I don't believe Mossberg ever made a .444 Marlin.
I would suspect that the Mossberg was a .45-70 and you're mis-remembering.
Of course, it could be a rifle that someone rebarreled.
Marlin did, of course, make Model 336 variants in .444 Marlin (labeled as Models 336-444 Magnum, 336-444, and 444 over the years; with T, S, SS, P, XLR, and no suffix, to designate variants).
The 444 receiver later evolved into the 'new' 1895 (.45-70).
For the Marlin 444:
'65 to '72 rifles had 24" barrels and straight-grip, 'Monte Carlo'-style stocks with a high comb ('63 and '64 pre-production and very early production rifles matched the standard configuration of the 336-44 Magnum).
After that, until the 18.5" "Outfitter" and 24" XLR versions, all factory variants had 22" barrels. All barrels, until 1998, were Micro-Grooved.
After '72, all standard models were pistol-grip style.
The cross-bolt safety was introduced in 1983.
In 1998 standard ("Ballard") rifling was used in the barrels, and continued on until the 444s were discontinued in 2009.
The 'P' model ("Outfitter") was introduced in 1998 with the short, 18.5" barrel, factory porting, and a straight-grip configuration. (Highly sought-after, and often selling now for three to four times original MSRP.)
The XLRs were brought out in 2003 with a 24" barrel, in stainless steel. (Even more desirable than the Outfitters, to many collectors and shooters. NIB examples can exceed $3,200 at auction.)
Hopefully that quick (and unexpected) model history lesson might be of some use.
Oh...
The Marlin extractor is not a problem.
It's actually a two-piece design that's brazed together to get a good 'hook' to grab cartridge rims. Makes production cheap. Makes assembly and disassembly easy. Makes cleaning easy. But is just as reliable as any other style, as long as the rifle is maintained properly (as with any rifle).
