trying to find a certain lever action

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scott585

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im not sure if this is the best place to ask, but...

i read an article in a gun mag a while ago that talked about a lever action that never became popular but seemed interesting. it was a .358 caliber i think, and the action locked by a pair of sliding bars that lifted vertically into the bolt. it was an unusual case head so it was difficult to change calibers, and the caliber sold in was too big for most game in north america and too light for most dangerous/african game so it never took off.

anyone know what im talking about?
 
Double locking lugs that rise vertically to engage the bolt makes it either a Winchester Model 1892 or a Winchester Model 1886. Your description of the cartridge rules out the Model 1892, as it was only chambered for small cartridges that do not fit your description. That leaves only the Model 1886, which was chambered in several calibers. The model 1886 cartridge that most closely matches your description is the 38-56.
 
The 1895 Winchester was available in the monster .35 Winchester cartridge: a .30-40 Krag cases stretched out and opened up.

It was also available as a factory calibre in the 1905 Ross Sporters.

Interesting cartridge; you can make it out of some of that new .405 Winchester brass: just FL size and trim to length.

But a PAIR of lugs rising into the bolt...... '86 for sure. The .38-56 can be made from .45-70 brass just with FL sizing. Eighty-sixes in .38-56 tend to sell for considerably less than the much-more-popular .45-70 and .45-90, so there is even a chance of getting one without putting a mortgage on your firstborn AND the Cat.

The 71 was a very-much-slicked-up and metallurgically-improved '86 which was available only in .348W. The case is based on the old .50-110 Express but with heavier head construction and it really packs a wallop. It deserved much better than it got. It would be a dynamite round for Moose even today. The rifle actions are as slick as greased whale-snot! The brass is great for conversion to at LEAST a dozen old-time cartridges, which is why I have 100 of them on order right now: I can't afford a 71!

Good luck!
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smellie has it beat again, the model 71 is exactly what i was thinking of

sadly, at $2000 and up i cant get one either, but its a story of a fantastic design pushed aside, much like the robertson screwdriver (electrician by trade, and i refuse to use any other screws) that i would love to have one day

collecting the obscure gets pricey, now if i could just find a deal on an abercrombie and fitch shotgun....
 
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