Lever gun craze

[MI2600]

Maybe the surge in demand for lever rifles is being driven by a larger number of left handers...such as myself!

 

[Old Dog]

The Miroku made Winchesters are not bad (certainly well above the quality of the initial Remlins).

I fully agree. In fact, I've seen some of the other (higher end) Winchesters coming out of Japan that are damned impressive. Of course, the Japanese have only spawned artisans of the highest order, particularly with steel in the sword and cutlery arena, for several hundred years before this country was colonized.

I was speaking to the snob appeal cultivated by those who believe older, and especially made in America, is better ...

 

[Granby140]

I think i found one

 

[AethelstanAegen]

I was speaking to the snob appeal cultivated by those who believe older, and especially made in America, is better ...

Gotcha; I agree with you. The Miroku made 1886 is one of the nicest firearms I've ever owned. I do rather wish they'd stuck to the original design and left out the rebounding hammer, multi-part trigger, etc but it still works very well and is still very smooth, so I can't complain too much (I can also change all those things over if I ever feel like it as well). It's definitely my favorite rifle of any that I have so far owned.

 

[788Ham]

Although not revolver calibers, I've got 3 levers that I love. A Win. Big Bore '94 .375, 2 Savage '99's, one a .300 and the other a .250. Miroku will play hell making a rifle as good as those Savage '99's !

 

[gspn]

When AR prices went through the roof a lot of guys around here started buying lever guns. Not sure why...but many told me that's what they were doing.

 

[mastiffhound]

Most may have got lever guns because they have a slim chance of being banned like has been said. The ability to use the same ammo for rifle and pistol is very nice.

When I lost my brother two years ago I was left his Marlin 336 .30-30 that he loved more than any other firearm that he had ownership of. This was before Christmas so some things that we were going to get him weren't purchased. His main present was going to be a Magnum Research BFR revolver in .30-30. How's that for power fellas! When I think about it now it seems like a silly gun but my brother was just goofy enough to love it.

I rarely shoot his Marlin, it just reminds me too much that he's not with us to enjoy it. He had that Marlin for a year and a half before he ever shot it, we lived in the city at the time and work was constant and hectic. He really loved his Marlin. The first time he shot it he couldn't stop smiling.

Lever guns have style, and I don't know anybody that didn't play cowboys and indians as kids. I know myself, my brothers, and the other kids on our block did all the time. We watched The Rifleman and Bonanza any time they were on if we weren't outside pretending to be Chuck Connors. I guess people have lots of reasons to buy lever actions, I'm just glad that people woke up and realized other firearms besides ARs, AKs, and Glocks excist.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have 5 leverguns right now. I have one Henry and the other 4 are Marlins. The Henry is in 22LR and the others are in 45-70, 35 Rem, 30-30 and .357 Magnum. I think I need one more in .45 Colt and I'll be happy! (is there a Winchester in 45 Colt?)

 

[SC Shooter]

You may be right. For years I resisted buying a lever gun merely because they were so average. It was the gun the occassional deer hunter used, and always either a Winchester or a Marllin. However, there appears now to be a growing demand, especially the older ones like pre '64 Winchester Model 94's. Perhaps it is because more people are starting to collect guns for the pure pleaseure of collecting. The pricing has gone up, and the interest at gun shows has increased. Oh yeah, I do own one now; a really nice 1949 Model '94.

 

[Hanshi]

I know I've always had a thing for lever guns; Marlin, Winchester, and the grand prize winner, the M99 Sav.

 

[vaupet]

The Miroku build levers are just great. I own two 1892 in 44.40 and just ordered their 1873 in 357/38.
Their fit and finish is perfect, nice wood, no machiningvmarks,...

 

[greyling22]

for me, the problem with the miroku guns is the cost, not the quality. If marlin's production shifted from remington to miroku and cost stayed about the same, I would dance in the streets.

 

[Merle1]

Never buy a hipoint. Had one and was tye biggest POS ever

My experience with a 40 S&W is just the opposite. What problems did you have?

 

[osteodoc08]

I love my pistol caliber carbines. I've got em in 357, 41, 45LC. I also have them in 30/30, 45/70 and 32WS. They're just plain fun.

I guess in a way, lever actions are the original "assault" rifle.

 

[AethelstanAegen]

for me, the problem with the miroku guns is the cost, not the quality.

Very true, but still cheaper than the original Winchesters (at least when it comes to 1886s). I lucked out and found one "used" for a discount; I'll eat my hat if they had ever fired the thing, it looked brand new. I got really lucky.

 

[Alex Henry]

Marlin .45-70 Guide Gun

I knew I should have bought one way back when they came out. I'd love to have one in stainless, but if blue was all I could find I'd take it.

Marlin itself is "out-of-stock" of this gun. They still advertise it as a current item (blued only) and yet they don't have any at this time. Did they not produce as much as they normally would or did they stay current and customers overran the supply?

For the most part my interest and collection is antique double shotguns and recently, double rifles. All my beautiful handguns were sold dirt cheap when I needed money about 10 years ago. I still kick myself but that's life. Currently I only have a few.

Anyway, this is my first post here and I'm caught rambling away. I guess my main points are (1) Where can I get a stainless Guide Gun and (2) where in God's name are all the guns and ammo going?

 

[xring]

A few years back I bought an unfired Browning 1892 in .44mag from my good friend. It was his Dad's. I ended up selling it during a lean time without ever having fired it. I can't even remember exactly why I let it go, other than it was the right thing to do at the time. It hurts to think about it.

 

[oneounceload]

Is it me orall o a sudden lever guns are the hot thing right now.

Nope, not right now, been going on for over a decade

 

[76shuvlinoff]

I've got a 1956 and 1979 39A, 1977 Marlin 1894c in .357 and a Ted Williams (70s? 80s?) 30-30.... and I don't hunt, I just shoot em oil and fondle em. I have a wrecked shoulder but I still long for a Marlin 45-70.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

First sorry about your brother Mastiffhound. Sounds like you where close. Lost more then a few family members myself and it hurts.
On the levers-Only 2 I would like to have. A M 71 Winchester in .348. Pre war deluxe carbine with receiver peep of course. Next a Winchester M1886 carbine in .50-110. I could really use those guns. Not much use here for a .357 or 30-30 or .35 Rem.