The story of the 444 Marlin is one of irony. It was introduced in 1964 to replace the old .45-70 Government, which was flat lining back in the early ‘60s. The ironic part is the .45-70 not only recovered but also had a resurgence in popularity with modern hunters using lever-action guns. And the 444 Marlin today? The .45-70’s supposed successor? The 444 didn’t achieve the popularity of .45-70.