Story by Shane Jahn

The lever action rifle is American in design. The first practical lever action rifle came in the form of the 1860 Henry that fired the .44 Henry Rimfire cartridge.

Some 165 years later you can still get a modern rendition chambered in .44-40 WCF that is made in America from Henry Repeating Arms. That’s a great example of American lever action tradition.

Some of the most iconic lever action rifles the world would see soon followed by the rise of a company known as the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Many of Winchester’s classic lever action designs are still available from them or from other quality makers. Also, many of the cartridges these guns came in wear the Winchester name. Let’s not forget the lever action designs of Marlin Firearms and Savage Arms that gave us their classic renditions of the lever gun.

Hunters and outdoorsmen who came before us trusted the lever action. For the frontiersmen after the Civil War the lever action rifle served dual purpose of a defensive weapon and a hunting rifle. Lever guns were carried by lawmen, outlaws, and Native American tribes. They fought battles and provided wild meat to fill hungry bellies across the west.

One can follow the progression of the lever action rifle through historic photographs of the Texas Rangers. Flip through numerous books on the 200-year-old agency and you will see about every Winchester Model from the 1866 to the 1895, and everything in between. Occasionally one can pick out a Savage 1899.

As the lever action rifle became readily available, lawmen immediately latched onto them to serve as their long arms. There are still peace officers who carry lever guns daily. In the early days the rangers in fact “ranged” across the Lone Star State patrolling horseback for hostile Indians, bandits, rustlers, and all manner of outlaws. While doing so they had to eat, and meat was often obtained by hunting. Their lever actions served as a manner of self-preservation in more ways than one!

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