chiappa

Hmm, please explain that tim3500. I’ve had quite a few Marlins and about a year ago got a Chiappa takedown 44mag. In every way it seems like a higher end piece than any marlin I’ve had. I sell guns fast and can’t seem part with this one. Of course the price also seems to reflect what I’ve perceived as higher quality.
 
Chiappa QC seems non-existent, some stuff put out looks like it was made in China, sometimes their stuff is ok, but it's all overpriced for the quality they produce.
I generally avoid anything chiappa, less headaches that way.
 
I have a Chiappa M92 .44 mag, not the model the OP asked about but the only experience I have to share. Compared to my Marlin rifles, the fit and finish is far better, function is perfect, and attention to detail is obvious. I would not buy a Marlin if a Chiappa offered the same model, but there are good reasons to own a Marlin, only because they have some features Chiappa does not.
 
I personally would not buy a new Marlin. They are owned buy Remington and they are all under the Freedom Group company. They filed for bankruptcy last year.......thats got to tell you something ?!
 
Sorry, but I just have not been impressed by the fit and finish of the Chiappa rifles and lever action shotguns I have handled. The lever action shotgunns had issues with their actions closing properly. A good friend got one, but sent it back to Chiappa because of this problem. They could not fix the firearm to function properly. Unfortunately the replacement gun had the same issue. My friend got his money back.
 
A while back I started shooting cowboy action with one in .357/.38. I thought it was a terrific rifle on terms of looks and quality and only gave it up when a fully tuned Uberti became available.
 
I'm sure it depends on the model. I have heard bad thing about little cheap Chiappas and their weird 9mm semis... but the case-hardened 1892's I've seen are good -- especially for the money.

I have a case-hardened full-stock Mares-Leg 12" 1892 -- and I love it. I think the overall quality is excellent. Having said that, I did have to do a little bit to make it perfect -- which I will explain.

Things I didn't like:

The loading gate (inside and out) was razor sharp -- which made loading it a bad experience. I disassembled the entire receiver and bolt and de-burred all the sharp edges and I took some tension off the loading gate spring. It is slick and beautiful now.

The extractor claw was too long. It would scratch the case rims. No big deal if you don't reload -- although it did make the end of the lever stroke a bit hard as the claw went up and over the case rim. I removed the extractor and shortened and polished the claw. It was easy (I have a post here).

Half of receiver screw slots were damaged from the factory. This is almost unforgivable. I peened the damage, re-polished and heat blue most of the screws.

When I had the thing apart, I was very impressed by the quality of the machining, fit and the steel (save for the screws -- they are fine, but they are just normal soft screws, so mind the torque). The bolt, lugs, trigger and hammer assembly are all proper hardened steel. I found no inferior steel within it -- and I was looking. (I'm a home-shop machinist, so I have some idea of steel quality). I had heard things about soft steel in "Italian" guns... Not this one.

Even with these issues, I would buy another. I do plan on buying a 16" barrel version.

My 12"er is surprisingly accurate... This is from 25 yards -- on a not-so-great bag with Blazer aluminum.

Also, my stock trigger is truly excellent. Crisp and literally NO creep.

... Not to mention the fact that no non-Italian maker builds anything like it.





 
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Just seen this older thread;
I would highly recommend the 1892 Chiappa ; It has given me no grief and is one of the truest renditions of J Brownings 92 design.
if your budget allows it is Better fit and finish inside and out than a Rossi and Marlin has been of dubious quality from the last years of JM Marlin to the present ownership.
Henry is the last American Quality Lever gun manufacturer. If they made them lighter with a loading gate I'd be in. Tho they sure are purtty.
The 92 Browning was a excellent Miroku firearm and so are the present Miroku levers stamped with Winchester on the barrel, again these are very pricey replicas and of not true design with rebounding hammers and other safety features.
 
Another vote being very impressed with the fit finish and function of a chiappa 92. I had fairly low expectations but I was pleasantly surprised from the moment I unboxed it and as I have gotten more and more as I get more familiar with it. I believe a new chiappa is better value than a new remlin and should at least be considered if looking for a new lever.
 
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