I was talking with my son this morning- he manages several gun stores/shooting ranges here in Central Florida. He was telling me that there has been a huge resurgence with customers buying lever action rifles, especially the Marlin 1895 .45-70s! The store will receive 4 or 5 models, and they'll be sold off within a day or two. Same for Henry's and the occasional Winchester. These guns ain't cheap, and they're flying off the rack. His stores may start stocking the POF Tombstone PCC (9mm), but those are really pricey. I wonder what the draw is for these lever action rifles? Is it TV shows like "Yellowstone", or maybe because it's a less threatening type of rifle for carrying around in vehicles? Thoughts?
Lever guns popularity
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BLACKHAWKNJ
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I don't think they've ever gone out of fashion.
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
They use lever actions and carry Glocks in Yellowstone. I kinda like it!
I see the same interest here in Texas. Lever guns have always been popular but folks are paying quite a bit more than I'd expect, especially for JM marked Marlins and most any Winchester. So much so that I've sold quite a few of mine.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Lever guns look great, slim, fun to shoot, fast, and hard-hitting, even in pistol calibers. I especially like to shoot .44 Magnum. It has a lot of thump at both ends, and the terminal ballistics are close to that of a .30-30 at 100 yards or so. In a 7 lb rifle, .45-70 has even more thump, but IMO ceases to be fun after about 10 rounds.
30-30remchester
Member
I believe it is a desire for adventure brought on by television. Shows like Port Protection, Life below Zero, etc. have a lot of appeal for many domestic me. Watching these shows, many carry a short light lever gun with the Marlin 45/70 being popular, not because they are the best, but because they are available and big enough to do the job. Kind of like the man who buys Snap-On tools to change the spark plug of his lawn mower, after watching one of those car build shows. It lets them feel like we belong. These shows are so much Hollywood though with bits of realism tossed in. The one than makes me laugh the most is the character who "chases away" mountain lions. He has a pack of dogs that trees the cats, yet he carries a monster of a hunting rifle with a scope as long as my leg. The one true cat hunter I knew, had a 1892 Winchester that he had cut the barrel off in his garage, then cut the butt stock off just behind the tang. He then attached a hinge with long screws. That way he could fold the stock over and make the gun even shorter.
robertrwalsh
SWCA Member
I am confident that Yellowstone has a great deal to do with it, in the same way the western TV shows helped regenerate the Colt SSA.
My LGS got a Marlin SS 1895 in .45/70 a month ago, "used" but not fired (much, if any) for a ridiculous low price. Think Chris Pratt's rifle in Jurassic World. I'm pretty sure it was one of the last Remington Marlins. I jumped on it and never looked back. Looks good, feels good, action still like brand new.
He just got a NIB Marlin 336 Classic, looks like one of the latest Ruger Marlins. Barrel markings are much different than previous Marlins. They are on the right side of the barrel for a start. Also had a different city/state (can't remember it tho). Looks really sharp.
He just got a NIB Marlin 336 Classic, looks like one of the latest Ruger Marlins. Barrel markings are much different than previous Marlins. They are on the right side of the barrel for a start. Also had a different city/state (can't remember it tho). Looks really sharp.
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Growing up in the golden age of cowboy movies and tv shows did it for me. We all wanted that Rifleman Winchester, just took a while to accumulate the funds to make it happen.
I'd say Yellowstone has a big part in so many people buying them.
Fishinfool
Member
Look what the show "The Walking Dead" did for the Colt Python...
Larry
Larry
My contemporaries are in their late 70's and mid 80's. Almost everyone has and swears by their Model 94.
The "assault rifle" of the late 1800s...... and maybe the mid-2000s!
Fast and one can load/top off at any pause in the action!
Have a Winchester Trapper in .357. To nice to drag around Penn's Woods.That duty goes to a Ruger 77/357. But the trapper would pair well with a 686 if the SHTF.............. and I've lost my semi- autoloader.
Fast and one can load/top off at any pause in the action!
Have a Winchester Trapper in .357. To nice to drag around Penn's Woods.That duty goes to a Ruger 77/357. But the trapper would pair well with a 686 if the SHTF.............. and I've lost my semi- autoloader.
Henry is making a killing stepping in to Lever market. I can’t understand the 1st time rifle buyers going for 45/70s. They buy carbines which would be better in 44mg. Got to have the big loop lever, with rawhide bling. And the obligatory 4x12 scope.
Hollywood hype is big part of it.
Hollywood hype is big part of it.
I have no idea why anyone would want a lever action rifle! 
They balance so nicely, cycle quickly, and remind me of watching “The Rifleman” with my Dad on a black & white TV. Here’s a family photo:
Marlin 1895 LTD (45-70)
Winchester 1892 Deluxe (45 Colt)
Winchester 1892 Deluxe Takedown (45 Colt)
Taylor 1873 (357 Mag)
Marlin 1894 (44 Mag)
Marlin 1894 Cowboy Carbine 45 (Colt)
Marlin 1895 Guide Gun (45-70 Mayodan made)
Then there’s the Browning BLR. The lever moves the bolt via a rack & pinion mechanism. The bolt rotates into the locking surfaces of a barrel extension just like an AR, allowing an aluminum receiver. The removable box magazine means you can use modern bullets. And this one chambered in 308 Winchester is a takedown model:
They balance so nicely, cycle quickly, and remind me of watching “The Rifleman” with my Dad on a black & white TV. Here’s a family photo:
Marlin 1895 LTD (45-70)
Winchester 1892 Deluxe (45 Colt)
Winchester 1892 Deluxe Takedown (45 Colt)
Taylor 1873 (357 Mag)
Marlin 1894 (44 Mag)
Marlin 1894 Cowboy Carbine 45 (Colt)
Marlin 1895 Guide Gun (45-70 Mayodan made)
Then there’s the Browning BLR. The lever moves the bolt via a rack & pinion mechanism. The bolt rotates into the locking surfaces of a barrel extension just like an AR, allowing an aluminum receiver. The removable box magazine means you can use modern bullets. And this one chambered in 308 Winchester is a takedown model:
It must've been those old cowboy movies. As a 10/12 year old roaming the hills of Ethel Hollow, I seldom was without my trusty Marlin lever action 39A, 22 rifle. The nostalgia of that old rifle is never ending. It resides in my safe currently. If that rifle could talk.......
I also have a 1894 in .357
I also have a 1894 in .357
Michaelp57
Member
Call of Duty
Between the first gun I shot as an adult being a Henry, and how awesome the mk2 was in call of duty modern warfare 2019, I was bound to get into lever guns. I only have 1 right now(Henry golden boy .45-70), but I've been looking for one in .460mag or .454 casull. Regular lever guns are already expensive enough, but the .460 and .454 versions that are out there are ridiculous.
Between the first gun I shot as an adult being a Henry, and how awesome the mk2 was in call of duty modern warfare 2019, I was bound to get into lever guns. I only have 1 right now(Henry golden boy .45-70), but I've been looking for one in .460mag or .454 casull. Regular lever guns are already expensive enough, but the .460 and .454 versions that are out there are ridiculous.
The Lever gun is a fine Urban assault rifle. Not to mention the nostalgia, the light weight, and the variation of cartridges.
Bucher33
Member
My first center fire rifle was a Winchester Model 94 in 30-30. Bought new in 1979. Over 6 million sold and more deer taken than with any other rifle. Or so I've heard. Latest acquisition is an Ithaca Model 49 lever action .22 single shot. Great rifle for the grandkids.
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