I have never seen "too many" and "lever actions" used in the same sentence before.
I do not understand the concept.

You guys make me feel like I'm not holding up my end. About 3 years ago I owned zero lever actions. I learned to shoot with my Dad's Marlin 39 when I was like 7 or 8. I bought one of my own when I was 30-something, but it always threw fliers no matter what ammo I tried, so I got rid of it. I wanted to get another one but never got around to it.

So about 5 years ago I was able to pick up a .45 Colt SAA from an estate sale. It was then that I learned about the rule that says when you buy a cowboy revolver you're required to also get a lever action rifle in the same caliber. So I did a bunch of research and wound up buying a very slightly used Uberti 1873 copy. It has a 24" octagon barrel and is a little muzzle-heavy, but it's fun to shoot. I don't really care for the buckhorn sights though, and AFAIK an aftermarket peep sight isn't in the cards because of the top eject. But I had decided that I really wanted an 1873, so there we are.

Along the way, while I was researching lever actions I developed a yen for one in .45-70. Not sure why, I haven't hunted in decades. But nevertheless I bought a Winchester/Miroku 1886. Talk about muzzle-heavy, this guy has a 26" octagon barrel. But, the previous owner apparently shared my distaste for buckhorn sights, as he had replaced the original sights with Lyman aperture front and tang rear sights. I haven't shot it a lot yet, but now that I'm retired and have time (and after I get around to getting a new reloading bench built) I'm looking forward to playing with this rifle more and ringing some steel out to 300/400/500 yards.

Then 18 months ago my Dad took a fall and broke his hip. Between that and some other health issues he and Mom both have, they had to move into an assisted living place. And guess what - no guns allowed. So now all of his guns are sitting in my safe, including that very same Marlin 39 that he taught me to shoot with some 60 years ago.

So I have three lever actions now. Sometimes I feel the desire to pick up a lighter one (18" or 20" round barrel) in either .45 Colt or .357 Mag (yes I do have a .357 revolver, albeit a double action one), maybe an 1892 or a Marlin or Henry so I can put a peep sight on it. But I don't shoot as much as I used to and I'm actually going to start thinning out the herd some, so that may not happen.

Good question. The only one I own is a Marlin 30-30.

Expert 308, you might want to look at skinner sights. I have one of their "barrel mount" sight on a Model 92 Winchester. It is a peep and I am very happy with it.

quote:

Originally posted by Ironworker:
I have never seen "too many" and "lever actions" used in the same sentence before.
I do not understand the concept.

I like your thinking. I’m still looking for a 92 or 94 in .45 Colt.

I bought a new “Ruger made” Marlin 1894 a couple of months ago. I needed a 45-70 lever gun like a hole in my head, but damn it’s cool. lol

A friend had a 45-70 Marlin many years ago, but I don't think he liked shooting it very much, he never took it when we went to an outdoor range.

I tried to buy it from him, but he didn't want to sell, and they were very rare in that caliber, I never found one for myself.

To this day, I've never owned a lever-action, and I'm poorer off for that.

I have a Winchester 1895 in 30 Gov’t 06 made in 1921 and a Savage 99 on 308 made in 1956.

I have a Marlin 1895 Ltd IV and love it.

24" full octagon barrel and straight grip stock.

I have had many offers to sell for much more than I paid for it.

Guns International has a listing for a unfired Marlin 1895 Ltd-set of 5, all with the same serial number, 05.

Ltd I, II, III, IV, V

All for the low price of $12,750.

quote:

Originally posted by Ironworker:
Expert 308, you might want to look at skinner sights. I have one of their "barrel mount" sight on a Model 92 Winchester. It is a peep and I am very happy with it.

I'll check into that, thanks!

Yeah, I've only got two. Not enough to run with this crowd.


...

In 1966 (before the Cowboy action interest in leverguns) I had a friend convert a 32-20 SRC into a .357/.38 carbine for me. I carried this gun on patrol as a Michigan Trooper at the Flint Post. The gun was perfect as a patrol rifle since we could use our .38 Special rounds if we had to as well as the .357 rounds.

In the mid 90’s after I retired, I got back into lever guns and discovered that the Cowboy action shooting sport was responsible for the creation of many fantastic lever guns and renewed interest in them.

I am now the proud owner of the following samples:

Browning .22 LR
Browning B53, 32-20
Chiappa Model 92, 44-40 SRC
Henry Brass Big Boy, .44 Mag, Michigan State Police 100th Anniversary model
Marlin 1894 CS, 38/.357
Marlin by Remington, 1894, 2019 edition, .38/.357
Marlin 1894-P, .44 Mag., trapper length barrel
Marlin by Ruger, 1894,.44 Mag.
Marlin 336Y,, 30-30
Rossi, M92, 16” barrel, .357 Mag, ss
Rossi, M92, 16” barrel, .44 Mag, ss
Rossi, M92, 16” barrel, .45 Colt
Uberti/Cimarron, model 1894 copy, 30-30
Winchester 1894 (XRT), 30-30 (Mfg 1987/ pre cross bolt safety)
Winchester 1894, .32 Special, Mfg pre-1964
Winchester/Miroku 1892, 32-20
Winchester/Miroku 1892, SRC, .357 mag
Winchester 9422M, .22 Magnum
Winchester/Miroku model 1873, .357 Magnum

Trooper Joe

You might need a Browning BLR.

If you have no idea how many you have, that might mean you have almost enough.

We just picked up the new Marlin 1894 in 44 mag and will report Ruger has done it correctly in regards to Marlin. I could not be more pleased with the overall quality. If I didn’t have this 44 to feed a 357 would find its way into our house.

You really need a lever in a caliber rarely found on ammo shelves like the .35 REM. I found exactly TWO boxes this year. I wonder if it’s possible to have it reworked to something readily available like 350.

I’m going to go full sacrilege and say I’d like to check out the 9mm lever action and hope for a 10mm version one day.

^^^^^ I do have one of those. Its a Winchester 94 Timber chambered in 450 Marlin. If you can find ammo, it's usually $10/cartridge.
Haven't shot it since 2006.

I have 28 rounds and 32 spent casings. At $10/shell, that may pay for a new single stage press pretty fast.

quote:

We just picked up the new Marlin 1894 in 44 mag and will report Ruger has done it correctly in regards to Marlin.

Agree. The new 1894 is a real beauty.

Recent purchase Henry Big Boy color case 16 inch octagon barrel. Really nice gun, like all features great looking finish.

One arm load to the pickup for practical purposes.

A two wheeled hand truck full for a small collection.

OP: How Many Lever Actions Are Too Many?

Is this a trick question?