58 http://www.riflemagazine.com Rifle 305rarity and the object of having a
complete collection – but for every-
one else it’s a complication.
It’s difficult to determine either
the collectibility or value of any
of the Levermatics. As far as I
can discover, there is no coterie
of fanatical collectors pursuing
every variation. There is, however,
a small knot of shooters who seem
to really like them for their good
looks, quality of workmanship and
the fun of shooting them. When I
began seriously trying to find a
Model 62 .256 Winchester – a boy-
hood passion – they were chang-
ing hands for about $300. That was
15 years ago. By about 2010, prices
had doubled, based on rifles sold
at various auctions. Finally, a cou-
ple of years ago I saw two Lever-
matics in different calibers offered
for $1,995 apiece! Whether they
sold for that, I can’t say, but they
soon disappeared.
One thing I have noticed is that
most Levermatics that come upfor sale seem to be in remarkably
good condition. This is puzzling
but may be explained by the fact
that, historically, guns that were
expensive to begin with more
often come down through the
years in better condition than the
bargain-basement pieces. Having
been purchased in the first place
by men with money and/or good
taste, they were looked after. This
regard was then passed on to their
heirs, and by the time the guns
come onto the market as “collect-
ible,” they are given due regard for
their status.
The high-price explanation can
be dismissed because Levermatics
were never expensive compared to
their rivals. In 1964, when Marlin’s
own Model 39 was listed at $79.95,
the Model 56 Levermatic was only
$49.95. It could be, however, that
they were acquired by men who
were a little more sophisticated in
their tastes, liked nice walnut and
good steel and had no interest in
either excessive firepower or em-
ulating Chuck Connors.Another little puzzle is Marlin’s
misreading of popular demand.
Leaving aside the cartridges for
which the Model 62 was supposed
to be chambered and wasn’t, where
was the urgent desire for a “short
lever throw” that Marlin (and Kes-
sler Arms before it) perceived to
be there? Like short bolt throws
on bolt-action rifles, this seems
to have been one of those “issues”
that existed more in the minds of
writers than in any practical value.
Looking back, the Model 62 in
particular could have been cham-
bered for a range of cartridges that
would have been really useful: the
.218 Bee, .25-20, .32-20, .357 Mag-
num and the later .32 H&R Mag-
num. Any of these might have
found a perfect home in the Model
62 and given it some longevity. As it
was, the Levermatics departed the
scene all too soon. Today, though,
anyone looking for a .22 that feels
like “a real rifle” need look no fur-
ther than the used-gun section for
a Levermatic. They are fine little
rifles that go relatively cheap.T he Ultimate
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