The Kodiak Luxari is a .357 Magnum lever-action rifle built on the Marlin 1894 pattern. It has a 16 inch barrel, holds 8+1, weighs about 6.3 lb, and comes with a full-length Picatinny rail, a big loop lever and a checkered wood stock over silver metal. Kodiak Defence, the Canadian company behind the WK180-C and K9 rifles, designed and tested it. We have it in stock at $1,188.88. Here is what you get, how it stacks up against a Ruger-made Marlin, the Levtac-92, the Chiappa 1892 and the S&W 1854, and who should buy one.
Kodiak Luxari specs
- Calibre: .357 Magnum
- Action: lever, Marlin 1894 pattern
- Barrel: 16 inches (410 mm)
- Capacity: 8 in the tube, plus 1 in the chamber
- Weight: about 6.3 lb
- Sights: target sights with a red fibre optic front
- Optics: Picatinny rail along the top
- Furniture: checkered wood stock and forend
- Lever: large loop
- Classification: non-restricted
The rail is the part most people will use. It runs from the back of the receiver out over the forend, so a red dot or a compact scope can sit wherever it suits your eye. Kodiak also lists the Magpul ELG M-LOK stock (MAG1382) and handguard (MAG1381) as compatible, if you later want synthetic furniture with slots for a light or sling mount.
What the Marlin 1894 pattern means
Marlin brought out the Model 1894 in 1894, and it has been the standard pistol-calibre lever gun ever since. Two things set it apart from the Winchester 1892 design that Chiappa and Citadel copy. The receiver has a flat, solid top, and empty cases eject out the side instead of straight up. That is why Marlin-style rifles have always been the easy lever guns to put a scope or rail on.
Ruger bought Marlin in 2020 and builds the 1894 again. The Ruger-made Marlin 1894 Classic in .357 is $1,748.88 here, with an 18.63 inch barrel, walnut and blued steel. The Kodiak Luxari gives you the same layout, with a rail and a big loop already fitted, for $1,188.88.
Who it suits
- A truck or cabin gun. Short, light and quick to shoulder, with nine rounds on board.
- Deer in thick bush, inside 100 metres, where your province allows a .357 for big game. Use a soft point, not FMJ. Our .357 lever action guide covers what the round can and cannot do.
- The range. A .357 out of a 6 lb carbine is mild, and the rifle is easy to shoot well.
- Anyone who wants a Marlin-style .357 for a lot less than a Marlin.
If bears are the main worry, a .44 Magnum or .45-70 is the better tool. Our bear defence guide covers what works.
Kodiak Luxari vs Marlin 1894, Levtac-92, Chiappa 1892 and S&W 1854
| Rifle | Pattern | Barrel | Capacity | Stock | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kodiak Luxari | Marlin 1894 | 16 in | 8+1 | Wood, full rail | $1,188.88 |
| Ruger Marlin 1894 Classic | Marlin 1894 | 18.63 in | 9 | Walnut, no rail | $1,748.88 |
| Citadel Levtac-92 | Winchester 1892 | 16.5 in | 8 | Synthetic, M-LOK, rail | $848.88 |
| Chiappa 1892 Cowboy Action | Winchester 1892 | 16 in octagonal | 8 | Wood | $1,198.88 |
| S&W 1854 | S&W’s own | 19.25 in | 10 | Synthetic, M-LOK, rail | $1,748.88 |
What the other rifles give you:
- Ruger Marlin 1894 Classic .357, $1,748.88. The Marlin name, a longer cold hammer-forged barrel, American black walnut, blued steel and one more round. No rail, so a scope needs a base.
- Smith & Wesson 1854 .357, $1,748.88. A stainless receiver, a 19.25 inch threaded barrel, 10 rounds, XS ghost ring sights, M-LOK and a rail, and a magazine tube you can pull out to unload.
- Citadel Levtac-92 .357, $848.88. The budget option, with a synthetic stock, M-LOK, a rail with a peep sight and a threaded barrel. Our Levtac-92 guide has the details.
- Chiappa 1892 Cowboy Action .357, $1,198.88. An Italian-made Winchester 1892 copy with an octagonal barrel, for people who want the old west look. More in our Chiappa 1892 guide.
Optics and ammo
- Red dot: the Riton X1 Tactix ARD at $259.99 or the Bushnell AR Optics 1x at $274.88. Both come with Picatinny mounts and suit a fast, close-range carbine.
- Low-power scope: a 3-9x is plenty for a .357. The Bushnell Sportsman 3-9×32 is $74.88, and the Nikko Stirling 1 inch Weaver-style mount is $15.88.
- Ammo: PMC Bronze .357 158 grain JSP, $37.45 for 50. A .357 also chambers .38 Special, which is cheaper and milder. Lever guns can be fussy feeding the shorter round, so try a box before you buy a case.
- Setting it up: you can’t look down the bore of a lever gun, so a bore sight kit ($58.99) saves ammo. Then follow our guide to sighting in a rifle.
Is the Kodiak Luxari non-restricted?
Yes. It is a lever action, not a semi-automatic, so the 470 mm barrel rule does not apply, and a 16 inch carbine with a full stock is well over the 660 mm minimum length. A regular PAL covers it. We ship it to your door once we have verified your licence, and you can hunt with it wherever your province allows the calibre. Our guide to lever action rules in Canada has the details.
Should you buy one?
If you want a Marlin-style .357 with a rail on it and would rather spend $1,188.88 than $1,748.88, yes. The honest trade-off is track record. The Luxari is new, so there are not years of owner reports behind it the way there are for a Marlin. If you want the cheapest modern lever gun, buy the Levtac-92. If you want the Marlin name and walnut, buy the 1894 Classic.
Kodiak is also a model name at Chiappa, on the 1886 Kodiak in .45-70 and the LA322 Kodiak Cub in .22 LR. Our guide to all three Kodiak rifles puts them side by side.
Common questions
How many rounds does the Kodiak Luxari hold?
Eight .357 Magnum rounds in the tube and one in the chamber.
Does it shoot .38 Special?
It chambers it, like any .357 Magnum. How well a lever gun feeds .38 Special varies from rifle to rifle, so test a box first.
Can you put a scope on the Kodiak Luxari?
Yes. The Picatinny rail on top takes any red dot or scope with Picatinny or Weaver-style mounts.
The original design is covered on Wikipedia’s Marlin Model 1894 page.
Prices current as of October 2026. Check the product page for live stock. A non-restricted PAL is required.