Lever action mod?

M

madmike

New member
My wife likes .357 and lever action, but wants a pistol grip stock rather than a straight stock.

Winchester has one in 24". That's longer than she'd prefer.

Both Marlin and Winchester have them in 16"=18", but with straight stocks.

It doesn't look to me as if it's too hard to bend the tangs slightly and bolt on a pistol grip stock. Is this something I can tackle (Having restored/restocked a few doubles and done lots of fitting of barrels) or is it something a gunsmith should do or is there a mechanical reason it can't be done?
 
Problem is, a lever action's mainspring is anchored to the lower tang behind the trigger, just where you would bend it to pistol grip form. So you would have to remodel that attachment. You would also have to curve the lever itself to match the pistol grip.

Might be easier to get the 24" Winchester and cut the barrel and magazine tube off. If you can find one; the Last Of The Winchesters have been going fast after the announcement that the European owners are shutting down the US plant with no indication that they will even move the M70 and M94 offshore like other Winchester and Browning guns.

Or a Uberti copy of an 1873 Winchester:
http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/1873ShortBorder.htm
More expensive than Winchester or Marlin, but it might not be after you added in the cost of a pistol grip conversion.

Now if you want the neatest lady's lever action going, look for a Browning Model 53 (repro of Winchester.) A .32-20 with half magazine, pistol grip, and the high polish Browning finish. Getting expensive, but no more so than an Eyetalian '73.
http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976678939.htm

Been reading your books.
 
Replacement levers can be ordered. That's not really a problem, I shouldn't think. Mainspring swapping and tang adjustment--how complex? That doesn't sound too intensive.

We'd prefer a common caliber, and .357 will match her revolver for simplicity.

I appreciate the support. More royalties for me, 57 cents at a time. :)
 
Is there some reason of expense or practicality that dictates not?

There ARE pistol-gripped lever actions. There are straight gripped lever actions. The actions themselves appear to be identical. She just wants a caliber from one in the other.

Shortening the Winnie might be best, if we can find one at a reasonable price. But I prefer Marlins.
 
Info

I buy the ramiline replacement stocks for the Marlin and all of them come with the pitol grip stock. Myabe you can order a replacement stock and use it. Like you have been told, do not bend the tang and try to restock it. Call up the folks at Ramline and ask if they can get up a pistol grip replacement stock or better yet, call the folks at Boyd's and see if they have a pistol grip replacement stock for the Marlin's. They may can cut you out the stock if they don't offer it.
 
But the tang will either have to already match the stock or be adjusted to match the stock. That doesn't negate the problem. And I find Ramline to be, how do I put this? Somewhat lacking in quality and fit.

Has anyone actually DONE this, or know enough of the internals to comment? We're talking less than a half inch of bending on what look to be identical actions from the trigger guard forward.
 
Not recommended to bend one. Marlin will not just sell the parts outright, so you have to find an 1894 with a pistol grip and do the swap. It will take some fitting and patience. Not for the faint of heart.
 
I don't know that I have ever seen a '94 Marlin pistol grip, even the scarce Sporter was straight grip.
I don't know how George at Treebone did it, but he did, click on the picture of the "Treebone Silhouette Rifle" at:
http://www.treebonecarving.com/id9.html

Otherwise, would a 336 buttstock fit? I dunno.
If it would, or working from a blank, rather than bend the bottom tang, inlet the stock for the standard tang and then make an insert to fill the gap and give a normal grip shape. Then bend the lever and shoot.
 
Not a bad idea, Jim. I took my 336 apart to look--the top tang is the same. The bottom tang is cast in a curve. Either an insert or a welded-up shim would do the trick. I think it's an either/or on that or shortening the Winchester. Both are within my capabilities and both seem to be about as involved.

Next trick is to get the $$ for the rifle and find one.
 
It's easy to get in over your head Take this from someone who year ago butchered a few 30-30's in search of the perfect " Truck Gun ".....Essex
 
With a Winchester, it is a simple matter of changing out the lever, butt stock and lower tang. Take it to a gunsmith. He can order the parts and put them in easily.

If you are mechanically minded at all, look at the exploded diagrams at the Numrich Gun Parts website or Winchester/Browning and do it yourself. the parts could also probably be purchased from either one. It'd be cheaper from Win/Browning if you are doing it to a "just until recently no longer" current production gun.

I have built two Winchester Trappers from spare parts gathered over the internet. They are simple to work on.

Yeah, they're truck guns.:D

100_1028.jpg
 
The lady also gets to fire the first burst from the Browning .30 I'm rebuilding.

I'm married to a buff wench who likes firepower. I write about guns for a living and attend gun shows as a money-making hobby. Any weapon or book I purchase is deductible as a research expense. I reduce my taxes by buying guns! It doesn't get any better than this.:D
 
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