Slickest lever action?

Well it won’t keep up in looks to the pair cjdawe posted, but the new to me Model 53 has arrived and I’m smitten. What a wonderfully made and handy little takedown.

Side by side with the 1886, which has pretty equivalent wearing in / use from visual inspection, the antique 1886 is indeed smoother. This said, the Model 53 / 1892 is very satisfying to cycle and feels great in the hands. It’s heftier than I expected in a complimentary way. The gun is extremely light, but doesn’t feel Toyish / BB gun’y as I thought it may. The takedown aspect is extremely well executed, tight, and fast to operate.
 
Appears so. Ran the 92, 94, and 86 side by side with dummies and the 86 is the smoothest and slickest. The very short throw of the 53 / 92 does indeed make it flick easily. 94 is the most rattley, and takes the most forceful cycle of the lever. This said if done as a snap with commitment the 94 is good all considered.
 
Ardent said:
Fair for sure, pretty amazing what they managed to do on the tooling of the day. Suspect a lot of the difference is derived from the cost of manual labour and what happened with it.
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Back when workers took pride in their work. Now its all about quantity & cost, quality takes a backseat.
 
They weren't cheap rifles, in many cases represented a month's pay, what does a month's gross pay get a guy now?
 
MiG25 said:
They weren't cheap rifles, in many cases represented a month's pay, what does a month's gross pay get a guy now?
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In a year, At the rate we are going, inflation wise, maybe a savage axis. lol
In all seriousness, you can still get a nice rifle for a months pay. I would say better quality than 100 yrs ago. Does that mean prices have actually dropped?

Yes, things were sure different 100 yrs ago...
 
There were plenty of junky guns made 100+ years ago, we just seldom see them because they didn't last 100 years. Winchester made a premium product.

Many things are "cheaper" now because of mechanization and scale and industrial processes... aluminium for example was once used for trinkets for Kings and Emperors.
 
babine_lake said:
I find the curved lever and grip of a Winchester Model 71 is a big improvement over the 1886 for smooth cycling. I think a M71 is the slickest lever action ever. I have one with a four digit serial number which is particularly slick, likely from the years of use, but my Browning carbine and recent Miroku are great also. I love the Model 71 and wish the 348 cartridge was more available and affordable.
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I had a Win Model 71 for several years, a deluxe model with factory Lyman receiver sight. Of all the lever guns I have owned I think it was the smoothest to operate. I didn't use it often so I sold it to my brother, who again moved it on. One of my most regretful decisions. Another lever gun I really like is the Savage M99 I have, 1950 vintage.
 
My Pedersoli 86/71 was super slick to operate though not as smooth & quick as my Miroku/Winchester '73, but me best lever was a Win 94 Legacy in 357 mag that I used for cowboy action shooting and critters. Should'a kept that one. :bangHead:
 
Little look inside my levers.

Oldest, to youngest,

1886, 1898 Manufacture.

Bolt rail,

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Ejector,

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Model 53 (92), 1927 Manufacture.

Bolt rail,

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Ejector,

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Model 94, 1956 Manufacture.

Bolt rail,

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Ejector,

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