It's been a lever action week

**mriddick** · 07-22-2011, 05:10 PM

First I picked up the Sears M54 (Winchester 94 rebranded by Sears) at a local pawn shop then tonight a friend and I dropped in on the local gunshop and found the NIB Marlin 1894c 357 mag lever action. Looks like I'll be watching The Man who shot Liberty Valance this weekend at some point

**blobman** · 07-22-2011, 05:19 PM

oh that sounds cool....how much $? it makes the other one look like a turd.

**FunkyPertwee** · 07-22-2011, 05:31 PM

I'm not big on the 1894, but I do love lever actions and a .30-30 is always sweet.

I have my dad's .357 mag Marlin 1894, but I'd like to get one of the Rossi 1892 clones and give my dad his carbine back. I'd like the Rossi because I'd like to try "slicking" one up myself. Also the action is supposedly very strong, so that handloads could go up to ".30-30 power". Did I mention that I'd like .357 and .45acp, and eventually .44mag to be my first forays into handloading?

**Helen Keller** · 07-22-2011, 05:31 PM

cant beat a lever

**mriddick** · 07-22-2011, 05:40 PM

The poor Sears 54, it's such a nice rifle from the end cap of the handguard back but soooooo ugly from the nose cap onward

Why Sears felt they had to "update" the 94 look is beyond me. I'm still thinking of doing a trapper conversion if nothing else then to just to get rid of the ramp front sight (I'd use a proper dove tail sight) and to bring the mag tube in line with the muzzle (hate that step look). Only the fact it's easily 98% if not unfired condition is stopping me or I'd probably of already started the conversion.... I gave $200 for the sears 54 and roughly $500 for the 1894c (actually $425 of trade in and $75 cash).

I have also thought about finding a proper Winchester barrel and mag tube then just swapping out the entire front end. Although that would then mean my serial number would then suggest a 1895 built Winchester, which might lead to some fun in it's own right at shows with some less then knowledgeable collectors

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**O.S.O.K.** · 07-22-2011, 08:17 PM

I have one of those M94CS's. I changed out the buttstock on mine for a hard rubber one. My boys used it in CAS back when we shot together.

They are very handy little carbines and with the right loads, the .357 Mag in a carbine can nip on the heals of the 30-30. A very good short range deer getter.

Also makes an excellent home/ranch defense gun. Especially for the ladies. Very light, easy to manipulate and soft on recoil, yet very hard on the bad guy or varmint.