Which 45-70 lever action?

[rodinal220]

Older Marlins. Remington Arms Company in December 26, 2007 entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Marlin Firearms Company, Inc. ("Marlin"). Guns after 2008 "can" be suspect in QC,especially after Marlin workers found out that the Marlin plant was to be shut down and operations moved to Ilion NY.
Guns closer to the move date and those coming out of the Remington plant are the most suspect.

I recently examined several 336 30-30s and 35 Remington's and several new 45-70 GG and they were terrible in fit and finish.The walnut is almost dry looking and void of any life. Numerous gaps in wood to metal fit. Numerous tool marks and amateurish fitting of simple parts.

 

[guitarguy314]

Thanks for posting the pictures eastbank. Those sure are pretty. Did you do anything to the stocks, or did they come that shiny?

Frosty Z06: That's the one I was looking at getting. It is calling my name. How is the recoil? How is the weight? What year is yours? Do you mind if I ask you where you got it and how much you paid?

rodinal220: I have heard that about Marlin's before. My problem is, that unless by some miracle a pawn shop gets one in, I will have to order from Gun Broker. I'll be careful about those dates. If they started making new ones, do you think that they would be okay?

Thanks guys!

 

[krinko]

Just to keep the 1886 in the picture, so to speak...



Got this Browning at an Omaha pawn shop for $700---it's the rifle I wanted in 1966, but could not find. Sort of a bucket list thing.
-----krinko

 

[gunner69]

If you plan on mounting optics go with one of the Marlins, if your are going to shoot irons the Browing/Winchester/Taylor 1886 style action. You won't find a smoother action than the 1886. Try some of the Hornady leveralution (sumpin' like that) loads and you will be ready for whatever shows up.

 

[guitarguy314]

Krinko: Whoa. That browning is a beauty. How many does it hold? Any idea how much a used one would go for today?

Gunner69: I don't plan on scoping mine at all, but aren't winchester's and browning's really expensive nowadays? Never heard of Taylor.

 

[CraigC]

Modern Winchesters and Brownings do cost more but they are also much better built guns than Marlins. You will not find a better made levergun. They are already drilled & tapped for a receiver sight. Like I said before, I passed on a really nice Browning 1886 SRC for $750 last year. Which is in range of a Marlin 1895 Cowboy model.

 

[shafter]

That Henry .45/70 is even uglier than their other ugly rifles. Who is in charge of designing that stuff???

Probably someone who thinks that if they use enough shiny brass people with think it's a decendent of the original Civil War era Henry.

 

[CraigC]

Methinks that's what they're banking on. Few look deep enough to find out that the current Henry Repeating Arms company has nothing to do with Benjamin Tyler Henry. Even so, all he really did was improve the Volcanic design for Winchester.

 

[eastbank]

guitarguy, a light coat of howards wax-n-feed and hand buffed,i use it quite a lot on my rifle and shotgun stocks. eastbank.

 

[guitarguy314]

Well guys, you've convinced me. My goal is a browning 1886. I have a few questions though. I'm probably going to have to buy from gunbroker. A search for browning 1886 reveals seven rifles that are way out of my price range, and one at 1100. Keep in mind I don't mind a used gun, as long as it works and looks nice. How much should expect to pay ?

Also, I don't actually want an antique gun. How long ago did browning stop making them?
(sorry if this is a dumb question)

 

[gunner69]

If you can find one get the Browning modern rendition, a second choice would be the Japanese made Winchester model. Note that Jap Winchester added a tang safety, which is o.k., based on their lawyer(s) safety recommendation. I like my Winchester, but would have liked the Browning a lot better. Try Ebang.com, Guns America, as well as Gun Broker. I have seen new, and as new, 1886's for around $1,000 - $1,000 and Good Luck.

 

[guitarguy314]

Thanks gunner69, and happy thanksgiving!

How do I tell a browning modern rendition from an old one? (besides price?)

Thanks, I haven't heard of those first two!

 

[CraigC]

The Browning will be marked "Browning" and the original will be marked Winchester. It will probably also cost twice as much. I agree that the Brownings are the best of the bunch, being of a traditional action without a goofy safety. Although those late model Winchester Extra Lights really call to me.

 

[guitarguy314]

I agree, those lever gun safety's seem silly. How long ago did they stop making these rifles?

Extra light?! on a 45-70? Ouch.

 

[CraigC]

I think Browning stopped producing the 1886's by the 1990's. In this case "Extra Light" is a relative term. It still weighs about 8lbs.

 

[guitarguy314]

Okay, so not too old then. Thanks

Oh, I see. haha

 

[krinko]

"Krinko: Whoa. That browning is a beauty. How many does it hold? Any idea how much a used one would go for today?"

The rifle has a 26" full octagon barrel and the tube holds eight rounds.
I got the thing this year for the $700 I mentioned.
I failed to mention, however, that one of the other regulars offered me $1000 for it, as I headed for the door of the shop.

And it was made by Miroku in Japan, just like the Winchester 1895 Saddle-ring
Carbine I bought this October.
There is no safety on the Miroku '86, just the regular half-cock.
-----krinko

 

[guitarguy314]

So guys, my research has confused me. What is the difference between the saddle ring carbine, and the regular lever action? What is the difference between the winchester 1886 and the browning 1886? Is a grade 1 rifle just a mint condition one? I need schooled. Thanks for the help guys. ((Also I apologize for resurrecting the thread))

 

[DMH]

I'm no expert, but hope this will help. The Browning and Winchester 1886 rifles are very similar. With the differences being in the safeties, when present and date of manufacture along with where they where made. The Browning 1886 for the 1990's has no tang safety, the Winchesters early ones from Japan also had no tang safety, then later ones where equipped with the tang safety. I also think Browning may have released a model 1886 in 1986 as a 100 year special run. Those also I believe would not have a tang safety. If you go used and find an original Winchester 1886 those where made in USA up to 1932. Saddle Ring Carbines (SRC) are shorter 20" Barrels, but I have never seen a 1886 SRC, but who am I to say. The Winchester 1985 was available in SRC, but that's a different rifle. The Marlin 1895 is also different. Here are some photos to help.

Winchester 1886 in 45-70 half cock safety.


Winchester 1886 in 45-70 half cock safety.


1895 Winchester made in Japan w/tang safety.


Winchester SRC 20" Barrel in 30-30.


Winchester SRC in .32 Winchester Special.


Marlin 1895 in 45-70 with cross bolt safety.


DMH

 

[DurangoKid]

The Browning Mdl. 1886 was made in a limited number of rifles and SRC Mdls. The Mdl.1886 Brownings did not have the "Idiot" switch on the tang. The Brownings and Winchester were both produced by the Japan contractor to Browning for shotguns etc. The Browning and Winchester Mdl.1886 is the best lever action 45-70 ever produced then or now. I have a Mdl. 1886 SRC that has served me well for many years.

 

[DMH]

Thanks Durangokid and I stand corrected, the 1886 was available as a SRC and some SRC's even had 22" barrels. So lots of options out there.

DMH

 

[CraigC]

All the Brownings and late model Winchesters came from the same factory, Miroku of Japan. All are superbly built rifles. All Brownings had a traditional half cock action and no external safety. All late model Winchester have the tang safety and rebounding hammer.

The Brownings were produced as a saddle ring carbine. The difference being the carbine specific buttplate, the forend band and barrel band. Along with the saddle ring. As stated I believe the barrel length was 22". A rifle will have a 26" octagon barrel, forend cap, dovetailed magazine hanger and a crescent buttplate. This are the quintessential differences between leveraction rifles and carbines. Barrel length is irrelevant in distinguishing between the two.

The late model Winchesters have been made in many more configurations. The Extra Light is a rifle configuration with a shotgun style buttplate and short magazine. I believe they have also made 20-22" "short rifles" with octagon barrels and rifle features. For a general purpose using rifle, I would choose the Extra Light.

 

[guitarguy314]

Thanks for the clarification!

Ideally, I want a browning 1886. As I said before, safety's just seem silly on a lever gun.

CraigC: Are you saying that the brownings were produced only as a saddle ring carbine, or was there also an actual rifle model?

 

[Limey46]

Yes, Browning marketed a Miroku-made 26" octagon-barreled model with a crescent buttplate, etc., as well as a 22" saddle-ring carbine. The 26" Brownings are the hardest to find of all the Miroku 1886 reproduction guns, the Winchester Extra Lights the easiest.

I second the info CraigC posted, by the way. That's all correct according to what I know.

 

[DMH]

CraigC, Just a dumb question, but I have a 26" barrel rifle and it does have a saddle ring. It has an end cap on the forearm, and no barrel band. I've always thought of it as a rifle, but would it be called a carbine due to it's butt plate and saddle ring?

David