I must live under a rock, but I just saw these. They look pricey and a bit non-traditional. Who has one that can give us a report?
Smith 1854 Lever Action 44 Magnum
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I got to handle one recently here at the gun shop in Salmon Idaho
A fellow was writing out a check for just over $1,200 with tax for one.
Quality seemed good and I believe it had Skinner sights.
Funny because I have been trying to sell a Winchester "Trapper" in .44 Magnum for a short time for under $900 and so far no takers!
Not sure I would take a plunge for the S&W for the price they are asking....but that said, Henry is getting similar money for their versions!
A fellow was writing out a check for just over $1,200 with tax for one.
Quality seemed good and I believe it had Skinner sights.
Funny because I have been trying to sell a Winchester "Trapper" in .44 Magnum for a short time for under $900 and so far no takers!
Not sure I would take a plunge for the S&W for the price they are asking....but that said, Henry is getting similar money for their versions!
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JRD
Member
The rear sight on the 1854 is from XS Sights.
I finally got a chance to try it out. My initial impression so far is ... ehhh.
The action is very clunky. My worst Henry is 100x butter smooth compared to it. Maybe it will get better over time, but for $1200, should it have to get 1000 cycles?
The barrel thread size is odd with 11/16" threads. Most other .45 (ish) guns come with 5/8". It took me a with while to find a 3-lug adapter in this thread size (Rugged). With it, I was able to run a Silencerco 45 Octane. With 180 and 240 grain JSP, it ran pretty quiet.
The Safety is a design I don't care for. It's one of those designs that lets the hammer fall even when on safe. I prefer a safety that prevents the hammer from falling at all, giving me instant feedback of "Dummy, it's on Safe"/ if I ever have it on accidentally. Does a Lever Action gun even need a Safety?
When shooting suppressed. the cocking lever would pop out of the latched position every time, regardless of bullet weight. This didn't happen without the suppressor, so I guess it has something to due with pressures.
Overall, I really wished that I tried out someone else's rifle first. If I had, I probably wouldn't have bought this one. I won't get rid of it, but I won't move my Henrys out of the way to get to it for a range day. either.
The action is very clunky. My worst Henry is 100x butter smooth compared to it. Maybe it will get better over time, but for $1200, should it have to get 1000 cycles?
The barrel thread size is odd with 11/16" threads. Most other .45 (ish) guns come with 5/8". It took me a with while to find a 3-lug adapter in this thread size (Rugged). With it, I was able to run a Silencerco 45 Octane. With 180 and 240 grain JSP, it ran pretty quiet.
The Safety is a design I don't care for. It's one of those designs that lets the hammer fall even when on safe. I prefer a safety that prevents the hammer from falling at all, giving me instant feedback of "Dummy, it's on Safe"/ if I ever have it on accidentally. Does a Lever Action gun even need a Safety?
When shooting suppressed. the cocking lever would pop out of the latched position every time, regardless of bullet weight. This didn't happen without the suppressor, so I guess it has something to due with pressures.
Overall, I really wished that I tried out someone else's rifle first. If I had, I probably wouldn't have bought this one. I won't get rid of it, but I won't move my Henrys out of the way to get to it for a range day. either.
You are correct about the cause. Suppressors create back pressure, which is also why gun actions get dirty faster when you run a suppressor.
OP
I learn something new here every day.
I have 12 suppressors and 6 lever guns. I've never had one pop the lever open.
I'm trying not to **** on the gun. It's nice, but it isn't a Henry.
I bought one and I like it a lot. I only have a couple hundred rounds thru it so far. It hasn't been finicky with ammo yet. I do have some semi wad cutters to try and a Sig Romeo5 to zero too.
I just got first hands-on with one yesterday. I am not the biggest fan of the marlin with a curve in the wrist, preferring the straight stock. However, I didn't seem to mind it on the Smith. As noted above, it's certainly not as smooth as a box-stock Henry...but neither is the new Marlin, I believe. I REALLY appreciate the man-sized trigger blade used on the rifle, almost as large as a Winnie. The stubby little thing on the Marlin has always grated on me, LOL.
From those who've shot it....Does the loading gate bite you in any way whilst shoving them in there?
From those who've shot it....Does the loading gate bite you in any way whilst shoving them in there?
My neighbor bought one last month. Been to the range with him several times and its an OK rifle. Doesn't shoot any better than his Rossi 92. And the trigger is completely different, floppy and overly wide.
I guess it's simply a product of S&W getting on the lever gun band wagon. Sorta like Henry making revolvers now... nothing new, just different.
Personally, I'd go with a Rossi 92 at 2/3 the price.
John
I guess it's simply a product of S&W getting on the lever gun band wagon. Sorta like Henry making revolvers now... nothing new, just different.
Personally, I'd go with a Rossi 92 at 2/3 the price.
John
There are quite a few new lever rifles out there today. The American Rifleman covered them last month.
I was thinking about an 1854 but I didn't go for it because I don't shoot .44 Magnum; not a fan. Now I see that they also make one in .45 Colt. THAT I AM a fan of. So we shall see.....and I do need to examine some of those tactikool models, too.
I was thinking about an 1854 but I didn't go for it because I don't shoot .44 Magnum; not a fan. Now I see that they also make one in .45 Colt. THAT I AM a fan of. So we shall see.....and I do need to examine some of those tactikool models, too.
I’m new to the forum and new to lever guns. But I took my 1854 .45LC out today to shoot it for the first time. I loaded up 8 rounds and when I went to chamber the first round, the round got stuck coming out of the loading ramp and the lever stuck open. Won’t budge. Had to take out the tube and unload the other rounds that way. Does anyone know what happened and what I may done to cause this?
It's hard to diagnose without seeing it, but check your OAL compared to factory rounds. Too long/bullet design may cause hang ups. Operating the lever with some authority also helps, just like a pump gun.
I'd kinda like a .44 lever gun, but I can't find any where the manufacturer will tell me if it'll take a .44 Magnum round loaded with a Keith LSWC (Lyman 429421). Henry just says it'll work with factory spec ammo.
I'd kinda like a .44 lever gun, but I can't find any where the manufacturer will tell me if it'll take a .44 Magnum round loaded with a Keith LSWC (Lyman 429421). Henry just says it'll work with factory spec ammo.
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Pisgah
Member
They took a Marlin 336, threaded the muzzle, modified the tube so it could be loaded from the front, and called it the 1854.
Best I can say is, they copied the design without making any huge mistakes... but my 40+-year-old Marlins will do me just fine, thanks.
Best I can say is, they copied the design without making any huge mistakes... but my 40+-year-old Marlins will do me just fine, thanks.
I just sold my early 1970s Marlin 1894 in .44 Magnum. It shot and functioned fine after I installed a WWG Happy Trigger kit and polished here and there inside. However, it was shooter grade and I like my new Mayodan-made 1894 Trapper a lot more. (Honestly, it was sell it or buy another safe…)
Skinner sights from the factory. 16.1” barrel and the balance is very nice. Cold hammer forged barrel with normal rifling. (I couldn’t shoot lead out of the older one - that particular Microgroove barrel, not all of them). I had 3 JM Marlins and have 3 of the new ones. The new ones are more accurate out of my tiny sample size. I know that the laminate stock doesn’t appeal to everyone, but there are “normal” wood stocked, blued steel versions too.
Actually, the big deal with the magazine alteration is that you can now UNLOAD the tube without working the rounds through the action.
I have a pair of Henry 44’s. A new side gate All Weather, and a 2008 production Big Boy brass Classic. Both will feed anything I put in them if I keep the COAL to 1.61” or less. They feed my 44Mag 240gr SWC’s with zero problems. I’ve also loaded 300gr TC’s without issue.
ETA - Henry did rebuild my Classic for me. I purchased it used and it had the 1/38 twist barrel. I was having keyhole issues. Sent it back to them and they swapped the bolt, mag tube, and barrel. The new barrel is a 1/20 just like the All Weather. Zero cost to me. Couldn’t be happier with the customer service.
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