Here we are, levergun lovers. We talk and write about them all the time. BUT, how do you define a levergun? Say a person who knows NOTHING at all about guns asks you for a working definition of what YOU consider a levergun to be. What would you say? Generally, it seems single shot falling blocks are not considered by most of us to be leverguns, even though a lever may actuate them. Thus, to exclude these guns (stevens favorites, ballard single shots, etc) how would you define them?? As i first thought about this I quickly realized "...2 piece stocks..." in the definition is out (Savage 99 and others). I came up with something saying " ....with a rearward moving bolt..." in the definition to exclude the falling blocks, but then the Ithaca 49 with its martini action I would consider a levergun (it looks like one
) Also, the winchester 1887 shotgun with its pivoting block negates this in the definition. Hmmm, how about something like how it must have "...a fully enclosed finger lever..." which would exclude most of the falling blocks...but not the ballards. What about saying it must be a repeater? Well, the Ithaca 49 is a single shot. I guess i would have to use the word "usually" a lot in my definition, but I am trying to avoid that. I want a concrete definition. Wikipedia weasels out of it by saying that the term lever action is sometimes applied to falling blocks like the martini-henry or the Ruger number 1. I just dont consider them lever action guns (even tho I like them). Opinions anyone??
lever to cycle ammunition from a magazine into the chamber.] 
