Why have lever prices doubled?

Same reason everything has gone up really.

Marlin/Remington bankruptcy created a shortage in the market and caused all existing Marlin guns to skyrocket in price. Remlins included which makes me chuckle a bit since they seem to be so disdained.

The conventional lever guns being produced today require somewhat complicated supply chains to produce. Not altogether different than good revolvers. Those being, steel forgings or higher quality castings, and semi specialized alloys to name a few. The amount of machines and tooling required are also untypical compared to stamped sheet metal, MIM, injection molded plastic, or aluminum.

More manpower is also required per unit produced.

There are currently shortages of steel lumber and workers. There are currently shortages of these same things in non-gunmakimg industries as well but these industries still provide support to the gun making industry. Such as, machine tools, tooling for said machine tools, raw lumber, trucking, etc. and all the industries that support those. The list goes on and on.

This is generalized for every industry in the world right now.
 
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I think demand is up for what some consider "real guns". Traditional guns folks believe they can depend on rather than polymer , aluminum and pot metal , they're seeing real steel and wood like their grandpa had that they believe will last at least their lifetime. Especially in uncertain political times people like guns they see as not threatened by possible legislation, no one wants to spend $1,000++ on a gun they fear could be illegal at some point.

Also I think folks miss the simplicity of years past and the lever action is a throw back to an era that was simpler . the shine is worn off for many to burn ammo like it's the early 2000s. I'm one of those guys, I don't care to hose down a target with hundreds of tiny bullets at high velocity, just shooting for the sake of shooting. It wasn't unusual for a hunter to have a box of 20 cartridges that would last him many years for hunting . even well stocked guys are trying to conserve their components and aren't trying to shoot 500 rounds every weekend.

I could be off but I know that I haven't even touched my AR in the past 2 years, bless it's tiny heart. I have however mainly shot my 45-70 lever gun every time I've gone to the range, shoot that 50-100 times and that's going to be it physically. The same isn't true for modern guns, typically you can shoot them all day if you've got the ammo.

I don't mind paying what a lever gun costs as long as it's the real deal, a gun that my kids will inherit. I don't feel the same about modern guns, if an AR is worn out I think you just toss it and get another for half what a lever gun costs. A traditional gun is likely to go to a smith for repair .

I may be wrong about all that but in my world a lever is worth double what a modern rifle is.
 
When commodities reappear in the market, full throttle production and steady orders appear, prices will change (1 or 2 years if Russia invasion/war stop there.) Sadly, our inflation will keep prices up.
I would love to compare a new Marlin to Henry gated, myself being a hardcore fan of Winchester lever rifles those market new inceptions intrigue me badly.
 
I’ve seen Winchester 94’s go from Pre-64’s 500-700 to 1k plus and Post 64’s 400-550 to 700-850 in the last 3 years. That’s just plain Jane carbines. I think it’s a mix of demand and the fact new Henry’s and Marlins are now that expensive to buy and it’s dragging the used stuff up with it.
 
Dustbowl said:
I’ve seen Winchester 94’s go from Pre-64’s 500-700 to 1k plus and Post 64’s 400-550 to 700-850 in the last 3 years. That’s just plain Jane carbines. I think it’s a mix of demand and the fact new Henry’s and Marlins are now that expensive to buy and it’s dragging the used stuff up with it.
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March of 2020 I had a long time customer ( at a non firearms related business) complain he couldn't get a winchester 94 for under $1000 anywhere and most were more. I didn't know, don't follow their prices but I had a 94 carbine made around 1998ish in like new condition laying around that I never shot much and told him I'd sell it to him. He offered me $850, I told him I wouldn't feel right because I don't think I even paid $400 for it and he's a good guy. I sold it to him for $600 and he was over the moon and kept asking if I was sure I'd do it that cheap. I took that money and put it down on a 77/357 that I shoot all the time. Win/win, we were both happy with that.
 
Easy answer, demand vs. availability. Because Marlin was out of production for several years and there is a pent up demand for certain models of Marlin lever guns, in particular the SBL which has a current MSRP of $1,399 but has been selling for over $3,000 over the past several years because it is a working rifle needed for working guides. Now that Marlin is coming back on line I expect prices to begin to settle earthward though slowly. Henry is not perceived as being legit (by history and legacy) by some lever gun guys (like me) so Marlin demand is higher than availability until Ruger gets Marlin fully spooled up for all models. And Henry, well, meh :/ .

https://www.marlinfirearms.com/s/model_1895sbl/

3C
 
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bluetopper said:
Did Ruger drop the manufacture of 444 Marlin caliber?
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They haven’t “dropped” anything that we know of yet. They just decided to start out manufacture with the 1895SBL.

Only time or a press release will tell.

Given Rugers history with things like this my gut instinct is no they did not drop the 444. Sometime in one guise or another it will come back. Also given Rugers history it will most likely be a limited production Lipseys or Talo exclusive since they like to play that annoying game often.

There will most likely be a small production run per year of basic rifle configuration 444s once production gets going.
 
bluetopper said:
Did Ruger drop the manufacture of 444 Marlin caliber?
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Marlin has not dropped anything under Ruger. The first rifle for release is the SBL, other models to follow. This is not me saying this, the CEO and other Ruger leadership have repeatedly made numerous public statements regarding what is coming.

3C
 
There is no reason to keep 444 and 45-70. The 444 has been in VERY limited production since the 45-70 was re-introduced in 1972.

I compare this to the Pre-64 Winchester 70 prices after Winchester changed the design. For years any Pre-64 sold at crazy prices. It took 40 years before their price moderated.
 
Blkhrt13 said:
The Ruglins are much higher in price than Remlin. But comparative quality is astronomically different. They are worth the difference in cost. Once I have the gold I’m getting one. But that will be a minute.
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Have you actually held one? I have. I also own a late Remington SBL that is perfect. I do have the gold and I am seriously trying to buy a new SBL just because I want one with the threaded barrel. But I am not going to pay over MSRP and that is the catch right now.

3C
 
I have a Winchester 94, 30-30, made in 1970. It was $350 when I got it 6 years ago. I think it’s worth like $550? I wouldn’t sell it for a grand though cause you can’t go down to the store and replace it. It’s worth more to me than a new AR or bolt gun because it’s not only a meat getter, is a defense rifle that doesn’t look scary. In fact I think it looks good.
 
3Crows said:
Have you actually held one? I have. I also own a late Remington SBL that is perfect. I do have the gold and I am seriously trying to buy a new SBL just because I want one with the threaded barrel. But I am not going to pay over MSRP and that is the catch right now.

3C
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My son had a Remlin 3030 that had several issues. There was roughness on a couple of internal parts to the point it was leaving brass dust in it from cycling the action. Not a ton but enough to make me want to take it apart and smooth them up some. Granted he likes to shoot it a lot. It felt clackish compared to my old Winchester which seems odd saying. No I have not found a new Ruger Marlin on the shelf. But I don’t frequent Cabelas or Bass pro. I don’t have either very close. Academy hasn’t had one yet. But the parts list and machining alone tells me Ruger wanted to show off what they can do. Did fit and finish look as good in person as it does in the photos released on the Ruger?
 
Bazoo said:
I have a Winchester 94, 30-30, made in 1970. It was $350 when I got it 6 years ago. I think it’s worth like $550? I wouldn’t sell it for a grand though cause you can’t go down to the store and replace it. It’s worth more to me than a new AR or bolt gun because it’s not only a meat getter, is a defense rifle that doesn’t look scary. In fact I think it looks good.
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More like $700 at this point.
 
Blkhrt13 said:
My son had a Remlin 3030 that had several issues. There was roughness on a couple of internal parts to the point it was leaving brass dust in it from cycling the action. Not a ton but enough to make me want to take it apart and smooth them up some. Granted he likes to shoot it a lot. It felt clackish compared to my old Winchester which seems odd saying. No I have not found a new Ruger Marlin on the shelf. But I don’t frequent Cabelas or Bass pro. I don’t have either very close. Academy hasn’t had one yet. But the parts list and machining alone tells me Ruger wanted to show off what they can do. Did fit and finish look as good in person as it does in the photos released on the Ruger?
Click to expand...

I guess my Remington Marlin SBL is exceptional because it is smooth and runs like a Swiss watch. But, the real question, what do the new Ruger rifles look like. Well, I have long been a Marlin fan and have owned and do own several including JM Marlins. The Ruger is going to live up to the hype but at the same time it is not a JM, it is different, hard to pin down. The stock fit of the laminated SBL I looked over was a little better than average and typical of laminated stocks on all brands of rifles. The cap is gone from the grip, that bothers me because I liked that and still do and for some reason it has a red bullseye on the laminated stock and for previous Marlins the black and white bullseye was only found on rifles with walnut stocks. The metal work was excellent. The threaded barrel pokes out just a little more but I can live with that for the potential utility. All in all the Ruger Marlin SBL is stunning. The lever feels good out of the box and one thing that irritates me on both JM and Remington rifles is the bolt is often (always, lol) not even to the back of the action, the Ruger was perfect.

The rifling looks different from my SBL. So they are clearly using the Ruger barrel processes whereas mine has cut "Ballard" rifling which without having the two rifles side by side, I would say mine is not as deep but sharper.

Ruger says the stock is slimmer. Hmm, maybe. I have seen some JM and Remington Marlin SBLs where it appears the fore stock was not fittted, just sawed off and left as is. Mine is fitted into the action and the band. The Ruger SBL, again, without having both side by side, I would say it is slightly slimmer but the good news is that the stock blends nicely into the action and the front band.

The SBL by Ruger is MSRP $1,399 and is it worth it. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want one badly ;). And, yes, the Ruger SBL looks like a $1,400 rifle should. If the follow on models look like this we are golden. Marlin is indeed back if so. Why did I not buy it, it was sold :( . They are hard to find at MSRP.

I am betting the next release will be a basic 336 with matte blueing and a laminated stock. A rifle on the other end of the spectrum from the premium SBL. A rifle priced for the guy who wants a Marlin lever to take out and hunt with and beat the bushes with. And then Ruger will fill end the catalog from both ends. Just my hunch based on nothing really.

3C
 
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I think one of the reasons folks are passionate about their lever actions is that it’s the original survival rifle. With all the stuff that’s went on the last 2 years, riots, pandemic, government lockdowns, wars, many people are looking for a long term survival rifle.
 
I've had my Remlin 336 Stainless for going on 5 years now. Except for some sharp edges in the loop, stiff loading gate spring, and sharp edges that scrape the brass during loading, overall I'm very happy with it. Looking at doing some Ranger Point Precision parts on it. I paid $763 for it, then sent in the $75 mail-in rebate they were running in summer 2017. If they had done more machining to the lever loop to round out the sharp edges and the loading gate sharp edges, I'd have been even more happy with it.

I've filled the tube all the way which I believe is 6+1 in the pipe, no malfunctions.
 
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