Lever Shotgun
Specifications
- Type
- Shotgun
- Origin
- United States
- Era
- 19th century
- Notable Users
- American frontiersmen, lawmen, stagecoach guards
- Epoch
- Modern Age
History
The lever-action shotgun applies the same cycling mechanism as the iconic Winchester rifle to a smoothbore platform. The Winchester Model 1887, designed by John Browning, was the first successful repeating shotgun. A lever behind the trigger guard cycles the action, ejecting the spent shell and chambering a new one. While eventually superseded by pump-action designs, the lever shotgun earned its place in American frontier history. Its fast cycling and reliable action made it a favorite of lawmen and express guards in the late 19th century.
Significance
The lever-action shotgun proved that repeating mechanisms could work with shotgun shells, paving the way for pump-action and semi-automatic shotguns. It bridges the gap between single-shot simplicity and modern repeating capability.
More from the Modern Age
12 weapons
54 Weapons. Five Epochs. One Poster.
The Lever Shotgun is one of 13 weapons from the Modern Age featured on the poster.
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