Lever Action help please

[PaFrank]

I voted NO, but not for the reason many here did... Yes its a pistol caliber... so what... Its a fun gun to shoot! especially if you get into Cowboy action.

It's not worth it
It's not unique or rare.
There are always a bunch on Gunbroker


I bought a Marlin 1984CB in 45 colt some years back, and even took a deer with it. I have a 45-70, 3030, and just got rid of a 35 and the 45Colt lever is my favorite "play" gun but can be loaded serious if needed..

I think the price for the Winny is High. I would go $600 max... thats about what they go for in my neck of the woods +/- depending on condition..

Get a Marlin CB, preferably one with the 24" basrrel... you can easily change out the lever for a big loop if thats your thing..

 

[cdb1]

The 94 is one of my least favorite levergun designs. Most guys don’t care to scope their leverguns, but I’m not most guys - I prefer the solid top Marlins for the ability to run a scope. I hate the feel of the toggle link Winchester’s, as an engineer, it seems silly to have the whole top and bottom of the rifle receiver be moving parts. The AE - Angled Eject - was an attempt to make the 94 more scope friendly, but the receiver design still doesn’t really lend itself to optics...

I like the looks of a Model 94 or 92 better than any Marlin. Didn’t own a lever gun for many years but figured if I ever did it would be a Winchester. When I bought one eight years ago I got a 336 for the reasons mentioned above plus one more. Marlins are easier to disassemble for cleaning, at least for me.

 

[Varminterror]

Marlins are easier to disassemble for cleaning, at least for me.

Dude - without question...

 

[someguy2800]

I would much rather have an 1892 win or 1894 marlin. The 1894 winchester never did all that much for me. I’ve always thought it an overly complicated and silly design.

Other than the romance of it being a browning designed Winchester, one does have to compare it to the extremely simple marlin 336 and wonder now why was all that mechanism necessary?

 

[JeffG]

Need and want are two different criteria. The price sounds a little high, but you sound very interested. Do what you want to do. Psst. I voted yes.

 

[CraigC]

I’ve always thought it an overly complicated and silly design.....why was all that mechanism necessary?

Wow, that's a first.

Marlins are easier to disassemble for cleaning, at least for me.

That is an imagined "advantage". How often does one need to take apart a levergun? I have Winchesters I've been shooting for decades and never felt the need to disassemble them.

 

[cdb1]

Maybe “imagined” to you but not to me. To be more blunt I disassembled my cousins Model 94 to clean it and decided then and there I’d never do another one. I disassemble my rifles that get shot every year or two and clean them thoroughly. Since I hunt hogs with my 336 it gets used, so it stands to reason if I had a Model 94 it would get used too. Taking apart a Ruger 22/45 is child’s play compared to a Model 94, to me. Of course it’s actually putting it back together that is so difficult.

 

[L Belmont]

Thank you guys....
I’ll keep looking for a better option for my 44 mag.
I’ve been diagnosed with acute leveritis...
I own three Marlins ( 29 TDS, 1894 45LC, 1895 GS 46-70) and a Henry 22lr standard. The darn Henry got me started.
I still want a Winnie so I’ll look in the 92 category in .44 mag and then a .357 to go with my s&w 17 6.5” nickel... Maybe a silver boy in .358 Hahahahahahah... too much bling.

Cheers, thank you for y’alls help to weed me out of an expensive choice.

 

[flyingtiger85]

Get a Henry in.357 magnum so you can afford to shoot it and don't look back.44 magnum is expensive!

 

[PapaG]

Way too high. I just bought a 98% same thing only 30-30 for $400 out the door. Blue Book is your friend.

 

[guyfromohio]

In Ohio, that is a deer gun. I just spent $900 on one. If it's nice, buy it.

 

[CraigC]

Maybe “imagined” to you but not to me. To be more blunt I disassembled my cousins Model 94 to clean it and decided then and there I’d never do another one. I disassemble my rifles that get shot every year or two and clean them thoroughly. Since I hunt hogs with my 336 it gets used, so it stands to reason if I had a Model 94 it would get used too. Taking apart a Ruger 22/45 is child’s play compared to a Model 94, to me. Of course it’s actually putting it back together that is so difficult.

Imagined because there's no reason to do that. They're not AR15's.

 

[Art Eatman]

OP' decision has been made.