Where are all the lever guns lately?

[CoolHandMoss]

I've been itching for a few lever guns lately so I've been stopping by local gunshops frequently looking for them. I stopped in one pawn shop so much I'm pretty sure they thought I was casing the place until I finally bought something. Rarely have I seen anything more than a Henry .22 on the shelves! What's with this shortage?? I can't tell if they're just going out of style or if the demand has gone up and people are holding on to them.

Anyway, finally some success. I managed to trade a gentleman an old s&w for a savage 99 in .308 and I topped it off by ordering a Rossi 92 in .44 off GunBroker and picked it up today. I have to say, for all the hate that Rossis get for poor quality, I am quite impressed. Needed one drop of oil on the hammer and it's rather smooth. The metal has an extremely good finish. My only complaint is the pine stock stained to look like walnut! I don't really know what wood it is but it's definitely not walnut.

[Winger Ed.]

They're sort of out of style, and not too many used ones are changing hands anymore.

They aren't part of the latest and greatest magnum club, and there isn't enough brackets and heat shield rails
to hang all the lasers, flashlights, GPS navigation receivers, and other various Swiss Army kneif type accessories.

Some of the fancy 99 up until 1940 had fruitwood stocks. It's some kind of wild pear tree.
Its lighter than walnut and rather expensive. It was mostly used for fine furniture.

.

[Mauser48]

I'd like to know as well. I've been looking for a uberti 1866 in 38 special and there's none in stock anywhere. I've seen every caliber available they offer except 38.

[CoolHandMoss]

My 99 is from the mid 70s I believe. Pretty sure the 99 is actually walnut. At least, savage has convinced me of such.

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[Winger Ed.]

My 99 is from the mid 70s I believe. Pretty sure the 99 is actually walnut.

It is about the most common.
If I remember correctly, Marlin has snuck in some pecan, and there's a fair amount of Birch out there too.

[CoolHandMoss]

Well the rossi isn't either. But it's hard and that's what really matters. No homo.

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[pietro]

My only complaint is the pine stock stained to look like walnut! I don't really know what wood it is but it's definitely not walnut.

The stocks are not pine (too soft for gunstocks)

Rossi uses a tropical/Brazilian hardwood for their stock, which can be made to look a lot better if the finish is stripped off, then dyed (not stained) & topped off with your choice of stock finish.

[anothernewb]

local fleet store has a wall of henry and rossi lever guns. as well as a few long rangers. They have one less after the other week though, as a Henry 357 went home with me.

I'm just not a fan of the brass ones, or the hex barrel (not that there's anything wrong with the classic western style) but this one is simple walnut and blued steel.

[CoolHandMoss]

I was kidding about the pine. And in terms of color, I think the color is good. It's just a tease that the grain doesn't match the color.

And I'm not a fan of the brass either. I'd turn down an awful nice gun due to gold hardware.

I'm going to the big gun store in the area today. Betting there is a max of 4 lever guns.

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[Froogal]

The big box stores stock only what they know will sell, and lever action rifles are simply not in demand right now. Everybody wants an AR something or other.

Very strong market for lever guns in the cowboy action game. Best way to get one is to contact a local, smaller dealer and tell him what you want.

[veeman]

i may have a few

[Soundguy]

around here lever guns are almost non existant. My last 2 I literally stumbled on.

[CastingFool]

i may have a few

Impressive collection!

[freakonaleash]

I saw tables full of Henry Marlin and Rossi lever guns at the last gunshow. No shortage around here. I find all of those that I mentioned hideous. No wonder they just lay on the table.

[kerplode]

We order all the lever guns we can get our hands on from the distributors. They almost always sell the same day they're put on the shelf.

At least where I am, the demand is strong, it's the supply is constrained.

[Shawlerbrook]

It seems that AR’s and semi auto handguns are the flavor of the month. But when you do find a nice old Matlin or Winchester the prices are insane.

[compass will]

i may have a few

counting left to right, what is number 9 and 10? 10 might be a marlin 93?

[pworley1]

i may have a few

Now we know where they all went.Very nice.

[Jack Stanley]

It seems that AR’s and semi auto handguns are the flavor of the month. But when you do find a nice old Matlin or Winchester the prices are insane.

And that is the truth right there . Local sale board has asking price of 1500 bucks for a common Marlin .

Jack

[Gewehr-Guy]

No 9 is a Winchester 9422, made from the early 70's to mid 2000's, and in my opinion the best .22 lever ever made. And yes I have a Marlin and a Browning, very good, but not a Win 9422. Rifle # 10 is an older Win 94 carbine. Lot's of eye candy there, I just love the looks of the casehardened 76 and 73.