Info on a levergun my dad once owned

1940izhevsk · January 31, 2018, 09:39 PM

Whenever my dad would talk about the guns he owned while in the Army, he always brought up a "Smith and Wesson" .357 lever action rifle. Of course, he miswords it and calls it an over/under lever action, but I know what he's' talking about.

My true question is, did S&W ever make a lever-action rifle? Whenever I try to look one up, I come up empty handed.

Scorch · January 31, 2018, 10:15 PM

S&W never made or marketed a lever action rifle that I know of. BTW, the cartridge itself is called the 357 S&W Magnum, if that could have led to the misunderstanding. If it was a lever action, it was probably a Marlin or a Rossi. Neither Winchester, Remington, Mossberg, or Savage made a lever action in .357 Mag.

blchandl2 · January 31, 2018, 10:24 PM

I have a Winchester .357 magnum lever action. Model 94AE.

Charlie98 · February 1, 2018, 12:34 AM

If he's an older fellow, he's probably talking about a Marlin or Winchester. Ask him if it ejected out of the top (Winchester) or the side (Marlin.)

1940izhevsk · February 2, 2018, 11:23 AM

I asked him yesterday, he said it ejected from the top. He also said it had an S&W logo on the receiver. Now the question is, what model of Winchester was it?

Sent from my VS988 using Tapatalk

Bill DeShivs · February 2, 2018, 11:50 AM

He is quite simply, mistaken.

DPris · February 2, 2018, 11:54 AM

It could not have had an S&W logo on the receiver.
S&W never made a .357 levergun.

If a .357 Winchester, it would've been most likely a Model 92 CONVERTED from whatever original caliber it started out as, if you're talking about a time frame beyond 30 years or so in the past.

Lotta conversions done on those from the 1960s to the 1980s.

If more recently, Winchester produced Model 94s in .357 Magnum.

You'd need to pin down the timeframe to get a better idea.

Either way, whatever he had was NOT a Smith & Wesson rifle.
Denis

Blindstitch · February 2, 2018, 12:38 PM

Smith and Wesson made the original lever action before selling to Winchester but that's probably to old to be this mans gun. Or caliber.

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/201...rial-number-8/

Blindstitch · February 2, 2018, 12:46 PM

I kind of wonder if this is a misspoke thing. Like my dad talks about hunting with his Krag rifle but really it's a Remington Lee 30-40 Krag.

I wonder if there's a Winchester that shows 357 Smith and Wesson larger or more obvious than the Winchester name. Or maybe a commemorative with odd engraving. Guess we really have to nail down when the guy was in the army.

Hawg · February 2, 2018, 02:34 PM

deleted

1940izhevsk · February 2, 2018, 03:08 PM

My dad was in the Army in the mid-80s, he was an MP once stationed in the Honduras and El Salvador, during the Iran-Contra affair. He was also stationed at Fort Lee, for some time (coincidence that it's the place I'm going for AIT). He might have owned the levergun plus a couple others he'd mention occasionally while stationed at Fort Lee.

DPris · February 2, 2018, 03:35 PM

Depending on which part of the 80s, it MIGHT have been one of the Winchester/USRAC Model 94s chambered in .357 Mag.
Denis

3Crows · February 3, 2018, 12:30 AM

The US Army issued lever guns to soldiers in the 80s? How about horses and saddles?

3C

**4V50 Gary** · February 3, 2018, 04:16 PM

The Ordnance Department was taking away the Spencer lever action rifles from the soldiers/troopers in the 1870s. After all, soldiers would waste ammunition and that costs money.

Hawg · February 3, 2018, 04:43 PM

Quote:

The US Army issued lever guns to soldiers in the 80s? How about horses and saddles?

Where did you get that from?

3Crows · February 3, 2018, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawg

Where did you get that from?

Possibly from this thread?

Hope the OP can find another, whatever it was.

the possum · February 5, 2018, 01:16 PM

Quote:

My dad was in the Army in the mid-80s, he was an MP once stationed in the Honduras and El Salvador, during the Iran-Contra affair. He was also stationed at Fort Lee, for some time (coincidence that it's the place I'm going for AIT). He might have owned the levergun plus a couple others he'd mention occasionally while stationed at Fort Lee.

I'm generally in agreement with the others, that he's simply mis-remembering the gun. However, if he owned it when he was stationed in South America, anything's possible. There are many places in the world that are known for counterfeits, fakes, copies, misleading marketing, etc., where you could also have anything made to order by the local cottage industry.

Big Shrek · February 6, 2018, 12:57 AM

If he somehow ended up with a S&W 1854, you should probably try and find out
where it went

It would be worth quite a bundle these days. I'd try and find a pic of him with it...

S&W did have a line of bolt-action rifles, but they were made by Husqvarna or Howa
for S&W from the 1960's to 90's.

January 31, 2018, 09:39 PM	#1
1940izhevsk Member Join Date: July 5, 2016 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 59	Info on a levergun my dad once owned Whenever my dad would talk about the guns he owned while in the Army, he always brought up a "Smith and Wesson" .357 lever action rifle. Of course, he miswords it and calls it an over/under lever action, but I know what he's' talking about. My true question is, did S&W ever make a lever-action rifle? Whenever I try to look one up, I come up empty handed. __________________ What does unburnt powder smell like? Pepper. What does burnt powder smell like? Awesome!

January 31, 2018, 10:15 PM	#2
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	S&W never made or marketed a lever action rifle that I know of. BTW, the cartridge itself is called the 357 S&W Magnum, if that could have led to the misunderstanding. If it was a lever action, it was probably a Marlin or a Rossi. Neither Winchester, Remington, Mossberg, or Savage made a lever action in .357 Mag. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

February 1, 2018, 12:34 AM	#4
Charlie98 Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2006 Location: Great state of Texas Posts: 1,077	If he's an older fellow, he's probably talking about a Marlin or Winchester. Ask him if it ejected out of the top (Winchester) or the side (Marlin.) __________________ _______________ "I have this pistol pointed at your heart!" "That is my least vulnerable spot." Last edited by Charlie98; February 2, 2018 at 08:08 PM.

February 2, 2018, 11:50 AM	#6
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,984	He is quite simply, mistaken. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

February 2, 2018, 12:38 PM	#8
Blindstitch Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2013 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,693	Smith and Wesson made the original lever action before selling to Winchester but that's probably to old to be this mans gun. Or caliber. http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/201...rial-number-8/ __________________ NRA Lifetime Member

January 31, 2018, 10:24 PM	#3
blchandl2 Senior Member Join Date: November 1, 2008 Location: TN Posts: 526	I have a Winchester .357 magnum lever action. Model 94AE.

February 2, 2018, 11:23 AM	#5
1940izhevsk Member Join Date: July 5, 2016 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 59	I asked him yesterday, he said it ejected from the top. He also said it had an S&W logo on the receiver. Now the question is, what model of Winchester was it? Sent from my VS988 using Tapatalk

February 2, 2018, 11:54 AM	#7
DPris Member Emeritus Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 7,133	It could not have had an S&W logo on the receiver. S&W never made a .357 levergun. If a .357 Winchester, it would've been most likely a Model 92 CONVERTED from whatever original caliber it started out as, if you're talking about a time frame beyond 30 years or so in the past. Lotta conversions done on those from the 1960s to the 1980s. If more recently, Winchester produced Model 94s in .357 Magnum. You'd need to pin down the timeframe to get a better idea. Either way, whatever he had was NOT a Smith & Wesson rifle. Denis

February 2, 2018, 12:46 PM	#9
Blindstitch Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2013 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,693	I kind of wonder if this is a misspoke thing. Like my dad talks about hunting with his Krag rifle but really it's a Remington Lee 30-40 Krag. I wonder if there's a Winchester that shows 357 Smith and Wesson larger or more obvious than the Winchester name. Or maybe a commemorative with odd engraving. Guess we really have to nail down when the guy was in the army. __________________ NRA Lifetime Member

February 2, 2018, 02:34 PM	#10
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	deleted

February 2, 2018, 03:08 PM	#11
1940izhevsk Member Join Date: July 5, 2016 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 59	My dad was in the Army in the mid-80s, he was an MP once stationed in the Honduras and El Salvador, during the Iran-Contra affair. He was also stationed at Fort Lee, for some time (coincidence that it's the place I'm going for AIT). He might have owned the levergun plus a couple others he'd mention occasionally while stationed at Fort Lee. __________________ What does unburnt powder smell like? Pepper. What does burnt powder smell like? Awesome!

February 2, 2018, 03:35 PM	#12
DPris Member Emeritus Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 7,133	Depending on which part of the 80s, it MIGHT have been one of the Winchester/USRAC Model 94s chambered in .357 Mag. Denis

February 3, 2018, 12:30 AM	#13
3Crows Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2017 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 220	The US Army issued lever guns to soldiers in the 80s? How about horses and saddles? 3C

February 3, 2018, 04:16 PM	#14
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,833	The Ordnance Department was taking away the Spencer lever action rifles from the soldiers/troopers in the 1870s. After all, soldiers would waste ammunition and that costs money. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 6, 2018, 12:57 AM	#18
Big Shrek Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: NorthWest Florida Posts: 1,358	If he somehow ended up with a S&W 1854, you should probably try and find out where it went It would be worth quite a bundle these days. I'd try and find a pic of him with it... S&W did have a line of bolt-action rifles, but they were made by Husqvarna or Howa for S&W from the 1960's to 90's. __________________ Marlin Specialist Calico Specialist A gun should be a tool in the hands of a deadly weapon, not a deadly weapon in the hands of a tool.