The video opens with Clint and Matt outlining their mission: highlight the top five lever guns available in 2023, focusing on historic designs that have been thoughtfully modernized. They begin with the Winchester 1873, often called “the gun that won the West,” explaining how that phrase was largely a marketing success that cemented the rifle’s legend. The hosts note the 1873’s evolution from rimfire to centerfire and its wide range of original calibers. Original 19th-century examples can easily reach $10,000 or more, but modern Winchester 1873s are still produced by Miroku in Japan, offering classic styling with contemporary manufacturing quality. The discussion then shifts to the Rossi R92 from Brazil, an affordable lever gun patterned after the Winchester 1892. Offered in .38/.357, .45 Colt, and .44 Magnum with 16, 22, or 24-inch barrels, the R92 comes in multiple finishes and sight configurations, giving shooters a budget-friendly way to experience the 1892 pattern without collector-grade prices.
The hosts describe a famous modified Winchester 1892 used on the TV show “The Rifleman,” where a set screw in the lever actuated the trigger so the rifle fired each time it was cycled, creating a slam-fire-like effect. They reference John Wayne’s preferred 1892 with its top ejection and oversized loop, then pivot to a modern Rossi lever gun that channels this heritage. This Rossi features a threaded barrel wearing a SilencerCo suppressor, buckhorn or ghost ring sights, and a full-length Picatinny rail for mounting red dots or other optics. Its gray laminate stock and forend, along with a braided oversized lever loop, are designed for fast, comfortable cycling without bruising the hand. Moving to their number three pick, they introduce the Henry .45-70 All-Weather, including the Picatinny-equipped model. They emphasize how quickly it can be run, its corrosion-resistant finish for harsh environments like bear country and snow, and its role as a rugged, hard-hitting field rifle.
Continuing with the Henry .45-70 All-Weather side gate Picatinny model, the hosts frame it as Henry’s interpretation of a scout rifle. It is compact, tough, and capable of ethical shots out to roughly 300–400 yards with proper optics and ammunition, making it suitable for nearly all North American game short of moose. The rifle includes a slightly oversized lever for gloved use, a ghost ring rear sight paired with a front post, and a Picatinny rail that can host optics like a Swampfox Raider prism. They stress the advantages of the side gate loading system, which allows topping off or unloading without pulling the magazine tube and risking debris or placing a hand near the muzzle. The discussion then transitions to the Marlin 1895 SBL. Compared to the matte black Henry, the Marlin offers a more refined aesthetic with visible wood grain and a stainless-style finish, while retaining similar functional features such as a ghost ring rear sight, long Picatinny rail, and side loading gate.
The comparison between Marlin and Henry lever guns continues with a focus on capacity, sights, and ergonomics. The Marlin lever gun highlighted offers about six plus one capacity, edging out the Henry’s roughly six plus one in .45-70 or five in some configurations, and includes a Picatinny rail for optics. The hosts prefer the Marlin’s ghost ring and front post sight setup, which features a white reference mark for better visibility and durability compared to Henry’s solid black front sight. Newer Marlin 1895 SBL models now ship with threaded barrels, unlike the older non-threaded example shown. They also contrast the Marlin’s larger loop lever, which accommodates gloved hands, with Henry’s more modest loop. Viewers are encouraged to customize their guns, from adding white or red nail polish to front sights to installing aftermarket sight sets. Honorable mentions include the Henry Frontier .22 WMR with a 24-inch threaded barrel, described as an ideal suppressed varmint rifle, and the Winchester 1895, especially Russian contract 7.62x54R models with stripper clip feeding and bayonet lugs, now commanding $3,000 to $5,000.
Wrapping up the honorable mentions, the hosts note that classic rifles like the Martini-Henry have become extremely expensive, often in the $3,000 to $5,000 range, putting many historical dream guns out of reach for typical shooters. They then reveal their number one lever-action choice: the newly reintroduced Marlin 336 Classic in .30-30 Winchester. This rifle is praised for its traditional wood stock, side loading gate, and archetypal lever-action profile that many people picture when they think of a deer rifle. The discussion turns to caliber selection, contrasting pistol-caliber carbines and big-bore options with .30-30 Winchester, which they describe as a sweet-spot, general-purpose lever-gun cartridge. They compare it to a Henry .30-30 with buckhorn sights that feels intuitive and accurate at 100 yards. The segment closes by highlighting the recent re-release of the 336, hinting at potential future “tacticool” variants, and inviting viewers to share their favorite lever guns and suggest models or topics, including the Martini-Henry, for future coverage.
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