How do you account for the resurgence in popularity of revolvers and lever action rifles?

I've always had a soft spot for both, but I grew up during the day of the western. I started with revolvers, and my first deer rifle was a lever gun. But, as popular as semi's are, more people seem to be drawn to small revolvers for concealed carry. Kimber has one, Lipsey's decided to upgrade a couple of popular Smiths and make them better. It's hard to beat Rugers LCR variants. Good trigger. What do you think?

That is what you would find at my place.

In my son's case I can give a little credit to the series Yellowstone. My son has never really been into lever actions before the series. Now he is lurking the gun stores trying to find the perfect fit.
In my case I grew up next to a county sheriff. He started me down the path of revolvers and reloading. I do not save any money. But I get to shoot a lot more.

Also, I think a little bit is because of the government's constant drumbeat of black rifles with higher capacity magazines are bad. The levers and revolvers look harmless in comparison. (To people with no clue)

Nostalgia, fun, and looming on the horizon more bans on mag capacity. Who needs ten (or fewer) 9's when you can have eight .357 magnums or six .44's

They're cool. They're simple. And they're very effective in the trained hand. And yes, they do have some advantages over a semi.

One thing that may be assisting in the younger crowd pay attention to such firearms might be computer games. My youngest is a "gamer" with a bunch of fellow online friends & gamers. he told me that in several of the games,, they use lever guns & revolvers.
He went on a quest to add to his real gun collection some of the guns he "played with" online. He really lit up when I gave him an older, used,, but still good shaped Sears/Winchester a few years ago. it was his first one,, and now,, he owns 4-5 lever guns.

I would say the popularity of some of the newer series like Yellowstone deadwood and I can't The names of the others right now. The younger grow older they begin to realize the fun of shooting revolvers and rifles, especially the lever gun and as income grows, they begin to accumulate more widely. I think the black plastic guns lose their mystique after a few range sessions.
Plus every time I have the 44 special GP-100 out to the range and I get someone to try it is" man. I've got to get me one of those."

My woods/bear country carry is a Redhawk in .45Colt . So far I haven't had to use it but with bear loads I think it's a good choice.

My main carry piece is a Colt Combat Commander .45 ACP. Back up gun is an S%W M60 .38 Spl. with _P loads, 125 gr. federal HP.
Paul B.

Because, so far, they haven't don't have the same stigma associated with semi auto rifles and handguns.

Heck look at what's been done to "modernize" them in recent years. But rest assured they will be coming after leverguns and revolvers next. And those who put rails and heat shields etc on leverguns are playing right into their hands.

mainly we are tired of all the "plastics" and variations of 'plastic', thats out there....

Old School...

The Preacher said:

They're cool. They're simple. And they're very effective in the trained hand. And yes, they do have some advantages over a semi.

Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing.

In archery the use of longbows and recurves seems to keep growing. I think it is the simplicity and the need to actually get some skill to be proficient that is attracting the younger crowd.

I can not recall ever shooting a lever action rifle. My dad had a 12ga pump, a .22WRF pump rifle, and a 9 shot .22 revolver.
I have a couple of pump shotguns, lots of revolvers, and a pump 30-06 rifle in my herd.
I also have semis in all 3 categories and some bolt action rifles.

"Mainly we are tired of all the "plastics" and variations of 'plastic', that's out there...."

rugerguy, I think a lot of the current generation just don't know the difference between the beauty of blued steel/walnut and plastic. They've been pretty much raised in the plastic-fantastic semi auto era and know very little else. Heck open up a gun magazine and what type of articles is it filled with now days?

When I carry my 45 Colt Rossi Lever and my Bisley Vaquero 45 Colt, I feel pretty heavily armed against pretty much anything that I would ever be dealing with in this lifetime

And me with a Deerstalker loaded with BB 240g solids and 686 with BB 180g Heavy Outdoorsman, .44 mag revolver yet to come.
The only lever I have is a Marlin 336c 30-30, nice but thinking of moving it fund a .44 mag lever.

OP asked
"How do you account for the resurgence in popularity of revolvers and lever action rifles?"

Me thinks......
Plastic has no soul.

And with the societal chickification of young men now days,
I think/pray there is some soul searching going on!

Cheers,
JAYDAWG

Me, I didn't answer the OP question because I don't know if that's a fact. I see it as waves that rise and fall over the years as to which is more popular at times and I'm in my 60's. I don't see of any hard numbers demonstrating one group over another over time.

Don't have to pick up my cases.