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Marlin dates to 1870 and is one of America’s iconic and best-known firearms makers. Before its acquisition by the Freedom Group (Remington Arms) in 2007, Marlin had several subsidiary brands under its umbrella.

These included legacy firearms makers that it had purchased over the years, such as Harrington & Richardson, Hunter Arms, L.C. Smith, and New England Firearms. Other brands, on the other hand, Marlin invented from whole cloth, such as the Glenfield Products Division, an idea of then-company CEO Roger Kenna, who led Marlin from 1948 through 1959.

Hitting the scenes at a time when big box catalog sales were the Amazon of its day, Glenfield became a staple for outfits like Sears and J.C. Penney, back when they sold guns and every house on the block had one or more of their catalogs on the living room table.

I give you a circa 1972 JCPenney’s Christmas ad:

The original Glenfield models were based on Marlin’s standard catalog but offered in a more affordable package with fewer options. For instance, the Marlin Model 60, a popular semi-auto .22, was sold as the Glenfield Model 60, with a plainer stock that featured an engraved squirrel logo. Likewise, the Marlin 336 was also marketed as the Glenfield Model 30 with non-specified hardwood furniture rather than the walnut seen on the Marlin, and with minor style differences.

The concept proved popular with consumers, who got a good firearm at a great price.

Glenfield cruised along into the mid-1980s and was then quietly put to bed, but the rifles and shotguns made under the banner continue to circulate and have a soft spot with nostalgia-minded collectors. As an aside, my first sporting rifle that I purchased over the counter, looking back some four decades ago, was a Model 30A in .30-30.

With Ruger acquiring Marlin in 2020, resurrection was in the cards.

“We’re excited to bring back the iconic Glenfield Firearms brand with a new product that reflects Ruger’s dedication to manufacturing affordable, American-made firearms for any and every hunter,” said Ruger President and CEO, Todd Seyfert, at the brand’s relaunch.

The Model A Rifle: Familiar Newcomer

Glenfield’s inaugural 21st-century platform is the no-frills Model A bolt-action centerfire sporting rifle, which is “highly inspired by” the Gen I Ruger American Rifle. Ruger introduced that platform almost 15 years ago, and it has been well-vetted by America’s hunters, with over 2 million sold since then.

The company tells us that the Glenfield Model A carries forward the most valued elements of the Gen I Ruger American Rifle but has an MSRP about $100 below comparable Ruger-branded rifles – all without skimping on features.

Full review in my column at Guns.com.