Lever Action barrel chop- Gunsmith suggestions?

[Jesse Jaymes]

I seem to be a One Off when it comes to finding "Happy" with rifles. A lifetime of Left-Handedness takes most of the joy out of visiting gun shops.

And I seem to run in a 20 year circle of stuff that was Kool....lost its appeal, got sold...and is not cool again, but Unobtainium.

I had a 1 of 1050 made Marlin lever gun in 45 Colt. A late 1990s TALO run. 16" barrel "Limited" which is a Trapper to most. Blued with straight grip. My dumb ass sold it after an evening of beers to a co-worker who I never saw again.

I am a Die Hard 45LC fan and want nothing to do with anything 357 or 44...although EVERY model of level gun has been much more readily available in both vs 45 LC

Question: Can anyone recommend a gunsmith who is savvy with chopping down lever guns? Would be magazine tube as well and I believe they need to be cut from the receiver end for some reason?

I am wanting to end up with a quality 45LC lever gun in super short package...aka Trapper.

Probably several hundred for the work and couple hundred for the ride....which is frustrating, but...

 

[Steve300xcw]

Are you stuck on marlins?

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1089025752

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

No. I'd do a Winchester. I have a couple bids in. There's one that's kind of a beater on Buy Now with pits in it.

Flat top of the 1894 just a good bit easier for dots, Skinners or optics is all.

 

[Sadler]

If you’re still in north Idaho I’d call Kampfeld as see what he can do.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

I have a Tikka to run up to him. I asked him about kinda simple Ruger revolver barrel chops, and he didn't seem to Hip on the concept and had nobody else to pass me off to.

I ASSUMED the same for Older School type gunsmithing stuff.

 

[dreadi]

For what you're talking about, why not just get one already setup from the factory?

 

[Steve300xcw]

For what you're talking about, why not just get one already setup from the factory?

How many 16" 45colt lever guns are made right now?

 

[dreadi]

How many 16" 45colt lever guns are made right now?

Are you looking for one?

 

[Steve300xcw]

Are you looking for one?

No, I'm a 44 guy.. but the OP is. And you recomended just buying a factory rifle. I am wondering how many manufacturers are making a 16" 45 colt rifle

 

[dreadi]

No, I'm a 44 guy.. but the OP is. And you recomended just buying a factory rifle. I am wondering how many manufacturers are making a 16" 45 colt rifle

Nothing in the post said he's desiring a smith for any particular barrel length.

 

[Steve300xcw]

He did..Read it again

 

[Coopsdaddy]

I have an early 70s 94 30/30 I would like to do the same.
Chop and skinner sights.
I found a smith in okc that I may use.
I have used Kampfield and 100% would again but I just don’t want to ship.

 

[curtiscd]

www.madpigcustoms.com. I have not used them but they do some really cool stuff!

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

Coop-

Did Karl whack a lever gun for you? He's local for me as Sadler was suggesting. I've personally dropped rifles off to be shortened and threaded. His shop is uber clean and professional. Several huge machines that I don't know what they do.

I just got the vibe he's a 100% bolt action type guy with barrel fluting, chambering, install, bolt fluting etc.

I can for sure ask him.


For the other guys.....YES.....I am looking to end up with one or more 16" lever guns. And I don't really wanna slum a Rossi or Henry, etc.

There is lots to be said for the overall fit, finish and no "Chinesium" feel to the Win/Marlin/Ruger stuff.

If I wasn't such a Cheap Fug the new Trapper Marlin in 30/30 is on a short list. I would just much rather have a 45LC first and mostest. Yes I can find a handful of Winchester 94AE for sale. Most going for much higher than I want, but I may simply Do It.

There have never been more than a few 1000 Marlins made in 16" of various flavors. Most would have to be cut down. Hence the post.

I have a bid in on a 20" Cowboy that is pretty well whipped....but it would be a good donor to have chopped. But say I "win" it for $10000.....It's sounding like maybe $500 to chop and crown and chop a magazine tube and ship, unless someone local would do it.

 

[Steve300xcw]

And I don't really wanna slum a Rossi or Henry, etc.

Good for you

Now that, thats outta the way. Lemme toss a wrench in the line up....

Have you got your hands on one of the S&W lever guns yet? The non tactical versions are still a 19" barrel... I really wanted to hate on that rifle. However the local gettin place had a stainless one on the rack, and thats a damn nice rifle! I will most likely end up with one sooner or later.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

Yea...the guy above isn't 100% wrong. Smith does offer a 16 1/4" in 45LC. Probably the easiest button of all.


But GD.....there are ZERO cool points on that rifle. I am old. And this isn't really the route I wanted to go. But it DOES check every box. Except Kool Faktor. It's beyond TaktiKal.

I own a place where Elmer Keith spent many of his years. If there was ever a "roll over in your Grave" scenario...this would be He and It.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

Couple reviews on it show it's pretty Crunchy action and Meh. Blued and wood at 16" would really make me think hard.

I will piss around with a few auctions for a Cowboy Marlin and a 94AE first. The couple 20" Marlins chopped to 16" would really be my Ideal, but more complicated.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Lol I get it. Like I said, I really wanted to hate it. And that tacticool version is for sure a no go.

 

[Hoghead]

Jack Huntington built my 50 cal on a marlin 1894 for me. He rebarreled it and cut the tube, and did the work to make it cycle a larger round. I'm sure he could do a barrel and tube. He is a good guy and reasonable price. He has done a few rifles and built me a 50 GI on a vaquero, too. If you're interested I can get you his number.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

 

[gbflyer]

Don’t discount the R92 Rossi. I’ve got a stainless 45LC, I think it’s 20” though. They can take a little work, super easy with the StevesGunz tutorial though. Mine feeds WFNGC like a greased hot dog. I don’t know about a 16” model, I would think it wouldn’t be rocket science to shorten one. Maybe Wild West Guns would do it?