Marlin's 1895 SBL
Once relegated to short- and medium-range hunting duty, compact and maneuverable lever guns have benefited from modern ammunition advancements, providing their owners with extended reach, a ton of firepower and rapid follow-up shots — not to mention a cool factor that’s off the charts.
The “Guns That Won the West” have been with us for quite some time, with Winchester’s Model 1873 perhaps the most storied example in the platform’s long timeline. But there were others that helped pave the way, such as the Spencer Repeating Rifle and Henry Rifle (both created in 1860) as well as the Colt Model 6403, Savage Model 99, Marlin Model 1881 and others. Today, there is still a hardy handful of gun manufacturers turning out these guns to the delight of lever-action enthusiasts.
For those who grew up in deer hunting camps back in the 1960s and ’70s, lever actions were commonplace. For hunters who wanted a dependable, quick-handling, lightweight firearm with considerable knockdown power at moderate ranges they were hard to beat. This core group acknowledged two things: that most big-game animals taken in this country are killed within lever-action cartridge ranges, and that hunting is about the challenge of spot-and-stalk rather than spot-and-shoot.
While bolt-action and, more recently, AR-platform rifles now dominate the hunting landscape, lever guns still have their place and have even gained back some of the popularity they enjoyed back in the day, for three good reasons: nostalgia, efficiency and better ammo offerings.
So, for your customers who want to own a piece of American history with a modern bent, here are eight models that will surely grab their attention and hold it. And rifle retailers: If you’re not in the business of providing your patrons with top-notch quality lever guns, maybe you should be.
Big Horn Armory M89TD
The Model 89 Take Down Rifle from Big Horn Amory ($3,799) offers several advantages over traditional lever-action rifles, including enhanced portability and ease of transport. Its innovative design allows the rifle to be quickly disassembled into smaller components, making it a great choice for hunters who need to navigate rough terrain or travel long distances. This feature also simplifies maintenance and cleaning, ensuring that the rifle remains in optimal condition for reliable performance in any environment. The Model 89 Take Down combines the heritage of classic lever-action rifles with modern engineering and materials. Designed and built from the ground up, it embodies the legacy of the Winchester Models 1886 and 1892 while delivering unparalleled performance with the powerful .500 S&W Magnum.
Browning BLR Lightweight ’81 Stainless Takedown
The Browning BLR Lightweight ’81 Stainless Takedown ($1,229.99-$1,999.99) is an accurate, fast handling lever-action rifle that sports a satin finish on a laminated gray hardwood stock. A satin-nickel finish on the receiver and matte finish on the stainless barrel minimize game-spooking reflection, and its Truglo/Marbles fiber-optic front sight aids positive target acquisition in low-light conditions. This takedown model is unique, allowing users to simply flip a finger lever and instantly separate the rifle into two parts for space saving storage or easy transportation. The BLR Takedown is factory drilled and tapped for an optional forward-mounted, scout-style scope base to provide a rock-solid optics mounting platform, allowing users to remove the barrel without losing the scope’s zero.
Citadel Levtac .44 Mag. Camo
Citadel Levtac .44 Mag. lever-action rifle from Legacy Sports (starting at $829) is equipped with a Great Metal Modular M-Lok forend design for easy accessory attachments while providing a firm grip and a tough synthetic stock and forend now available with a Vector camo finish. Topped with a Picatinny rail, rear peep sight and bladed front sight, the Levtac features a 16.5-inch threaded barrel and Model 92 large lever-action loop for easy access, even when wearing gloves. This rifle is sure to be a hit with hunters while doing double duty for home defense or as a camp/truck gun. www.legacysports.com
Henry X Model .360 Buckhammer
The Henry Lever Action X Model ($1,124), chambered in .360 Buckhammer, was created to rule the deer woods — accurate and deadly out to 200 yards and beyond. In short, it’s a great rifle/straight wall cartridge for today’s whitetail woodsman. Key features include a rugged synthetic stock, Picatinny rail, M-Lok accessory slots and incline swivel studs. The round blued steel barrel features a 1:12 twist to stabilize various bullet weights and 5/8×24 threading for a suppressor or other muzzle device. It is equipped with bright, high-contrast green and orange fiber-optic sights, and the receiver is also drilled and tapped to accept a Weaver 63B scope base. The five-round magazine utilizes a removable inner magazine tube for convenient, safe unloading.
Marlin 1895 SBL
The Marlin 1895 SBL lever-action rifle, chambered in .45-70 Govt. ($1,479), offers smooth lever-action cycling, adjustable ghost ring rear and high visibility tritium fiber-optic front sights and a host of other features that make it a great choice for short- to medium-range shooting. With a cold hammer-forged stainless-steel 19.1-inch threaded barrel and overall length of 37.25 inches, this lever-action powerhouse is both compact and lightweight, weighing in at only 7.3 pounds. The iconic hammer block safety lever prevents accidental discharge while loading/unloading the six-round tubular magazine, while a gray laminate stock and forend with cut checkering provide exceptional handling and comfort in rugged conditions. An updated Picatinny rail provides a stable mounting surface for a variety of modern optics.
Taylor’s TC73 9mm
Now chambered in 9mm, the TC73 Lever-Action Rifle from Taylor’s & Company ( $1,999) is designed on the traditional 1873 lever-action platform for exceptional accuracy at medium range while maintaining its historic features. With superior qualities, such as improved carrier block design, lightened trigger pull, hardened screws and fully machined internal parts, the TC73 is a representation of the 1873 lever gun made with modern day technology and quality standards. It has an 18-inch threaded barrel and 10-round capacity and features a walnut stock and forend and forged steel frame with case coloring. The TC73 is equipped with a dovetail white bead front sight and dovetail semi-buckhorn w/reversible notch plate rear sight and has an overall length of 37.5 inches.
Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Walnut
Now chambered in .45-70 Govt., the Model 1854 Lever Gun from Smith & Wesson ($1,499) delivers more power, more energy and more versatility. Finished in walnut with textured grip panels and equipped with a 20-inch stainless-steel barrel with Armonite finish, the rifle’s iconic smooth action provides shooters with faster follow-up shots. Its flat trigger design allows for consistent trigger finger placement to aid in accuracy and a large loop lever features increased surface area to allow for cycling the smooth action with or without gloves. Other features include a 11/16 -24 threaded muzzle with thread protector, 6+1 capacity, cross-bolt manual safety and adjustable XS Sights ghost ring rear sight, and a gold bead front sight.
Winchester Model 94 Carbine
The Winchester Model 94 Carbine ($1,399.99), chambered in .30-30 Win., is a compact lever-action rifle that, because of its size and quick handling, is a great choice for hunting in heavy cover for deer, bears, wild hogs and other fast-moving game. With today’s superior ammunition designed specifically for lever actions, the Model 94 is as relevant as any bolt action for many hunting situations. Features include a black walnut stock with authentic straight-grip styling, classic carbine-style forearm and blued steel carbine strap butt plate. The Model 94 Carbine is drilled and tapped for optional scope mounts and has a triple-checked button rifled barrel, bolt relief cut and a Marble Arms front sight and adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight.
