Is it a Lever or Lee-var Action Rifle?

357-RevolverGuy · Aug 5, 2015

Okay this may seem like a dumb question but what’s the proper way to pronounce or say “lever”-action rifle? I was at a gun shop yesterday and looking over a new Henry, fine gun by the way, when I was schooled that it's pronounced a lee-var action gun. Now I’ve heard people call it that before but I’ve always just called it lever (as in le-ver) because that’s how it’s written in the Mirriam-Webster dictionary. Where does this “lee-var” action pronunciation come from? Or have I been saying the wrong thing all these years?

arjay · Aug 5, 2015

I believe lee-var is a hillbilly expression and yes, I'm wearing my nomex long johns [emoji12][emoji1]

Rustyt1953 · Aug 5, 2015

Lee var is what you do when she says," it's either those guns or me"!

Mule Packer · Aug 5, 2015

I'm sure it's just a regional thing. For example, in my part of the country, the regional pronunciation for a small stream of water is "crick," even though it is spelled "c-r-e-e-k."

Also, the pronged eating utensil correctly placed on the left side of the plate before eating is pronounced "fark," even though it is spelled "f-o-r-k."

Years ago, I was in New Jersey attending a conference. There were several of us standing around chatting one evening, and I happened to make some smart-alec comment about one of the other guy's New Jersey accent. A speech pathologist, who was also there, said, "Well, clinically, your accent is referred to as the Western Nasal Drawl or the Western Nasal Twang."

He continued, "You see, most people, when they hold their nose and talk, it sounds completely different...very nasal. However, when you hold your nose and talk, there will be absolutely no difference. It will sound the same. Try it. You'll see."

I thought the guy was "pulling my leg," so I tried it. He was right.

tops · Aug 5, 2015

357-RevolverGuy; Where does this “lee-var” action pronunciation come from? [/QUOTE said:
I have never heard that pronunciation before. Just because you heard someone use that pronunciation doesn't make it correct. Some of them thar people ain't got much book larnin. Larry

357-RevolverGuy · Aug 5, 2015

LOL... all great explanations. And here I thought it was something I missed in U.S. history or the Old West American frontier. Here in the south I suppose it's not even said "Lee-var" action. With a Southern drawl it sounds more like "Lee-veer". Can't tell you how many times I have been at shows or shops and people say that. A lot! I just get tired of someone stopping me mid-sentence and saying, "you mean Lee-var action, not Lever."

Hillbilly77 · Aug 5, 2015

I think it depends on where y'all live.

keith44spl · Aug 5, 2015

I have several lever action rifles,

but, I's got this here lee var action 348 Winchester that I kill'd a bar er two with.

.

Pop's2 · Aug 5, 2015

Everyone knows it is Lev Verr (two V's)

tops · Aug 5, 2015

Mule Packer said:
I'm sure it's just a regional thing. For example, in my part of the country, the regional pronunciation for a small stream of water is "crick," even though it is spelled "c-r-e-e-k."

One of my friends sister married a guy that wasn't from around here and they were looking at land and the deed called for a stake to be in the branch. My friend said he noticed the guy kept looking up and he asked why and the guy said he was looking for the stake in the branch. My friend explained that a branch is a small creek and those things growing on trees are limbs. Larry

Chuck24 · Aug 5, 2015

Heard it in a gun shop? Must be true

BaldEagle1313 · Aug 5, 2015

Hillbilly77 said:
I think it depends on where y'all live.

Yup. Do you say De-TROIT or DEE-troit? Same thing. Where you learn to speak stays with you. Until her dying day, my mother, who went to NYC public schools in the 20's and 30's, had a few words that were pure New York, even though she left at 16 after graduating high school and never lived there again.

I have a sister-in-law, born and currently living in SoCal but spent 2 years of elementary school in Canada. She still says "eh" at the end of a question.

Evil Dog · Aug 5, 2015

That's a new one on me. It's always been leh-verr.

Alpo · Aug 5, 2015

Never heard LEE-VAR. Heard LEH-VER and LEE-VER, but never VAR.

But I reckon it's like root and rout (route) or ee-ther and eye-ther (either). Both are correct, and it don't bother me which you use, 'cause I know what you mean.

Now, when them Kansas folks call the Ark-en-saw River the Ar-KAN-sas River - weeellll, that's a little strange.

rog8732 · Aug 5, 2015

Mule Packer; "Well said:
your[/I] accent is referred to as the Western Nasal Drawl or the Western Nasal Twang."

I always thought that "Blue Grass" singers were singing straight from the HEART, directly through the nasal passages.

krallstar · Aug 5, 2015

In Boston that would be Levaa action.

357-RevolverGuy · Aug 5, 2015

krallstar said:
In Boston that would be Levaa action.

Makes sense. I've heard they drop the R a lot there.

Muss Muggins · Aug 5, 2015

I think it depends on whether you say "puh CON" or "PEE can"

finesse_r · Aug 5, 2015

It does not matter how you mumble it as long as it is an older Mar-len.

keith44spl · Aug 5, 2015

Muss Muggins said:
I think it depends on whether you say "puh CON" or "PEE can"

I've always heard pi kahn for pecan

.

Battery.....bat tree', like ya gonna hook them cables up to the bat tree right thar?

I like Lev err actions too

.

Is it a Lever or Lee-var Action Rifle?

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