Same here. I have guns I’ve never fired. Guess that makes me a collector. Besides it’s like having money in the bank. Some of mine are worth twice what I paid for them if not more so if the need ever comes…I love levers. I grew up in the post WWII era where cowboy movies were just as popular as cartoons, if not more. About 8 years or so ago I broke down and got a Henry Big Boy 357/38 and love it. Only put about 50 (if that)_ rounds in it. It’s a beautiful gun and is as smooth as butter. I have often thought about selling it but it’s one of those that I would fully regret selling.
Sometimes you buy something just for the pleasure of knowing you have it. This is mine.
And I blame/thank you, anytime I do anything with an old gun.Lever guns are an American icon, a component of history and the frontier. The "gun that won the west" was probably the Winchester 1873 chambered in 44-40. I think that explains our fascination with them more than anything. Very popular today I see vintage Winchesters going for very high money even in worn condition with 44-40 being the caliber of choice. Even the Italian repros are expensive but you can still pick up a deal occasionally.
I like to get my old levers like this 1892 out for hunting or plinking as often as I can. They will probably still be shooting long after I'm gone.
View attachment 337244
Oops, forgot another one. I have a Marlin 39a Golden Mountie JM stamped.Recognizing that lever guns hold a special attraction for me. I am not influenced by TV. But , growing up in the North Woods and deer hunting there were always a few 94's being used.
I had to use a single barrel 12G first year....I lined up the shells in front of me and starting blasting away ....no one could figure out who was shooting so fast.
I now own a bunch of levers. Marlin 39's , a bunch of 9422's including a couple High Grades, Winchester 64's ,Winchester 1892's,
Winchester M71's , including one in .450 Alaskan, for growly bears, Winchester 65 in .218 Bee........yes I like and shoot lever guns.
Forearm looks looks too long for good balance, but we will see when I can handle one.If Boyd's or someone makes a wood stock for the S&W 1854 I think that would just be so sweet.
I know the blued Ltd edition has one, but whew it's pricey.
I was admiring the bowl as much as the ‘92 SRC.That's a bowl full of fresh 32-20 in that picture.
I'll agree with this. Owning things just to own them, but never using them, is pointless in my book. They become just "stuff" taking up space in the safe, and a liability because all you're doing with them is protecting them from damage, corrosion, or theft. If you're not shooting it, it's not fulfilling it's purpose. The insane price increases in recent years are a huge bummer, because what used to be a utilitarian tool that everybody's dad or grandad used to kill woodchucks and put venison on the table has now become a collectible to be hoarded, and that was never what these were intended to be.The levergun is classic. Actually shooting them is classicer.
BeautifulLever guns are an American icon, a component of history and the frontier. The "gun that won the west" was probably the Winchester 1873 chambered in 44-40. I think that explains our fascination with them more than anything. Very popular today I see vintage Winchesters going for very high money even in worn condition with 44-40 being the caliber of choice. Even the Italian repros are expensive but you can still pick up a deal occasionally.
I like to get my old levers like this 1892 out for hunting or plinking as often as I can. They will probably still be shooting long after I'm gone.
View attachment 337244
Horse operas!Lever guns are less than optimal but Horse Operas made them great again.
Ya those, and Clint Walker standing on the edge of a cliff shooting at a 20 ft. tall grizzly in the “Night of the Grizzly “. Using a mod. 94.Horse operas!