Smith & Wesson 1854 rifles?

[muddocktor]

I got in my new American Rifleman today and saw an ad for a S&W model 1854 lever action rifle in it. I didn't even know that S&W had decided to join the lever action gun crowd, so I did a little searching and found an article dated 1-22-24 announcing them (Guns and Ammo). So I went to the S&W website and looked at them and this is what I saw.

They look to me to be somewhat a cross between maybe a Henry and a Chiappa, with a rail mount on top. Not nearly as good looking as the 1892 clones out there such as the Rossi and Winchester/Miroku guns to me. And they show a MSRP of $1279 for the synthetic stock gun and an astounding $3499 for the limited edition wood stock version!

I hope this works out for them, but I have my doubts too. There are already several manufacturers that make pistol caliber lever guns at much lower price points too.

Anybody else have thoughts on this? Do you think this is a good move on S&W to jump in at that high a price point?

 

[murphydog]

Have a look here:

New S & W rifle

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Plastic stock & forend....Put together with Torx screws. Direct copy of a Marlin & Henry mix.....Very high price$$$$$........Maybe the mall ninja's will buy it.........I won't.

 

[muddocktor]

Have a look here:

New S & W rifle

Sorry about that murphydog, but I did look before posting my thread. But I specifically looked for "1854", the model of the gun itself and not a generic "S&W rifle" title.

Like some of the others in the thread you referenced, I wonder who is making the decisions on what kind of firearms to manufacture. Are they trying to cater to the mall ninjas or other weird to me bunch? Because that gun just doesn't check any of my boxes for a lever action rifle. Maybe if they had chambered it in 460 or 500 S&W, but it's just another overpriced 44 lever gun in a room full of of better priced 44 lever guns. And I rather them to look more like the traditional 1892 than this. I happen to own an 80's vintage Rossi 1892SRC in 357 and a Browning/Miroku 1892 in 44 and both shoot accurately and function well and look much better than this stainless steel/plastic fantastic and neither have a safety besides half cock, just like the original 1892 guns.

 

[Breakaway500]

I handled one today. I liked it. Peep sight was to my liking. The action was smooth. The trigger consistent. Soft recoil pad. Good ergonomics. 10 rounds of 44 magnum is formidable! I think it would make a dandy “ranch” rifle if you are a 44 magnum fan. I wonder if it can handle 44 special as well? I may have to buy it if he’ll drop the price..just a little bit…it’s on the floor for $1300.

 

[waterboy431]

Hi All. I'm new here, but not new to S&W or firearms in general. I've been patiently waiting to get to look at one of the new 1854 lever actions in person. I finally got to on 3-8-24 at my local shop. He had gotten in a Henry All Weather 44 mag, a new Marlin 1894 Classic and the S&W 1854. I spent a good 30 minutes or so looking over and handling all three lever guns. I liked all three, but chose to layaway the 1854. I found the length of pull a bit too long on the Henry, and didn't get along too well with the buckhorn sights. The Marlin fit me better, and i liked the sights better, but neither fit me as good as the 1854 did. I also really liked the xs sights. I could quickly shoulder the S&W and i was looking directly at the gold bead front sight through the rear ghost ring. I'm still not crazy about the polymer stock, but I'm buying this rifle for hunting, not just to admire. Having said that, the fit and finish was great on all three 44's I looked at. The Henry fit and finish was exceptional, but the length of pull killed it for me. That, and I wanted real stainless steel, not just a hard chrome plating. I've not seen it mentioned elsewhere, but the barrel on the 1854 is much heavier than either the Marlin or the Henry. I got a good deal on the 1854, but it was still the most expensive of the 3 guns i looked at.

 

[waterboy431]

Well, after looking at both guns again, I decided to buy the Henry All Weather side gate .44 instead of the 1854. I wasn't crazy about the synthetic stock on the 1854, nor the floppy trigger. I also prefer the ability to both load and unload thru the tube on the Henry. Its all good though, as the 1854 sold less than an hour after it was put back on the rack.

 

[.455_Hunter]

They don't do anything for me.

 

[Yendor357]

Shoot some 50 yard groups and report back.

 

[RMFnLA]

I’m not a fan of “modernized” lever actions.

What’s next, a ported Colt SAA?

 

[TheTinMan]

Shoot some 50 yard groups and report back.

Please provide a range report when you can.

I got a Mayodan-made Marlin 1895 Guide Gun and liked it so much I added a 336 Classic when I found one in person. Both rifles are nicely accurate - more so than the 2 JM Marlins I have that go to the range.

 

[Dan03833]

I bought one and I like it very much. I've only had time to put 25 rounds thru it so far, that went well.

 

[Model 15-4ever]

As P.T. Barnum allegedly stated, "There's a seat for every...". And vice versa.

Handled the 1854 at the LGS the other day. It was ok, but threaded barrels, MLok slots, synthetic stocks, optic rails and big hoop levers do nothing for me on a lever-action rifle. If I want a modern rifle I'll pick up an AR thank you.

Apparently the modern market disagrees, as these faux-tactical monstrosities - along with the Henry X and Marlin Dark - last no more than 2 days on the shelf.

S&W is company that happens to make guns. They make what sells the most.

 

[MikeR90S]

I bought one and shot it today for the first time. It fed and fired everything I put through it from 44 Spl 200 gr RNFP to 44 Mag LSWC to full house 240 SJSP. I like the compactness of the gun and the ghost ring sights and plan to mount my silencer.