Let's talk old lever actions

What is your favorite old lever action or if you could buy anyone you wanted which one would it be? Model and caliber.

Model 71 chambered in 348 Winchester. And a model 1886 chambered in 50/120 sharps

If i could buy one Mine would be a 1894 take down in 30 or 33wcf. I have a pre safety marlin 39a from the 50s that I love not the oldest but it goes where I go.

50/120! That would be sweet! I also like those 1866 yellow boys but I would have to hit the lottery to be able to afford it.

My great grandpa's model 64, in 30-30. Its my favorite because of the history.

Winchester 94 in 30-30….1948 .

i got win 94's in 25-35, 30-30, 32 special in rifle and carbine models.
marlin 93 in 32-40
fun guns and a lot of family and friend history with them.
for accuracy my marlin 336.
for comfort and love of carrying on a still hunt for whitetails my winchester model 64 in 30-30

A buddy of mine has a few, he collects.

Model 94, 30-30 1959. Came from upstate NY where It likely killed more deer in its life than I have all together.

The original lever action, A Volcanic Arms rifle, I think they were in either (or maybe both) 41 and/or 44 caliber rimfire.

This one...

Winchester 94 in 7x30 Waters.

I like my Marlin 1895, 336, and 1894.

I have fathers model 94 in 30 WCF, made 1927. under a million serial #
always thought I would like to try a Browning lever gun in 30 - 06 or larger

Waggler the volcanic used a self contained round where the powder was actually inside the bullet itself the rim fire round came around in the Henry

For me if I had the money it would be a Winchester 1886 1 of 1000 in 50-110 Winchester express, I was lucky enough to get to handle one 20 some years ago and it was the slickest handling rifle I have ever held, also the prettiest gun I have ever held

I could hook you right up if you were ready for one.

My "Holy Grail" lever guns would be an 1886 in .40-82 Win and an 1895 in .35 WCF.

Over the years, I've accumulated a bunch of the newer 94's in the non-.30-30 chamberings. Big Bore 94's, etc. Neat guns. But nothing over about 45 years old.

Very cool good posts!

Dad had a Winchester in .32 special that was one sweet rifle.Its not old,but I ordered a Henry in 38/55 that I think is going to be one heckuva whitetail rifle.

i looked for a long time for a mod 94 in 38-55 finally found one, then a couple months after i stumbled on a twin 94 in 38-55 both from the teens. middle 2 in the picture. what great shooters in a great deer caliber

I got to handle and cycle a mint "66", couldnt afford it, I think it sold for 15 gs a few years back.

Mine is from 41 ..... My first , one and only lever action rifle. I like it

Marlin 336 in 30-30

My old newspaper customer from 53 years ago…came to my shop with the gun,asking me if I wanted to buy it. He said none of his 7 kids wanted it..Cuz it didn’t have a safety. He was 88 years old…It looks like the gun lived in a safe most of its life…wicked piece !

Dad's got an 1894 saddle ring in 30-30. Really good shape still.
I ran the serial number from what I could tell date of manufacturer is 1909

I am not a lever gun guy and prefer bolts but an 86 in 45-70 would be fun.

My favorite is a fairly beat up Marlin 336 in 35 Rem. I loan it out to guys fairly often to Deer and Hog hunt with. Its killed more game than most people would believe. I like it because inside of 200 yards with my hand loads there is no animal on this continent that it could not handle. Would like to find another that wasn't completely overpriced.

My favorite as well. Mine was my dad's, his first deer rifle bought in 1953. There's a lot of history with that rifle. He killed his first buck with it, I killed my first buck with it, my daughter killed her first buck with it and my granddaughter is hoping to kill her first buck with it.

.35 ammo is getting real hard to find and folks want insane prices when it is available.

Winchester 92, .218 Bee.

1892 44-40.Funny thing,,the series "The Rifleman " with Chuck Conners as Lucas McCain, was supposed to take place in the 1880s.So,,he was using a rifle that didn't exist yet.
Cant seem to post a link,,but Google,,, Mike Dimuzio riflemansrifle.com

All listed and
250-3000 savage.

Don't think I've met a lever gun I didn't like.

My lever gun is a Marlin 336 CS 30-30 that my wife bought me new over 40 years ago.I have taken several deer with that rifle every year since Ive had it.She paid $119 for it bran new in box.

That's the kind of info no one needs to know. Just enjoy the show.

LOL,,I love that show.All 168 episodes.

I was always a bolt guy but have always owned a lever gun, Win. 30/30. Last few years I have been picking up a few, favorite so far 94/22M.

What are we calling old? I have an orig JM Marlin stamped (before Remington had all the issues) 1895 "cowboy" octogen shaped longer barreled 45-70.
(1895 is the model not the year made)

They made it legal for deer hunting in Ohio so I got one... right after I had bought a really nice slug barreled shotgun the year before... that's my luck.

86 in 50-110 or a 76 in whatever

A Savage 99F in 308.

45/70

For me it would be a Savage 99F in 300Sav. or 250-3000. I have a bunch of different model 99's in various calibers. Their all good.

My Grandpas 1887 Winchester 10 gauge lever. I like to just sit and hold it. It's a heavy son of a gun.

Agree with Gary…… I like the 1887 in 12 gauge though

I love my stainless Marlin 45/70 Guide Gun, and I've got a Savage 99 in 308 that is probably as old as I am. But if we are talking old lever guns (I'm not old, lol!) I would have to go with Win 94 in 32 Special and a 92 in 218 Bee.

I've had a couple of friends that had the Winchester Big Bore 375 (again, not really old) and they are a nice round, but the accuracy on the two I was around sucked. I really wanted a 444 Marlin when I bought my Guide Gun, but they weren't making it in either stainless or a short carbine model, I've never regretted getting the 45/70 instead, love the gun and the caliber.

My Winchester Model 71, .348 caliber, made in 1951!

Savage 99 in 22 HP (high power). Great after hours deer gun!!

I'm pretty sure 50/110 was the largest chambering.

I have a Marlin 1894 in .357 and a 336 in .35 Rem. Would love to have an 1894 trapper in .44 mag.

Still the Best Dang Intro EVAH !!

My Marlin JM 1895 stainless and walnut guide gun in .45-70 is a favorite for me. While it isn’t old by comparison to some classics that you discuss, it is about 20 years old - can’t remember exactly when I bought it. Had some custom work done by a gunsmith in Montana. Even with the short barrel it shoots 2” groups out to 200 yards. It is my now classic deer rifle here in Ohio. I plan on using it for a bear hunt in Maine in 2023.

Looking for a different type of lever action. A Ruger Number 1 in .45-70. Unfortunately most people must think they are made of solid gold.

Savage model 99 in a 250-3000

Teddy Roosevelt….Big Medicine .405

My grandfather's model 94 Winchester 30-30 he bought it for 50 dollars when he was 15 from money earned delivering news papers. He passed away in 2019 a month before my daughter was born. It has its own spot on the wall in a custom wooden gun rack my wife had made specifically for that rifle it's one of my most prized possessions.

Well, I like them and have owned a lot of them in the past. I had a Winchester 1873, 1886, 1887, 1892, several 1894's, a model 94 .22Mag, an 1895, an unfired model 65 in 218 with bolt peep, model 71 Deluxe, several model 64's (2 deluxe), 2 Savage model 99's (a .300 and a .250). They went when I sold the collection, but I did retain a minty '94 and an unfired (supposedly) '64 deluxe.
If I could find a minty '71 deluxe I would be sorely tempted

I have a Model 1894, Trapper, short barrel with saddle ring. I had it certified by the ATF as a curio and relic. It isn’t in the greatest of shape but hey, I got it in a trade for a 1976 15 foot tri hull boat that I never used.

Another great intro ! BAD (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman)

The 50-110 was the largest Winchester chambering, but Sharps had bigger ones!

The Sharps action could withstand the higher pressure.

I have always wanted a rifle chambered in .45-90 or .45-110. That bullet would be really speeding along.

For different cartridges look at Wild West Guns in Anchorage. They have made quite a presence in modern lever guns.

My next rifle,and probably last ,will be the 45/90,probably one of Winchesters newer offerings.The originals,when you can find one,are way above my pay grade.

Hey Blak spot- that's looks very slick with the case hardening on the receiver. Nice gun!

The first Rifleman intro..ol Lucas is right handed

And in the 2nd into …he’s lefty ?

Never noticed till now…lol

FWIW............ Those things SUCK to shoot. That butt "pad" (if ya wanna call it that) was designed for maximum recoil transfer straight into the shooter's shoulder. Kinda like having a guy whop you in the shoulder with a rubber mallet.

I've shot LOTS of guns with LOTS more actual foot/lbs of physical free recoil energy than a '95 in 4-hunnert five Win. But not too many that just plain sucked that bad to shoot. Good bit of muzzle rise off the bench, too. You'd better have a hand on the fore end.

I have 3 levers. On the top is a 95 Marlin that was manufactured in 1897. On the bottom is an 1886 Winchester with a 4 digit serial number. The 86 has original case hardening and 98% original blue. Both are 38-56, a necked down 45-70. The third lever (not pictured) is a Sako Finnwolf in .243.

Them Finnwolves are nice guns. But then what Sako isn't?

My former FIL has a Marlin chambered in .35 Rem that does an outstanding job on hogs and whitetail. I know it isnt near as cool as some of the guns you guys mention, but I love that little rifle.

Have a lot of lever guns and really love my savage 99s


Savage 99s ones a takedown in 300 savage the other is a clip fed up n 308



And 1886 take down in 45/90



Savage 99 years n 30/30 was my little brothers



Winchester deluxe model 71 that I bought at the national trappers convention in Rochester MN spent my entire budget of 500$ on it but don’t regret it



Marlin model 1893 in 30/30 bought new by my grandfather in 1905 and carried by him from the area near Buffalo NY to Mn at the age of 15 when he left home to seek his fortune

Interested story about those 3 bolts in the stock

If you got that good-looking '71 Deluxe at the most recent Rochester National convention for $500.00, then I REALLY missed out when I was there. One like that could bring more than 4 times that now.

I've posted this before top gun in the photo was my grandfathers model 94 Winchester in 32-40. I was told by the cousin I got it from it was made in 1920 or 21 I haven't researched it myself.
Bottom gun in pic was my fathers model 94 Winchester in 30-30. He was given the gun new for his 16th birthday. So it was built in 1949 I would imagine?
My younger sister now has possession of that gun. I took this photo when I used it a couple years back to shoot a deer.
The 32-40 is the only lever gun I have ever owned. It's still a shooter for me and I have used it for deer hunting.



Mac

Nice looking rifles!

I do have a ‘81 marlin 444s with micro groove rifling. I can get 1.5” groups at 100 yds with cast bullets

Lot of nice rifles. I've got 6 Winchesters, 2 Savage 99, 2 Henrys, and 16 Marlins. Always liked the Marlins. If I see one at a shop or auction I'm trying to get it.

1892 Winchester long barrel in 25-20 with folding marbles peep,,,,killed a lot if fox with it back in the 60’s

1997 was a good year, I am aware of what they bring now though at the time I wasn’t really sure if I got a good deal or not but I bought it anyways because it just felt so good ln my hands, I actually went back 4 or 5 times to look at it because the price was my entire savings at that time and I had been planning on loading up on traps and supplies to go hard at trapping that year

Nightlife, the 99 is an elegant gun.

I want a 250-3000, not looking real hard, mostly my goal is to buy one at a local auciton. Don't know why.

I have a Marlin 39 takedown and an old ithica model 49 single shot 22 lever action that my dad got me when i was 5 yrs old. It was actually made for sears and roebuck and he ordered it out of their catalog. killed my first squirrel with it when i was 7 yrs old. it has taken alot of coons also.

Your right about that, I have an early model 99 in 250-3000 that was my ma’s, dad had one in 308, over her lifetime she killed a lot of game with it up to and including a grizzly in 48 or 49 not sure of exact year, it might not be the biggest one ever taken and the 250-3000 might not have been the rifle of choice but she did it, wasn’t an elk rifle either but she took several with it, it was her only rifle and she was deadly with it, frankly I don’t remember her ever missing target or game

I know where one is an have yet to get it bought!

I can tell you two guns my dad had when I was growing up that I begged him not to sell-a Browning BL-22 and a Savage 99 in .243. He sold both. He wouldnt let me shoot either one but would let me run the action of the Browning. SMOOTH!! Now theyre $750 so doubt ill be getting one.

1895 Marlin 45-70. They made 18,000 of them starting in 1895 with the lowest serial number being 131180 built november 27th 1895.
Mine was missing several parts when I got it after my father passed away. It belonged to his uncle. According to the Browning serial number search, mine was made in 1895. I ordered the parts that I could find, and then had a local gunsmith make a firing pin and a missing screw for it. Got it shooting now, just need to do a little work on the replacement forearm, looking forward to shooting a deer with it this fall.

Too bad Steve, I sold a couple good ones at our moving sale auction a couple years ago. I gave my 250-3000 model 99 takedown to my son.

I’d like to find a 25-20 rifle, lever or pump action. Willing to trade my entire remaining trapping outfit for the right rifle/ammo/die.

Picked up a 1892 from 1904 yesterday it's in pretty darn good shape! It's chambered in 38-40. Now to find some ammo. The only stuff I could find In stock was cowboy action loads from midway.

Your 99's appear to be a 99C (clip) and a 99G (checkered take down). I am not a 99 fan but I did just tuck a super clean 99G in 300 in the safe just because it was so clean and had never been drilled and tapped for a scope. If I can find a set of Stith mounts for it so I can scope it without drilling it I may even shoot it.

Good luck finding a Stith mount I have been searching for a few years as I have several 99s and only a few are tapped for a scope and while I don’t care about some I do have a couple I do care about and don’t want to drill


There was a guy a few years ago that was making copies of the Stith mount but not anymore sadly

savage 99 in 284 winchester, had a browning reproduction of a 71 carbine, nice rifle, killed alot of game with it till my eyes failed and couldn't see the sights.

Winchester 38-40 and 38-55. My dad owned the 38-40 went to my older brother shot my bear with it last fall. The 38-55 my grandpa owned was supposed to go to us but dad had a falling out with him and no gun. I still want one of each. Love those guns.

I own a Winchester .32 Win.Spl. since 1962 (new). Produced in 1959.

Also I have my grandfathers Savage 99 in 30-30. (Its well worn).

I would like to know when it was produced. Any help here.

Google savage 99 serial number look up. Anyone have a good source for 38-40 full load ammo?