Who should make a lever rifle?

[86er]

Is there a firearms manufacturer that you appreciate to the point that you think they should come out with a levergun? Not those who have already done it but those that haven't "gone there".


Frankly, not a whole lot of companies come to mind. I'd vote for Beretta. A 500 year old company that knows how to blend old and new. Their innovative technology combined with old world craftsmanship can turn out some great pieces at very reasonable cost. I'll bet they could make a heck of a lever rifle - and I'd buy one.

Can you think of any company that should?

[AJMD429]

My first reaction is Ruger, and though I know they have made leverguns, they seem to be quitting, or at least downsizing, when I think they should expand.

If they ditched the '10/22-lookalike' barrel-band and slimmed the stock some, it would help the appearance. They could also make a slew of other chamberings than just the .44, and .22's - like .357, .45 Colt, 41 Mag, 327 Fed/H&R Mag and perhaps .454 Casull (I think the action is the same mechanism as the Savage, so with a steel receiver they could take pressure, if that's true). I'd like .32-20 and the other 'dashed' cartridges, too.

Of course . . . one in .480 Ruger, as well (now that would be a sweet little thumper, don'tcha think...!

If they could make a long-action version, we could see the long/pointy rounds as well.

I just like a box magazine on a levergun...

I'd say Savage for pretty much the same reasons.

Based on other guns I've owned and liked the quality of, I'd say Taurus, but they're Rossi/Puma now, and I'd say Remington, but they're Marlin now... I'm not sure Bushmaster will ever get into leverguns, though!

[dr walker]

USFA - I recently handled one of their SAA and was very impressed with it. I would love for them to make a levergun.

Freedom Arms, Shiloh or C. Sharps

[Bogie35]

Holland & Holland.

A Weatherby levergun would probably be pretty cool. I would like to see either Ruger or Uberti make a modern designed lever chambered in cartridges like 30-30, 35 Rem., 38-55, 45-70, etc.

bogie

[Hobie]

USFA. They are the only firm who hasn't made a lever from whom I'd be interested in buying a levergun.

The Ruger 96 is NOT the same as the Savage. Bill Ruger did copy the lines though. He liked the 99.

Savage 99 Schematic
Ruger M96 Schematic

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

I personally think that Davide Pedersoli & C. makes the finest reproductions of period firearms. Their quality is ever bit as good as the USFA guns. Plus they have been doing it for 150 years. I would love to see them make an 86, 92, or 95 Winchester.

They currently make a pump action clone of the Colt Lightning that actually works too.

[Buck Elliott]

Pedersoli also makes some dandy Sharps replicas.

[Modoc ED]

USFA. They are the only firm who hasn't made a lever from whom I'd be interested in buying a levergun.

The Ruger 96 is NOT the same as the Savage. Bill Ruger did copy the lines though. He liked the 99.

Savage 99 Schematic
Ruger M96 Schematic

You're absolutely right Hobie. I think where people get the idea of the similarity of the 96/-- to the Savage rifles is as you said, the lines but also the one piece lever/linkage and the relatively short-throw of the two rifles.

[Buck Elliott]

Me.

[44shooter]

I think a Kimber levergun would be interesting.

[David]

I personally think that Davide Pedersoli & C. makes the finest reproductions of period firearms. Their quality is ever bit as good as the USFA guns. Plus they have been doing it for 150 years. I would love to see them make an 86, 92, or 95 Winchester.

They currently make a pump action clone of the Colt Lightning that actually works too.

Unfortunately not in 22

[Buck Elliott]

I personally think that Davide Pedersoli & C. makes the finest reproductions of period firearms. Their quality is ever bit as good as the USFA guns. Plus they have been doing it for 150 years. I would love to see them make an 86, 92, or 95 Winchester.

They currently make a pump action clone of the Colt Lightning that actually works too.

Unfortunately not in 22

Whaddayawant fer a nickel...? ? ?

.22 leverguns are still available, but I sorely miss the 9422 from Winchester. Would like to get my ol' fingers on a couple more of those __ NIB...

[awp101]

What about a high grade FN from Belguim? Not FNH-USA or the Japanese versions...

[C. Cash]

My first reaction is Ruger, and though I know they have made leverguns, they seem to be quitting, or at least downsizing, when I think they should expand.

If they ditched the '10/22-lookalike' barrel-band and slimmed the stock some, it would help the appearance. They could also make a slew of other chamberings than just the .44, and .22's - like .357, .45 Colt, 41 Mag, 327 Fed/H&R Mag and perhaps .454 Casull (I think the action is the same mechanism as the Savage, so with a steel receiver they could take pressure, if that's true). I'd like .32-20 and the other 'dashed' cartridges, too.

Of course . . . one in .480 Ruger, as well (now that would be a sweet little thumper, don'tcha think...!

If they could make a long-action version, we could see the long/pointy rounds as well.

I just like a box magazine on a levergun...

I'd say Savage for pretty much the same reasons.

Based on other guns I've owned and liked the quality of, I'd say Taurus, but they're Rossi/Puma now, and I'd say Remington, but they're Marlin now... I'm not sure Bushmaster will ever get into leverguns, though!

+1 I wish Ruger would make an 1895 or 1892 Clone...out of their superb steel. I'd be selling stuff to buy one.

[adirondakjack]

NOBODY! Leverguns are investment heavy and in this day and age, actually more a niche market than we levernuts want to admit. Let's leave some profit in the picture so they all don't fail or bail.

[Don McDowell]

Sort of have to agree with AJ, if they're not or haven't already built a levergun, they've probably not seen the return on investment.
If they tried it and lost money on the venture (savage, ruger,sako) they're not likely to try it again.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

NOBODY! Leverguns are investment heavy and in this day and age, actually more a niche market than we levernuts want to admit. Let's leave some profit in the picture so they all don't fail or bail.

I tend to agree too but that's never stopped USFA from coming out with a new/old gun. Have you seen their 1910's and 1911's, not A1's. they were working a deal with Remington to re-introduce the 58 and 75's as well.

[Kansas Ed]

OK...so what models aren't covered as of today? The 86, 71, 94 and 99? Every other model is pretty much covered is it not? IMO if anyone offered a faithful recreation of the '86 in some of the original calibers other than the 45-70 it would sell. The 71 has always sold every time it was produced. I would venture to say that the '76 recreation will actually sell more volume than the original rifle. So we need someone to pick up these 4 rifles and run with them. My vote is also for Pedersoli.

I don't agree that no-one should do it, because the past lever gun failures which have cost companies money were not true to original designs. They were BS adaptations of original designs. Every time a company has kept true to the original patterns they sold like mad.

Ed

[Hobie]

Me.

[Griff]

Why, the Volcanics, of course.

[shdwlkr]

If you want to really see a company that hasn't made a lever before look at Ithaca shotgun company they make a good shotgun and could most likely make a good lever and have them make a 86, 71 and 92 in the original calibers and today's calibers.

[wm]

SAVAGE
They used to make a nifty one called the 99!!!!

I can't help but think the 99 would mesh well with the current fad of the super short magnum cartridges (though I think 300 Sav/308 Win is plenty enough cartridge for 95% of game animals).

WM

[awp101]

Why, the Volcanics, of course.

I thought they broke up not long after the Beatles and the Monkees...

[Ysabel Kid]

Another vote for Pedersoli. I have one of their Sharps, and a 1766 Charleville reproduction, and they are simply top notch.

Berreta does so by default now, with their ownership of Uberti. I doubt they will do anything under their own name, though they do have the Stampede SAA, so maybe!

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

OK...so what models aren't covered as of today? The 86, 71, 94 and 99? Every other model is pretty much covered is it not? IMO if anyone offered a faithful recreation of the '86 in some of the original calibers other than the 45-70 it would sell. The 71 has always sold every time it was produced. I would venture to say that the '76 recreation will actually sell more volume than the original rifle. So we need someone to pick up these 4 rifles and run with them. My vote is also for Pedersoli.

I don't agree that no-one should do it, because the past lever gun failures which have cost companies money were not true to original designs. They were BS adaptations of original designs. Every time a company has kept true to the original patterns they sold like mad.

Ed

Ed,
The Chiappa Armi Sport folks have plans for an 86. They tell me it will be patterned after the Browning. I'm sure the first ones will be 45-70 but if the gun works good and it sells there may be other cals eventually. I've been working with Chiappa to tweek their 92 and they said they were going to send me one of their 86's once they get it up and running. Maybe the first of the year.

[Kansas Ed]

Nate,
Nice to know they are willing to let a specialist troubleshoot their product, rather than letting it hit the market first and fix the problems in retrospect. That gives me a lot more faith in foreign copies than typical US built firearms.

Thanks for the info. Give us a good writeup when you get the new '86.

Ed

[Doc Hudson]

Bogie beat me to saying Holland & Holland, so I guess I'll have to up the ante and specify a Holland & Holland double-barreled lever-gun in dangerous game calibers.

Before anyone gets to overheated about a double-barreled lever-gun being an impossibility, let me remind you of the gent who built double-barreled, triple-barreled and four-barreled bolt-action rifles in .375 H&H, .458 WinMag and .30-'06. If he can make a four-barreled bolt-action rifle, someone can come up with a design for a double-barreled lever-gun.

FWIW, I'm a great fan of Pedersoli rifles as well.

[Streetstar]

Remington? I dont recall ever seeing a Remington lever --- it would be like any of Remingtons products-- mass produced, reasonably priced, and decent quality

[Don McDowell]

IN the 60's Remington made the model 76 , a lever verson of the 66, the first of the plastic 22 guns.
They do own Marlin so I suppose by default........