First lever gun, what was yours?

[WILCO]

Mine was a Marlin in 30-30 Winchester.

[Shawlerbrook]

Does a Red Ryder count ? If not, a 1964 Winchester 94 in 30 30. Now I have 18 more.

[JimB..]

Red Ryder
Marlin 39a

[Freischütz]

Winchester M95, 35WCF

[grayscale]

Savage 99 in 300 Savage

[Lakehouse2012]

Marlin .357 mag in 1982, wish I kept it....

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[HWooldridge]

Marlin model 39. Grandpa gave it to me when I was 6. I was supervised until I was about 9, then allowed out on short excursions by myself.

[huntinlever]

Marlin Model 97, 22 LR. I was 7 or so, I think.

[Bazoo]

Henry golden boy I bought myself at 18.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

My Dad had a 30-30, I think it was a Marlin, but am not sure. I never got to shoot it and one day he swapped it for a shotgun...and it was gone. So I never got to shoot a levergun in my youth.
Later in life, I bought a Marlin 39a. Funny thing is, I never took to it, so I swapped it for something else.

[schutzen-jager]

Daisy Red Ryder followed by pre 64 Winchester 94 carbine + post 64 Winchester 94 long rifle both in 30/30 - still have the Daiy + long rifle -

[Winger Ed.]

Marlin #39 take down carbine.

[Texas by God]

Marlin 1895 reissue 45-70 circa 1977.
I cut the barrel down to 18” and recut the front sight dovetail to make a Trapper.
Yes, I should have kept it, yes I should have left it alone, Yes, it turned out good and shot the same- it is just more portable- wherever it ended up!
I have Dads 1950s model 94 Winchester (the first lever action that I ever shot).


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[Czech_too]

Two actually, bought from the SIL's fathers estate.
Marlin 1889 in 32-20
Winchester 1894 in 30-30
Have the Cody Museum letters on both of 'em now.

[Electrod47]

Bought in 1967 a used 1964 Winchester 94 30/30...in the same year took a California Mule Deer spike in Hemet Ca. while hiding underneath a horsehair rug "injun style"....That whole area today is paved over suburbia. We were roughing it under the star's. Bacon and bean's. It used to be beautiful. Still have the gun. Updated with a Skinner Sight, so much better than the buckhorn.

[WILCO]

Does a Red Ryder count ? If not, a 1964 Winchester 94 in 30 30. Now I have 18 more.

Red Ryder counts.

[Kevinakaq]

A used Marlin 94 in 44 mag my father bought me to hunt deer in The Florida swamps.

[huntinlever]

Red Ryder counts.

Heck yes it does. Just ask him.

316871

[Txcowboy52]

Winchester model 94 , 30-30.

[gwpercle]

It was a large loop , cap firing replica of Chuck Conners rifle from the TV show ... the Rifleman ... it was based on a model 92 Winchester 44-40 , with that neat little folding tab/ lever inside the trigger guard / loop that let you fire while working the lever . Fold it in and you could shoot the caps one at a time by pulling the trigger with your finger ... It was NOT the toy that Hubley made ... it was made by Mattel or Marx . Late 50's or early 60's ...I forget

My first real lever action was a model 94 Winchester in 30-30 .
It was given to me in 1980 by a friend , I helped him pick out a new Ruger Bolt Action Sporter in 30-06 and select a nice scope for it ... he didn't know anything about firearms or scopes ... and he gave me his old 30-30 as a gift for helping him .
I still have it and still enjoy shooting cast boolits in it .
Gary

[veeman]

Winchester 94 30-30

[TNsailorman]

Marlin 39A in 1966 sold me on levers. james

[ShooterAZ]

Mine was a Savage 99 in 300 Savage.

[imashooter2]

A Marlin 30AS in thutythuty purchased from Best (not Best Buy) in 1988.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

An original Winchester '92 in 44/40. Didn't know it the time but a 4 digit serial number is to be cherished!

[JRLesan]

Winchester 9422 bought new from K-Mart circa 1978...

[firefly1957]

Model 94 Winchester in 30-30 it is now on it's 4th generation as my son has it .
My grandfather bought the rifle with a water damaged box at a warehouse fire sale for $18 . He said it was in the 1920's but the serial number may be later not sure what the deal was .

[longbow]

Marlin 1895 in .45-70 half magazine, straight grip and 22" barrel I bought new in the mid 70's. Had it a couple of years then it got sold with many other toys to fund my post secondary education. I never replaced it and wish I had!

Currently I have a Marlin 1881 built in 1886 that has been in the gun safe for about 10 to 12 years. I just took it out to the range for the first time after making a new buttstock for it and putting a Marbles rear sight on it as both were missing. It will be sold to fund likely another Marlin 1895 or Winchester 1886.

I would like another straight grip Marlin with 22" barrel but they haven't made that in a long time now.

Longbow

[Jedman]

First lever gun was a Daisy Cub 350 shot BB gun, then a Marlin 39 A

Jedman

[Mk42gunner]

Well since a Red Ryder counts, my Daisy should even if I didn't own it long. Sometime in the early 1970's Dad bought two of the bb/pellet firing Daisies that used a red plastic five shot cylinder for my brother and I.

The only problem was bbs would roll right out of the cylinder while attempting to load them. Dad took them back to Western Auto and traded them in on a couple of Crosman Model 760's. I wore mine out over the next several years.

As for a real powder firing lever action, my first one was an Ithica Model 72 (IIRC) made in West Germany by Erma. It was the forerunner of the Henry rifles now available, only without the plastic bands. Very accurate little carbine, wish I had it still.

Robert

[GhostHawk]

I found a pair of Win 94 .30-30's, a newer one, AE, with the safety, bought it first. Went back and bought the other one 3 days later.

It turned out to be a mid war 43, 44 that looked great but had a bad bore and a tight spot under the rear sight.

I have considered sending it to JES to be rebored into a .35-.30-30 but have not gotten around to it yet.

[sigep1764]

Winchester 250 22lr
Marlin 39
Marlin 336
Winchester 94
Have them all in the safe

[Tall]

A Marlin model 1895 in 45-70 caliber.

[ulav8r]

A Daisy cub in 1959, then a Marlin Glenfield in 1976.

[dverna]

Not sure a Daisy should count, but if it does, then one of those back in 1958. Next was a Marlin 1984 in .357 about 25 years ago and at least another 20 since then.

[rbuck351]

Win 92 in 25/20.

[hpbear101]

Marlin #39 take down carbine.

Same here, just gave it to my son a few months ago hope he passes it down to his kids.

[indian joe]

I am amazed that I am the first reply to say winchester model 92 -----it was a button magazine carbine in 32/20 - almost my first paycheck in the tail end of 1963

[Bushrat]

When I was 12 I bought a Marlin 93 half round half octagon in 32-40 from a general store in a very small town. $15 with a box of ammo. Wish I had it back.

[braddock]

94 AE 24" barrel pistol grip 357 mag, it showed me what a *** the wee cartridge stop and link lever was, eventually fixed it but sold it and breathed a huge sigh of relief. Have a pre 59 win 94 in 30/30 and a rossi 92 in 357 mag both fine shooters.316892316893

Win 94AEfar left image, 94 and rossi on right, 94 is the one with red dot.

[Rockingkj]

Pre 64 Win 94 30/30, at 16 in the no paper work era AND no one gave a second thought to a youngster buying a rifle, secure in the knowledge that the only danger was to the deer population.

[AntiqueSledMan]

I purchased a Savage Model 99 in .300 Savage back in 1978 and still have it.

AntiqueSledMan.

[txbirdman]

I still have mine. It’s a 1948 built 94 Winchester I got for Christmas from my folks when I was 15.

[Patrolman]

First one owned is a Model 94 in 25-35 I got when I was 14 as a gift from my Father. First one I killed a deer with was a Model 92 in 25-20 when I was 12. Still shoot the 25-35 at age 77

[Pereira]

Does a Red Ryder count ? If not, a 1964 Winchester 94 in 30 30. Now I have 18 more.30-30's or 94's. [emoji848][emoji38]

RP

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[Pereira]

Marlin 336 30-30 made in '75.
I still have it.

RP

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[atfsux]

Dad inherited 1 of 2 consecutively serial numbered Winchester 1873 24-inch octagon-barrelled .32-20 rifles that were bought at the Phelps-Dodge Mine commissary in Douglas, Arizona in 1902 (10 years before statehood). The other rifle ended up with one branch of the family in Colorado. I got my first deer with it within sight of the family homestead near Hilltop, in the Chiricahua National Forest, about 40 miles from the border. (The homestead was sold off in the late 70s and is now the site of Colibri Vineyard & Winery.) My grandmother had used this same rifle to shoot at stragglers from Pancho Villa's 1916 raid on Columbus, New Mexico that wandered west looking to forage and thieve before heading back south. I still have it and will never let it go. But, there are no children or nephews or nieces to leave it to when I'm gone. So I need to locate who in the Colorado branch of the family has the other one (if they still do) so I can leave it to them and rejoin the pair.

[Olerebeljr]

Mine was an Ithaca m 49 lil .22 single shot. Given to me on my 8th birthday. Dad taught me how to load and shoot . When I turned 15 he let me use his Winchester 94 in .32 special. Good memories.

[pietro]

.

Daisy BB gun (Roy Rogers model ? It was 69 years ago)

RF: Marlin 57M Levermatic .22 Mag.

CF: Marlin .444

[vonfilm]

On Valentine’s Day, in 1965, when I was 7, my parents gave me a Daisy model 1894. Wish I still had it.
In the late 90’s, I purchased my first lever firearm, a Marlin 1895 45-70 Guide Gun. Now I have 5.

[WILCO]

Now I have 5.

Best part of the story. [smilie=w:

[WILCO]

Also want to thank everyone for the replies. I've enjoyed reading them.

[WILCO]

Mine was an Ithaca m 49 lil .22 single shot. Given to me on my 8th birthday. Dad taught me how to load and shoot . When I turned 15 he let me use his Winchester 94 in .32 special. Good memories.

The Ithaca M49 is special to me too.
Was watching one online, but felt it was priced too high.
Someone else thought differently. :)

[Wayne Smith]

My Dad's Marlin 336 in 30-30 was the first one I shot. It's up in the gun room now.

[Eddie Southgate]

Daisy Cub 500 shot then a late teens Winchester 94 in .32 WS .

[stubshaft]

1954 Winchester model 64 30/30 that I bought for the outrageous price of $35.00.

[Sig556r]

Ted Williams 100 in 30-30

[MrWolf]

Marlin 45/70. Had a grin from ear to ear and still love her. For some reason the levers reproduce and they are still my favorites.

[veeman]

Marlin 45/70. Had a grin from ear to ear and still love her. For some reason the levers reproduce and they are still my favorites.

Ain't that the truth!
316995

[Olerebeljr]

When I turned 11 got my first shotgun for Christmas. Single barrel .410 Winchester, (made in Canada ). Still got both the Ithaca and Winchester all these years later, hope to pass on to gran kids someday. WILCO as you said they are high priced based on what few I have run across in the past years. Then again everything is higher now compared to prices once were. I wish i had had foresight to see what times would bring. I would of packed em high and deep.

[curdog]

Marlin 39a.

[budman5]

My first was a Marlin 1895 that I bought before the guide gun craze.
I had it shortened to 18 inches and used it for some years.
My favorites are now the pistol calibers marlins Rossi and Rugers.

[beltfed]

Mine IS a lightweight Winchester M1886, dated 1891, cal 45-70 that I bought for all of $60 in 1963 after college.
Half magazine . 24"round barrel. My only deer rifle for about 25 years. Accounted for a good number of Wi North Woods bucks
over the years with my cast bullet load-385 gr FNGC over 48 gr 3031. 1740fps.
beltfed/arnie

[MT Gianni]

Blr in 308.

[35 Rem]

Marlin 1894CL in 32-20. Greatest plinking/knockabout rifle I can even imagine. I put a Lyman peep sight on it so it retains its slim lines and it carries like a stick.

[BigEyeBob]

Marlin 1895 in 45_70 ,paid 50.00 dollars for it ,it was sliding around in the back of a ute ,all rusted and varnish blistered .I took it home and administered some TLC ,fortunately a drum of oil had ruptured over it some time previously and all the internals were coated in oil and dust .Good clean up and a stock refinish brought it back from the dead.Fitted a Williams receiver sight .Great scrub buster on hogs.
Now my lever gun stable has grown bigger with a M92 Rossi octagon barrel 24"in stainless in 357Mag ,two original Winchesters in 44-40 a 1910 made Model 92 and a 1873 of 1889 manufacture ,both in excellent condition .
I know its not a lever gun but it lives with my two Winchesters ,a Colt Lightening also in 44-40WCF ,in top condition just recently acquired .All three came from the same collection.

[steveu]

94 Winchester Canadian Centennial in 30-30.

[georgerkahn]

Mine was a Marlin in 30-30 Winchester.

Mine was a Winchester Model 1892 in .38WCF! I heard an ad on a local radio station swap-shop listing three firearms, and that 1892 was love at first sight. MOST sadly, I was a college student at the time and a fellow who was a collaborator in a class project came over and saw the rifle. Two days later :( he returned with two (also Native American) buddies who made no bones vis their wanting it. They offered a firearm in trade and it took no little thought that the only smart thing for me to do was to take their offer. Kind of like a few beads and trinket for Manhattan -- but I neither got burglarized nor the bungalow I was renting sustaining a house fire -- either which seemed a high probability having seen the fellows. A few years later I purchased a "replacement" (with a loose barrel I needed send out for repair) and, albeit, the same model and calibre -- it is not the same as my first love.
geo

[john.k]

Savage 99 in 250/3000 ,around 1967 ,I'd think.....Long gone ,as back in the day I was into increasing the bank ,not collecting guns.

[Hick]

1949 vintage Winchester Model 94 in 32 Winchester Special. My father-in-law was going into a care home so he gave away all his rifles. He gave his three scoped hunting rifles (30-06, 270 and 243, I think) to his two sons and other son-in-law, who were hunters. He gave me the old Winchester because "you don't hunt, the ammo is too expensive, and it's not good for anything anyway." That's what got me started on reloading and casting. I get waaay more fun and use out of that Winchester than all three of my brothers-in-law put together.

[WILCO]

Great story Hick!

[KCSO]

An Ithaca ss 22 lever 94 look alike.

[rockrat]

A Winchester 1892 in 25/20 with a sewer pipe for a bore. Grandad bought it for me because it was cheap! From a store in Burkburnett, TX.
Sent it off to get it re-lined, which cost more than the rifle, but it shot very well. Took the gun apart to do a trigger job. Came apart easily, but took a bit more work to put back together , and re-finished the wood. Still have it. Sometimes I had wished I had it lined to 32-20 instead of 25-20, so many more bullet moulds suitable for the 30's. Rectified that many years later when I found a decent 32-20.

[WILCO]

An Ithaca ss 22 lever 94 look alike.

My Uncle had one of those.
Was fun to shoot.

[WILCO]

A Winchester 1892 in 25/20 with a sewer pipe for a bore. Grandad bought it for me because it was cheap! From a store in Burkburnett, TX.
Sent it off to get it re-lined, which cost more than the rifle, but it shot very well. Took the gun apart to do a trigger job. Came apart easily, but took a bit more work to put back together , and re-finished the wood. Still have it. Sometimes I had wished I had it lined to 32-20 instead of 25-20, so many more bullet moulds suitable for the 30's. Rectified that many years later when I found a decent 32-20.

Heirloom gun!

[1I-Jack]

My first lever gun was a Daisy BB gun I got for Christmas back in the 60's. My first CF rifle was a Marlin 336 in 30-30. Moving to eastern Washington I got a lot of guff for having a 30-30. "Dang boy, you ain't gonna get a shot at less than 300 yards around here." Well, they shut up after the first year I went hunting with them and was the only one to tag a buck, shot at about 30 yards on a full run (gallop/sprint/ or whatever you call it). Those boys with their 30-06/8mm/ & 308 chased him right to me.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

My Dad owned a very nice 1894 carbine. He bought it from a very old gunsmith in 1952, and like many Winchesters that are carried the bluing was mostly gone on the receiver. My Dad removed it all so that the receiver was "in the white" with a silver appearance. He refinished the walnut stock and fore stock and they were much lighter than traditional walnut and came out almost blonde. The barrel had lots of blue left, and it contrasted nicely with the stock and receiver. I was kind of young and ignorant in those days and puzzled over why the white receiver didn't rust. My Dad did clean his guns regularly, but today I think that the receiver must have had a high nickel steel content. Everyone who came to visit our remote cattle ranch admired it, and he had a couple of offers to buy it. The carbine accounted for many deer, but I never used it myself, although I'm sure he would have let me. I was in love with my No.1 Mk. III* Lee Enfield. Eventually, about 1963, he sold the ranch and sold the carbine and a couple other firearms to help finance the move. So, this doesn't really answer the question as presented, "First lever gun, what was yours?"but it tells about the first one I was associated with.

The first one that I actually owned was also a '94 carbine, and it was brought to the gunsmithing school I attended to be worked on by a young pimply-faced student from Iowa. He may have disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled the carbine, but he definitely refinished the stock. After a few weeks he sold it to another young student from Michigan. He had become a friend of mine, and he and I and two other students went on an overnight camping trip to the Pawnee National Grasslands. We wandered here and there and eventually came to a
waterhole. There was a large tree by the hole and suddenly my young friend yelled, "Snake!" He brought up that '94 and my recollection to this day is that he fired from the hip. A huge snake, maybe 5 ft. in length of a bit longer fell out of the tree and into the waterhole, and as it fell through the air I could see that it had been shot almost in half, looking kind of like an open safety pin as it fell through the air. Well, another month or two and he put the rifle up for sale and I bought it from him. It is very accurate, better than most I'd say, and I've still got it. I wasn't too happy with the stock refinishing job that the original (?) owner had done, so I re-did that, and otherwise left it alone. The serial number is in the low 3 million range. So, that is the first one that I owned, back in about 1982.

Of course I acquired more, because once you own, shoot, and reload for a '94 you are hooked. My hands down favorite, but not my first, is a '94 Big Bore in .356 Win. that I ordered for a customer when I was in business. He declined to take it as it had a large scratch on the receiver, brand new, right out of the box. Must have happened at the distributor. I disassembled the entire rifle and re-blued the receiver and barrel down one grade from the high gloss blue to about a 350 grit finish. I replaced the high comb butt stock with a standard walnut carbine butt stock in semi-fancy walnut. The fore stock was already semi-fancy, and they match nicely. So, it ended up looking like a standard carbine. I value it highly and it will be among those my heirs will have to dispose of, as will be the incredible snake gun.

DG

[Minerat]

Mine was a Daisy Cub 350 shot BB gun too (1963). Then a Win 94 LIMITED EDITION CENTENNIAL .30 WCF (safe queen) my wife got me for our 8th anniversary. First shooter a Marlin 336A .30-30.

[00buck]

I bought a 1952 Marlin 336 RC with the perch belly forearm.
Back when you could buy Marlins for under $200 all day.

Wheel weights were free back then too. :)

[Slugster]

My first lever gun was a .444 Marlin.

[Andy45]

Marlin 39 Golden Mountie. Bought used in '74, still have it. Need to scope it now LOL.

[Griff]

Late summer 1972, the Destroyer I was on had our last raffle to fund a Ship's party when we returned to the Philippines after our last stint of the coast of VN. I bought one 5$ ticket and won a Winchester 64A in .30-30.

Spring of 1974 while attending college my apt was robbed and it was part of the thieves loot. 2007 I bought another, LNIB... but it was a little pricier than that 1st one!

[Tazman1602]

Grew up shooting a Marlin 39A with my dad. That one was stolen on a B&E when I was 12, wanted one ever since. I have several Marlins now but no 39A, I can’t believe what they bring now. I do LOVE my Marlin 45-70’s though, been waiting two years for a new Ruger made 45-70 but no joy yet — I refuse to pay Gunbroker prices for this gun……..

Art

[45workhorse]

Well, my brother and I where both given a Ithaca Model 49 lever gun one year for Christmass! Wish I could remember the date but I have slept since then. Still have it, I wore the little ejector out!

Was shooting it one day and went to look at my target, came back to the tree we were shooting. Loaded back up looked down the barrel and my front sight was gone! Got on my hands a knees and swept/patted the grass with both hands, and found it! Half the distance to the target.

Thanks Wilco for bringing that memory back!
The only thing I had to worry about back then, was the next box 50/100 round box of ammo!
Good times.

[Shootn]

My first levergun was my first centerfire.....a mid-70s Marlin 336 in .35 Remington. My father bought it new, at Walmart,
for about $80. I have killed a truck load of deer with that gun.

[HP9MM]

Mine is an Ithaca single shot .22. Traded a Czech break open .177 pellet rifle for it when I was in High School.

[murf205]

Ain't that the truth!
316995

veeman, that gunshop is still wondering where their levergun inventory is! My first was a Marlin 30-30 bought used at Stewarts Sport Shop in Birmingham, Al in 1969. At that time most deer hunting in the deep south was done with dogs and shotguns. Man, I though I was the Jack O'Conner of Alabama with that rifle. As per my nature, it got traded away and I was without one for 45 yrs until I bought a 1895 45/70. I just added a 338 in 30-30 and it's home to stay.

[panhed65]

If bb guns count, then it was the daisy 94, which looked just like a Winchester. several years later (mid 1960's) it was followed by a Marlin 336 in 35 Rem, which I unfortunately sold in 1970 when I returned from my little tour with the Big Red One. wish I had not done that, but it is ok now as I have 5, all in 35Rem. we can learn from our mistakes.

[WILCO]

Marlin 39 Golden Mountie. Bought used in '74, still have it. Need to scope it now LOL.

Keep the iron sights and politely ask targets to move closer.:kidding:

[WILCO]

If bb guns count, then it was the daisy 94, which looked just like a Winchester.

They count. :)

[firefly1957]

Since I saw this thread I have been thinking back 60 years or more and am not sure if my first lever gun was a "POP" gun or a lever action cap gun?
I do remember the first thing I did with the popgun was cut the string to the cork that went in the muzzle a lot of flies and other bugs fell to that thing! When the cork was lost the muzzle was stuck in the mud for an effecting bug load.

[shdwlkr]

winchester 1894 in 30-30 lost in a divorce

[pworley1]

Ithaca Model 49

[nhithaca]

Ithaca 49 I had to share with my younger brother. His 2nd daughter has it now. In 1968 I got a new Winchester 150 carbine for Christmas, which I still have. Shot the devil out of it. With a scope it shoots very well for a low priced gun. Always liked the appearance of the lever action so now most of my center-fire long guns are lever actions (up to 47-70).

[PriseDeFer]

Did things a bit backwards. Bought the Winchester 94 years ago in a hardware store and then, years later, the Red Ryder to match the one Santa brought to our son. I'll be taking the Red Ryder outside shortly to deal with a couple of invasive species, one reptilian and the other of the amphibian persuasion. The 94 stands a few steps away, for other things. These times.

[bluesman423]

The first lever rifle I used much was a Mossberg 30-30 that was actually my wife's rifle. It was more accurate than my father in law's Marlin but I was a Jack O'Connor fan in those days and wanted a 270 bolt rifle.

It was years later I purchased my first lever rifle .... I Marlin 444. Wish I still had it :)

[Frank V]

Having just read this thread, it’s interesting how many had a lever BB gun as their 1st. I did Tim!:-):-)

[cowboy4evr]

My first lever gun was my fathers 1894 Winchester chambered in 38-55 . I did some research and found that it left the factory in April 1897 . Most of the bluing gone but still a real good shooter . I still have it after all those years . It has been in the family for 75 yrs . Sad but I have no one in the family to leave it . Paul

[Walks]

Bought a beat to pieces Win 94 at a gunshow when I was 14yrs old. Had to wait almost 6wks before I could afford a box of ammo.

[T.R.]

317902 Savage 99 in .308 has put much meat on our table across the decades of use. TR

[Hickok]

Marlin 336 .35 Remington.

[popper]

couldn't afford the red rider so got the break action SS. Later, much later, 336 30/30.

[1hole]

Marlin 336 .35 Remington.

Ditto. I got it used but in new condition about 1976 and am still happy I did it right the first time. I use it for deep woods deer hunting (my favorite kind) and no deer has needed more than one hand loaded 200 gr. Remington RNCL at 2,065 fps in the boiler room to do the job. Alas, that beautiful old bullet supply is near the end, I never thought I'd live this long (83).

I enjoy playing with my guns but I've always bought them for working tools, not as play toys. I don't need the potential recoil or power of a 336 in .444 or .45-70 and I see no justification to chambering that excellent 150 yard rifle for a puny 60 yard handgun cartridge. Nor do I see a purpose for clumsy "TV gunfighter" finger loops on serious hunting rifles. But ... I won't be using it so get whatever rig trips your trigger! :)

[Kai]

1873 Winchester saddle ring carbine in 44wcf about 30 years ago. A friend had 2 and offered one that had a rifle butt stock. I was new and didn't know any better so I gave 700 for it. After becoming educated I was kicking myself for buying a gun with what I thought was a replaced butt stock. However, after receiving a letter from the Cody museum it was verified that the carbine was special ordered from the factory with the rifle stock. My buddy has wanted the gun back ever since. It's a great shooter!

[Wild Bill 7]

Red Rider, sure wish I still had it.

[engineer401]

winchester 1894 in 30-30 lost in a divorce

My first one was Winchester 9422. I had to sell mine to pay for the divorce.

[doctorggg]

Winchester made model 1892 in 45 LC.

[Jack Stanley]

Made by Daisy , don't remember the model number or name .

Jack

[NorthMoccasin]

Winchester model 71 in 348, followed by a Winchester 1886 in 45-90. I wish i had them both back......

[Thin Man]

As a young shooter a Daisy B-B rifle. When I aged into adult status, my deceased father's Winchester 94 in 30-30.

[msinc]

Summer of 79' I bought myself a 336C in 35 Remington. It was also my first "high powered" rifle. I had just got out of high school and moved to Pa. Rifles weren't "legal" to hunt deer where I was from, so I had to have one when I got there. Loved that rifle and killed many deer with it. Wish I had it back, but I have two that are identical now. It was what I refer to as a "good luck" gun...I always saw deer every time I took it to the woods and I couldn't miss. Traded it off, among several others, for a Weatherby several years later. That was my "dream rifle" at the time. Fantastic rifle, but it was not a good luck gun by no means. In fact, it was really bad luck...I did bad hunting with it and when I did see game I missed. It was a tack driver on paper. M

[Three44s]

A Savage 99 take down in 250-3000, bought it for $40 sold it foolishly for $180. I brought a friend and he bought the other one for $40. I should have bought both and never sold either!

Oh well!

Acquired several other lever guns since though.

Three44s

[Gewehr-Guy]

Dad bought me a new Browning BL-22 for my 12th B-day. Just in time for the jack rabbit and gopher wars of the mid 70's. One day we were let home early from school because of a blizzard, and I always hunted on a day like that. I got down in between some snow drifts in a tree strip, and found a bunch of rabbits out in the open, just trying not to get covered up by the snow. I killed 28 while sitting in my hiding spot, had to quit when my cheap scope fogged up, or I would have got more.
That model Browning is quite a rifle, and I still have it. Wish the rabbits would come back, so I could relive my youth

[greybuff]

1885 Winchester Low Wall in 25-20 SS, then came an 1894 Win. Short Rifle in 32-40 than a 1893 Marlin in 44-40. They don't make them like those anymore.

[BLAHUT]

Mine was a Marlin in 30-30 Winchester.

Red rider BB gun

[scattershot]

‘94 Winchester 30/30. (New in ‘72 or so.

[Bmi48219]

I built a fireplace and chimney 43 years ago. Part of my payment was a post ‘67 Winchester 94. That rifle was more of a clunker than my first car!

[atr]

the very first was a Daisy B-B air rifle and I have no idea what happened to it. lost long ago but not the many memories of shooting it.

if we are talking about centerfire rifles than Savage 99 in .300 Savage. Still got it, still shoot it.

[Ajohns]

1984
An old savage 1899 303. I was 10

[Scorpion8]

First lever gun? 1976. Ithaca Model 72 Saddlegun, 22LR with Weaver scope. I still have it and it still shoots awesome!

[Ithaca Gunner]

The first one I shot was a Winchester 1895 in .30/06, got my first deer with it. First one I ever owned may have been a second hand Winchester 94 .30/30, (1940).