There seems to be a market among a younger demographic for new styled but retro action guns. Look at the newer model introductions, especially by the custom shop. They look like toolroom prototypes to me, with the final smoothing finishing cuts eliminated. This rifle seem to me in that same vein. Unappealing to the experienced who 'know better', but probably have enough 'sizzle' to make a sale when a newer shooter gets handed one off the store rack. If this is what it takes for S&W to keep surviving, so be it. But agree with almost all the above comments. Something tells me they are trying to exploit a (temporary) vacuum in the market as Ruger gets their Marlin product line expanded to the market.
New S & W rifle
- Thread starter murphydog
- Start date
The Norseman
Member
Product of diminishing returns
All I know is that type of rifle, to me, is for
when you encounter harsh weather.
I like that concept, but this S&W lever
I would not go out of my way to buy.
The only Lever Rifle I’m interested in is the
Marlin-Ruger SBL 45-70 Govt.
With that said, I’m out, S&W isn’t getting
my support for this product.
All I know is that type of rifle, to me, is for
when you encounter harsh weather.
I like that concept, but this S&W lever
I would not go out of my way to buy.
The only Lever Rifle I’m interested in is the
Marlin-Ruger SBL 45-70 Govt.
With that said, I’m out, S&W isn’t getting
my support for this product.
Yea, but Stumpy would have used a 2.5x scope on his if they made one back then.
Said the half blind old guy. LOL.
I don't think I be getting one, but I hope it works out for S&W.
Photog
Member
Made it through about 6 minutes of video before I had to turn it off. Talks like we are in kindergarten. I made it through where he talks about the safety making the gun safe, because that is what safety's do, but once he used the moronic term "bang switch", is when I had to call it quits. Lastly, he said he chose the all weather version "because I live in Iowa"....yep, I hear Iowa has worse conditions than Alaska, especially in winter time......
Buick
Member
Probably a nice enough gun. But why would anyone choose this over the Marlin? It's as if some big wheel decided they had to beat Ruger at their own game. Not gonna happen, imho. They should have just introduced a clone of the Ruger 96 lever.
For those that want this gun in a .500 or .460 I believe that those run at too high a pressure for that action type
hkcavalier
US Veteran
Bighorn seems to make 'em work ok. I don't have the scratch for one of their rifles, and they're too pretty for the field, but they definitely shoot.
Durango Slim
Member
I'll buy one.
I have been looking for a .44 lever gun for a while. The price is more than I want to spend so I'll work and extra day this week.
I really want the fancy one with the nice wood and blued barrel. They are only making 1854 of them so I am sure they will sell out immediately. Had I know about it sooner, I would have jumped on that list for sure.
scooter123
Member
There an old rule in marketing that promotes the idea of offering a "complete list" in your product line.
I'm guessing that S&W wants to appear to offer "whatever a customer wants" in their line of firearms. Thus a lever action rifle.
But, I would like to see one of the custom examples in person...
I have shotguns with wood of that quality, however every one of them features 26 LPI hand cut checkering. IMO S&W did a bit of a face plant on failing to have these stocks and forearms checkered.
Note below is a pic of the stock for my 20 gauge Beretta. I'm rather proud of that job, it's the first time I've ever converted a fixed stock into an adjustable comb stock and I did a bang up job on it.
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Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking S&W for their decision to come out with a lever action rifle. I'm surprised because I didn't realize that the market for lever actions was that big. Maybe I'm wrong.
But aside from the limited edition model for $3499, I'm not too impressed with the looks of the standard 1854. But give them time, they'll make improvements and add new models, but until they do, I'll stick with my new Marlin.
I saw one of the new Marlin 1895 rifles at a local gun shop today; a blue finish with gorgeous wood. Marlin, with the help of Ruger is alive and well. If I was younger and still hunting, I would go buy that jewel tomorrow.
smoothshooter
Member
Why would the advertising idiots at S &W list the weight as 108.8 ounces???
Everybody else shows gun weights in pounds and ounces so potential customers don’t have to do the math.
Everybody else shows gun weights in pounds and ounces so potential customers don’t have to do the math.
I made the comment earlier about looking like a Marlin but the more I look at it, got me thinking. Wasn’t there a Mossberg lever gun some years ago that this resembles more? Guess I need to research that a bit. More importantly, this is all Smith has for this years’ SHOT? Thats the most disappointing thing.
Only plastic stocked gun I own is an AR..........I Intend to keep it that way.
Iffen they come with a traditional Lever gun in more calibers I might consider adding one to the pile.
Iffen they come with a traditional Lever gun in more calibers I might consider adding one to the pile.
Mossberg's mdl 464 lever gun was patterned after Winchester's 1894. With one exception......It had a solid bridge over the rear of the receiver.........No longer listed in their catalog. Only chambered in 30-30.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking S&W for their decision to come out with a lever action rifle. I'm surprised because I didn't realize that the market for lever actions was that big. Maybe I'm wrong.
But aside from the limited edition model for $3499, I'm not too impressed with the looks of the standard 1854. But give them time, they'll make improvements and add new models, but until they do, I'll stick with my new Marlin.
Why is that scope mounted so high? No cheek weld for that.
sigp220.45
US Veteran
These guns aren’t aimed at the general demographic found here.
They are going to sell every one they feel like making.
They are going to sell every one they feel like making.
CowboyCurtis
Member
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2023
- Messages
- 15
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- 10
I also live in Iowa and while I wouldn't say we get worse winter conditions than inland Alaska, we have a much wider variation per year. Winters that get into the -30s with wind chill and summers that get above 100 are common. "All weather" is appropriate for Iowa.
My son bought one of those. Not a bad lever action, it shot well enough and "looked the part" (IMO of course) better than some others. Pretty sure he still has it.
smithman 10
US Veteran
On second glance, I like the aperture rear sight. but on the other hand I wonder why they didn't offer a 30-30 chambering as well.
Bottom line - it costs too much (for a cheapskate like me) and I wonder if they will turn a profit on these rifles. Hope they do and we will just have to wait and see.
Bottom line - it costs too much (for a cheapskate like me) and I wonder if they will turn a profit on these rifles. Hope they do and we will just have to wait and see.
Is it just me, or does anyone else think that the lever looks... unfinished? Like they cut the flash off of a forging and forgot to complete the machining on it? Or that it was cut out of a piece of 3/8" steel plate and left as is? Seems insanely beefy. And you'd think on the wood/blue version it would have the same polished finish as the receiver. (Plus, I don't really care for oversized loops in the first place.)
