S&W joins the lever party

Just announced. A new rifle from the storied company. I'll be looking hard at one as a companion to my Ruger Deerstalker.

Looks like a rebranded Henry to me. No thank you.

I'll get my hands on one this week at SHOT & give y'all a report.

I sure miss the days when you could walk into any pawn or gun shop and buy a Marlin for 150 bucks and a Winchester for 200! Who knew that one day they would cost over 1K!

MHtractorguy said:

Looks like a rebranded Henry to me. No thank you.

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Agreed, although to me it looks more like they copied both the Henry X and Henry All-Weather - albeit with a less "tactical" stock than the Henry X models - and added a Marlin-style crossbolt safety. They kept the Henry-style removable magazine tube, too.

Price for the base model is comparable with the Henrys and Mayodan-built Marlins, too.

I'm sure it's a nice rifle, but I'm not sure I wouldn't rather have a Henry or (new) Marlin.

BORING......... (and yet, overpriced....with everything else these days )

IMHO,
J.

gunman42782 said:

I sure miss the days when you could walk into any pawn or gun shop and buy a Marlin for 150 bucks and a Winchester for 200! Who knew that one day they would cost over 1K!

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I miss walking into Snow's Sporting Goods, K-Mart or Walmart right before deer season. For at least 5 years, back in the late 70's/early 80's because I bought two back then, at the end of October they had a sale that they advertised: Buy a Model 94 for $94. Catch a Marlin for $99.

MHtractorguy said:

Looks like a rebranded Henry to me. No thank you.

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I don't know if Henry discontinued the comparable model Big Boy but they sure are hard to find on the market.

Also similar to the Rossi 95 triple black, however that rifle is in 30-30. Probably gonna be something else I can't get for a while. What's the point of introducing a new gun when you can't provide it to dealers on a regular basis?

The folks at henry are probably a little upset at the moment.

MSRP $3499? Guess the internal parts must be diamond-encrusted platinum.

(EDIT - OOPS, there's also a cheapo model listed for $1279)

I'll stick with my Ruger/Marlin 44, thank you.

Hedging their bets.

the_leper_colony said:

MSRP $3499? Guess the internal parts must be diamond-encrusted platinum.

(EDIT - OOPS, there's also a cheapo model listed for $1279)

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That's likely European Walnut (Juglans Regia), judging from the figuring. You don't usually get that with American Walnut. Expensive wood.

Some pics, scroll down for the good stuff.

Base Pin Maker said:

I'll stick with my Ruger/Marlin 44, thank you.

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Me, too, for now, but it's nice to have choices.

I am real interested in handling one of the blued/ walnut rifles.

I don't quite get why only big horn armory is doing them in .460. Seems like smith would do 460 and ruger 480 or 475...

Interesting. I have a well-used JM Marlin in .44, and a high polish aluminum Henry in .357. I would love to have a newer .44 and am planning to get the Marlin but it's nice to have choices. The reason I brought up the .357 Henry is that it is a beautiful rifle but with the octagonal barrel it weighs a ton. So I would like to eventually replace it too…

I am interested to see how S&W does on a lever gun. If the quality control is up par. However, as it stands, I have no desire for a modernized tacticool lever gun, nor do I want to spend the big bucks for that beautiful walnut.

Iv'e mentioned this before- but I wish Marlin would release a "working man's" rife. Maybe since Ruger owns Marlin they could release the "working man's" rifle with a Ruger branding. I for one would love to have a Ruger branded lever gun. Make them in pistol calibers to match their handguns.

I'm not a lever gun expert, but to me it looks chunky compared to the Ruger/Marlin. Much like the Smith and Wesson Victory does compared to the Ruger Mark IV.

I do however love the wood on the expensive model. I can see it being worth that in today's economy. Not that I can afford one, but the way everything costs so much, I can see the price, especially if there is hand work involved.