Gun Of The Week: Smith & Wesson Model 1854

Let’s face it—lever-action rifles are just darn cool. So why doesn’t every brand make one? Well, it’s not that easy. Just look at the origin story behind Smith & Wesson. Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson initially started out by trying to make a lever-action design way back in 1854. That design didn’t pan out, so the two men joined together to make handguns under the Smith & Wesson brand.

All these years later, Smith & Wesson has maintained a hard focus primarily on handguns. In 2024, Smith & Wesson shocked the industry with a radically new product well outside its usual product lines: the Model 1854. This new gun wasn’t a revolver or a pistol-caliber carbine, or a rendition of America’s rifle; Smith & Wesson’s newest model pays homage to its past in the form of a lever-action repeater.

The Model 1854 lever-action rifle bears that classic action with an underlever and tube-type magazine, much like the cowboy guns of yesteryear, and it comes chambered for classic pistol cartridges such as .44 Mag and .45 Colt. Smith & Wesson unleashed its stable of 1854s in multiple configurations, too. Whether there’s a need for stainless steel with polymer furniture or something more traditional like walnut and darkened steel, Smith & Wesson now has it. A third and more illustrious limited version was also introduced sporting high-grade walnut furniture and a polished black PVD finish. As for the stainless-steel version you see here, let’s dive into its details.

Starting at the receiver, it is forged and made from 416-grade stainless steel. A large ejection port is found on the right side just above the side-loading gate. A push-button safety nests at the rear just below the hammer. The receiver comes fitted with a 410-grade stainless steel barrel measuring 19.25” that is also left in the ‘white’ and threaded 11/16×24 TPI. A flat-sided thread protector ships with the gun but is easily removed and replaced with a suppressor or muzzle brake. Atop the barreled action is a brass-bead sight mounted on a post near the muzzle. At the rear is a section of Picatinny rail for optics and an adjustable ghost-ring rear aperture. Both units are made by XS Sights. Right out of the box, the Model 1854 is range-ready, though, from our testing, a magnified optic is sure to produce the best accuracy from the platform.

Smith & Wesson did something quite interesting when it comes to the 1854’s tubular magazine—it is removeable with the simple twist of the knurled end. It also holds nine rounds of .44 Mag or .44 Spl, and with one in the chamber, you get a total of 10 rounds on board the 1854. As for the stock on this version, it is injection-molded polymer. It is well crafted to meet the needs of most shooters and has a few modern trimmings worth noting. First and foremost is the inclusion of metal-backed M-Lok sections along the fore-end. There’s also a stainless steel fore-end cap, which includes a sling attachment point. The opposite end of the gun contains a nice and squishy recoil pad and sling stud in the buttstock for traditional swivels.

We took the Smith & Wesson Model 1854 to the range with a mix of ammunition, all of which performed flawlessly. Our testers found great accuracy potential from the gun, too, which is likely due to its heavy-profile barrel. We find the inclusion of a flat-faced trigger and M-Lok slots lend to gun’s modern appeal, and its large-loop lever and iron sights are handy additions. Plus, the 1854 is threaded for a suppressor!

Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Specifications
Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson
Action Type: lever-action, centerfire, repeating rifle
Chambering: .44 Mag. (.44 Spl.)
Receiver: forged 416 stainless steel
Barrel: 19.25″ stainless steel
Sights: XS; adjustable ghost-ring aperture rear, gold-bead front
Stock: synthetic with QD studs and M-Lok-equipped fore-end
Trigger: single-stage, adjustable; 4-lb., 6-oz. pull
Overall Length: 36″
Weight: 6 lbs., 13 ozs.
MSRP: $1,279