New S&W 1854 Lever Action .44

Looks like a nice new offering in the lever action market, though that name is likely to cause some historical confusion since this gun obviously wasn't introduced in 1854. Lol

Personally it's not for me, I'm not a fan of the cross bolt safety on a lever action. That's the main reason I like Henry rifles, with their hammer transfer bar safety. Just like in the old days, hammer back = gun is ready to fire, hammer down = gun is safe... nothing else to fuss with.
 
Scrolling down, I see they have a limited edition for ~$3,500 with fancy grain wood. Seems kind of high, but I guess they think there's a market for it at that price.
 
Ethan Verity said:
Looks like a nice new offering in the lever action market, though that name is likely to cause some historical confusion since this gun obviously wasn't introduced in 1854. Lol
Click to expand...

That's going to create some drama right there. Release a Marlin clone in 2024 and give it a model number older than the original.

Edit to add: Some horse hockey is already on the loose.

horsehockey.jpg ​

 
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Looks interesting to me. I think the more leverguns the better. It might help to decrease prices and increase availability.

I did think it was interesting that there was no reference to "defending the homestead" or anything like that. I wonder if the companies are going to swing away from that?

Anyways, it looks like it has the potential to be a good rifle, so I am excited.
 
chicharrones
I wasn't expecting a Marlin clone with a Henry mag tube
Click to expand...

Neither was I!

They must think there's a market out there for such things but I would be more interested in something downsized a bit (and with a shorter barrel too), chambered in .357, along with a smaller .22 version

Oh well just have to wait and see...
 
I welcome the addition but won’t be a buyer. For me personally I would have liked to see offered an affordable wood and blue in different calibers, 360BH, 327 fed, perhaps even a .22. There is a lot of good competition when it comes to .44’s

Hopefully they will do well, it’s a hot market, and we’ll see the line expand.
 
I am happy to see that the lever interest snowball seems to be rolling along and gaining size. But, it looks like a Henry with the rimfire style mag tube but the receiver does not look like a box as does Henry receivers. The bottom of the receiver has the graceful curve of a Marlin. I like Marlins, I like the Ruger Marlins, but I think if I purchase a new .44 or .45 it might be a Rossi just for the fun of it.
 
Interesting addition from S&W, certainly a surprise! They jumped on the Henry bandwagon of trying to relate to an old product, but at least they are the original company, unlike Henry.

To get a wood stock, admittedly fancy wood, you’d pay a premium of $2K+ over the basic rifle. Hmm, my monkey wood Rossi 92 is looking better and better. The basic is still $300+ over the Rossi.

They’re also a lb. heavier than the Rossi.
 
An interesting tidbit about the S&W crossbolt safety. It appears to block the trigger from releasing the hammer?

See the 5:40 mark below.
youtu.be

New S&W 1854 44 Magnum: A Rugged Lever Action Rifle With Modern Features

New for SHOT Show 2024, Smith & Wesson's first lever action in over 150 years brings a classic look and feel to the new generation.Follow me on Twitter/X:htt...
youtu.be youtu.be

Edit:
Hmmm. This video shows contradictory evidence at the 5:40 mark.
youtu.be

New 2024 Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Lever Action 44 Magnum Review

New for 2024, the Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Lever Action in 44 Magnum. This is the first lever action rifle produced by S&W in 170 years. All weather Forged ...
youtu.be youtu.be
 
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I hope Henry starts to add more threaded barrels to their line up. I'll pass on this with being .44mag
 
Ethan Verity said:
Looks like a nice new offering in the lever action market, though that name is likely to cause some historical confusion since this gun obviously wasn't introduced in 1854. Lol

Personally it's not for me, I'm not a fan of the cross bolt safety on a lever action. That's the main reason I like Henry rifles, with their hammer transfer bar safety. Just like in the old days, hammer back = gun is ready to fire, hammer down = gun is safe... nothing else to fuss with.
Click to expand...
It is an ugly gun and Henry's are odd ducks having loading gates and removable mag tubes. I get it, standardized production. But it just looks odd. The fact that S&W did this, tells me it was all about the lawyers demanding a way to unload the gun without running the action.
 
ECVMatt said:
Looks interesting to me. I think the more leverguns the better. It might help to decrease prices and increase availability.

I did think it was interesting that there was no reference to "defending the homestead" or anything like that. I wonder if the companies are going to swing away from that?

Anyways, it looks like it has the potential to be a good rifle, so I am excited.
Click to expand...
We don't have "woodsmen" and "gunfighters" anymore, we have "sports shooters" and "dirt clod poppers." The removable mag tube screams "unload and show clear" commands at the range. It is a way to empty the gun without running every round through the action. This gun has lawyers worried about being sued written all over it because some guy wanted to shoot paper dinosaurs like in Jurassic World.
 
3Crows said:
I am happy to see that the lever interest snowball seems to be rolling along and gaining size. But, it looks like a Henry with the rimfire style mag tube but the receiver does not look like a box as does Henry receivers. The bottom of the receiver has the graceful curve of a Marlin. I like Marlins, I like the Ruger Marlins, but I think if I purchase a new .44 or .45 it might be a Rossi just for the fun of it.
Click to expand...
With more states banning automatic rifles. Newer shooters are getting legislatively screwed out of owning a $350 PSA AR-15 and a pile of Pmags for $80. The fact that the base model has MLOK attachment points and a threaded barrel, screams "you can own this instead of an AR!"

Also, it appears that S&W stopped cribbing notes from Kel-Tec and instead are now looking over at Ruger's and Henry's homework.
 
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bannockburn said:
They must think there's a market out there for such things but I would be more interested in something downsized a bit (and with a shorter barrel too), chambered in .357, along with a smaller .22 version

Oh well just have to wait and see...
Click to expand...

The S&W appears to have a shorter receiver for revolver cartridges, just like the Henry Big Boy Steel. The receiver follows the design of the Marlin 1895/336 instead of the Marlin 1894, so at first glance the S&W receiver would resemble the longer 1895/336 receiver.
 
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Cool, but I already have a tactical, carbon-fiber stocked, railed lever-gun in .30 Fury. Pec-15 on the front too.

OIG.HyxMfZG4BtbmKpFTmECK
 
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