores and mail-order catalogs, teaching countless American children marksmanship and safe gun handling one hand-loaded round at a time.
Later production variants included a distinctive ring-shaped bolt handle; the receiver was grooved for tip-off scope mounts.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Marlin Firearms
- Category
- Rifle
- Country
- United States
- Status
- Discontinued
- Produced
- 1947 to 1977
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 559 mm
- Overall length
- 1029 mm
- Weight, empty
- 2.04 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Bolt action
- Firing mechanism
- Striker fired
- Trigger
- Single action
- Capacity
- 1
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Walnut
- Finish
- Blued
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 335 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 145 J
- Effective range
- 100 m
- Maximum range
- 1300 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
No load solved for this record yetThe flight path is computed from a cartridge and a bullet. This record has no ammunition filed against its chambering, so there is nothing to solve.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Micro-Groove rifled barrel
Single-shot bolt action
Monte Carlo pistol-grip stock
Grooved receiver for tip-off scope mounts
Adjustable open sporting rear sight
Blade front sight
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 215 .22 Long Rifle rifles | 2.04 kg | 2.61 kg | Lighter than about 90% |
| Overall lengthAmong 207 .22 Long Rifle rifles | 1029 mm | 1016 mm | Longer than about 60% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 228 .22 Long Rifle rifles | 559 mm | 547 mm | Longer than about 60% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 231 .22 Long Rifle rifles | 1 | 6 | Holds fewer rounds than about 90% |
Answers
Questions about the Marlin Model 101
How much does the Marlin Model 101 weigh?
The Marlin Model 101 weighs 2.04 kg (4.50 lb) empty.
What caliber is the Marlin Model 101?
The Marlin Model 101 is chambered in .22 Long Rifle.
How many rounds does the Marlin Model 101 hold?
The Marlin Model 101 holds 1 rounds.
How long is the Marlin Model 101?
The Marlin Model 101 is 1029 mm (40.5 in) long overall, with a 559 mm (22.0 in) barrel.
Who makes the Marlin Model 101?
The Marlin Model 101 is made by Marlin Firearms (United States).
When was the Marlin Model 101 introduced?
The Marlin Model 101 was introduced in 1947 and discontinued in 1977.
How does the Marlin Model 101 operate?
The Marlin Model 101 uses a bolt action, and its firing mechanism is striker fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
Provenance
Confidence in this record
60%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/marlin-model-101' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "marlin-model-101", "name": "Marlin Model 101", "manufacturer": { "id": "marlin", "name": "Marlin Firearms", "countryCode": "US", "foundedYear": 1870, "website": "https://www.marlinfirearms.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:38", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:45", "version": "08b9da27118c263f9c36f65336e51854a1570768f3f677491f8144ee945b8d1f" }, "category": { "id": "rifle", "name": "Rifle", "description": "Long-barreled firearms designed for accurate shooting" }, "country_of_origin": "US", "year_introduced": 1947, "barrel_length_mm": 559, "weight_empty_g": 2040, "action_type": "bolt_action"}