When Christopher Spencer invented the Spencer lever-action rifle, the world's first military metallic-cartridge repeating rifle, in 1860, it represented a major advancement in firearm efficiency. The ability to fire multiple shots with just a flick of the lever enhanced life — and often extended it — especially for the brave pioneers venturing into America’s Western lands.

Indeed, the Spencer and the soon-to-follow Henry rifle were unlike any that Americans had seen before. With the Spencer, moving the loading lever caused the breechblock to drop. Once the breechblock cleared the receiver, the carrier rolled downward, ejecting the spent cartridge from the chamber and gathering a fresh round from the tubular magazine in the buttstock. Closing the lever chambered a new cartridge, and the breechblock then rose vertically to close the breech.

It's easy to envision how this transformed life on the frontier and the battlefield. A mountain man defending against hostile natives could maintain a steady stream of fire instead of reloading after each shot. Similarly, a Union rifleman could independently keep a group of Confederate soldiers pinned down due to the new rapid-fire feature.

Remarkably, 165 years later, lever-action rifles remain as popular as ever. For many, there’s something about the feel of a lever action that evokes a certain nostalgia that is increasingly hard to recapture. With improved manufacturing processes and tighter tolerances, today’s lever guns are often just as accurate as quality bolt-action rifles.

For 2025, several companies have added new lever-action models to their lineups. Although these modern lever actions still somewhat resemble the guns of the past, they are quite different. 

Let’s explore five new modern lever-action rifles worth considering for your inventory. They’re sure to attract lever-gun enthusiasts, whose ranks are growing each year.

S&W 1854 Stealth Hunter 

The 1854 Stealth Hunter certainly isn’t the lever gun John Wayne used to take on Ned Pepper and his crew in the all-time classic movie True Grit, but I have no doubt The Duke would have been more than happy to go to battle with this rifle in hand. The 1854 Stealth Hunter combines a clean, classic design with modern upgrades to elevate the shooting experience. Among a host of other features, it offers your customers an extended Picatinny rail for mounting optics — an increasingly popular option for lever guns these days. A new forend with 15 M-Lok slots to allow mounting other accessories is also part of the package, as is the HIVIZ H3 front sight, which is designed for superior visibility in both low-light and daylight conditions. The rear sight is an XS ghost-ring sight that is adjustable for both windage and elevation. 

Smith & Wesson has also taken the 1854 Stealth Hunter to a new level of accuracy with a flat-faced trigger for consistent trigger finger placement and a more consistent pull. A large loop lever — yes, much like the one Wayne made popular in True Grit — is also featured on the rifle and is an advantage to shooters with gloved hands. The stock is made of black synthetic with textured grip panels. Specification-wise, the gun has a 16-3 inch threaded barrel, is 33.3 inches long overall and weighs 6.5 pounds empty. Available in both .45 Colt and .357 Mag., the Stealth Hunter’s price tag would probably cause inventors Spencer and Henry to turn over in their graves. MSRP is $1,399.

Pedersoli Boar Buster Apocalypse

When I first got a glance of the Boar Buster Apocalypse from Pedersoli, I wasn’t sure if I was looking at a lever gun or something from Star Wars. Yes, it is, indeed, that interesting looking. The new model’s modern aesthetics and functional elements merge with the classic lines of a Western-style gun, which should please new and seasoned lever-action fans alike. The gun features a polymer buttstock and forend, with the grip areas on the forend and pistol grip, along with the adjustable cheekpiece, covered with leather inserts. The forend features M-Lok mounting slots to allow for the attachment of a wide range of accessories. 

One of the things that makes the gun great is that it is chambered in .45-70, a cartridge that can easily take down any animal on the North American continent. Obviously, that means you’re going to feel plenty of recoil thump when firing the gun, but whatever is on the other end will get a “thump” of its own! The barrel of the gun is 17 inches in length, and the tube magazine holds five rounds of .45-70 goodness. Sights include a folding rear sight with a green fiber-optic insert and a ramp front sight with an orange hi-viz insert. Note that the Boar Buster Apocalypse won’t be available until Q3, so customers might have to wait a while for this one. But it is definitely worth the wait. MSRP for the super-cool lever gun will be quite stiff at a whopping $2,705. 

Henry Carbon Series  

Henry’s Special Products Division, a collaborative hub dedicated to pioneering advancements in firearms design and technology, is tasked with answering the desires of Henry fans, including hunters, shooters and gun collectors. “The Special Products Division represents a significant leap forward for us,” states Andy Wickstrom, president of Henry Repeating Arms. “Over the last few years, we’ve brought in some of America’s brightest minds in firearms design and developed a deeply rooted culture of exploring the unknown. This isn’t about following trends; it’s about leading with purpose and innovation to create new ones.” The group’s latest answer: the Carbon Series SPD rifles. 

The first iteration, which Henry calls the “ultimate suppressor host” and introduced at SHOT Show 2025 in Las Vegas, uses carbon fiber wrapped around a steel liner for the barrel in place of typical steel in order to cut some weight. By shaving off some weight from the front of the rifle, Henry has created a perfect balance between the added weight and length of a suppressor, making the rifle feel more stable and easier to handle. The buttstock is laminated wood, and the carbon-fiber forend comes with M-Lok slots on both sides and the bottom for attaching accessories. These lever-action rifles will be available in all the classic lever-action chamberings, including .44 Mag., .45 Colt, .30-30 Win. and .45-70. While Henry hasn’t set an exact MSRP yet, it is expected to come in around $1,600 to $2,000.

Taylor's TC73 

Taylor’s & Co. has been in business for over 30 years and continuously works on “Keeping the Legend Alive” with heritage products for serious collectors and modern sportsmen and women alike. The TC73 from Taylor’s & Co. is a more historic take on the lever-action rifle with an emphasis on modern technology and advancements. Made in the United States, the TC73 is an 1873 lever-action rifle designed with performance in mind while maintaining the historic features of the lever gun that we all know and love. This year’s addition of the ubiquitous 9mm cartridge to the 1873 lever-action family is something Taylor’s has long aimed to bring to the market and has done so in a big way.

With an 18-inch barrel, this lever gun has plenty of real estate for the 9mm projectile to use every bit of the powder charge before leaving the muzzle. Best of all, the barrel is threaded, giving shooters an opportunity to shoot 9mm suppressed — always a good, fun-to-shoot combination. The metal is blued, and the receiver has a beautiful case coloring, lending a true touch of class. The walnut stock and forend give this lever gun a historic look, and a black rubber butt plate rounds out the features. The capacity for the under-barrel tubular magazine is 10 rounds, and the MSRP for the TC73 is $1,999.

Savage Revel .22 

Here’s one for your rimfire-oriented customers. I had a lever-action .22 rifle when I was a kid and shot more cans, rabbits and squirrels with it than with any other gun. There are few guns more fun to shoot than a lever-action .22, and this one certainly fits the bill. The Revel is Savage’s sleek, modern take on the classic lever-action rimfire rifle. Crafted with precision engineering and advanced materials, this rifle embodies a fusion of tradition and innovation. Its streamlined design features a contoured, satin-finished Turkish walnut stock for superior grip and comfort. The lever-action mechanism delivers smooth, reliable cycling, while the crisp trigger ensures precise shot placement. 

Another neat feature of this gun is it can be taken down quickly and simply, making it a go-to backpack rifle for those heading to the boonies. The tubular magazine holds 12 rounds, plenty for range plinking or small-game hunting. The medium-profile carbon steel barrel measures 18 inches in length and is equipped with adjustable iron sights. It can also be quickly equipped with a scope or other optic, as the receiver is drilled and tapped. It also features a True Grit-like oversized lever loop, giving the gun an even more historic look. It is also equipped with a cross-bolt safety to ensure safe handling and use. While currently chambered in .22 LR, the Savage Revel will also be available in .22 Magnum and .17 HMR later in 2025. Both will make the gun even more fun to shoot and deliver a little more pop to your customers’ targets — whether small game or range targets. MSRP is only $439.