Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
The Smith & Wesson Model 1854 drags the classic .44 Magnum lever gun into the modern era with a threaded barrel, optic rail, M-LOK slots, and suppressor-ready performance. It also delivered sub-inch groups, ran without a mechanical failure, and put 10 rounds on steel in 5.5 seconds.
Watch the S&W Model 1854 review:
Smith & Wesson Gives the Classic Lever Gun Modern Teeth
Smith & Wesson’s legacy in firearm craftsmanship spans generations, beginning with founders Horace Smith & Daniel Baird Wesson. Their innovative spirit laid the foundation for the company’s 170-year journey.
Recently debuted at SHOT Show 2024, the Model 1854 Series pays tribute to this heritage while offering a modern twist on the classic lever-action rifle. It blends tradition with contemporary design instead of forcing shooters to choose between the two.
Featuring a threaded barrel, M-LOK slots, and a Picatinny rail, the Model 1854 is meticulously engineered to provide enthusiasts and collectors with an authentic shooting experience rooted in history. The real question is whether all those modern features make it perform better, or merely make an old-school design look tactical.
S&W Model 1854 .44 Magnum Specifications
| Action | Lever |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 44 MAGNUM |
| Capacity | 9 |
| Optic Ready | Yes |
| Threaded Barrel | Yes |
| Width | 1.6 in |
| Length | 36 in |
| Weight | 108.8 oz |
| Size | Rifle |
| Barrel Length | 19.25 |
| Barrel Material | 410 SS |
| Frame | Stainless Steel |
| MSRP | $1279 |
What Comes With the S&W Model 1854?
In the realm of lever actions, accessories often take a backseat. The Model 1854 arrives from the factory with the bare essentials: an owner’s manual, a pre-installed Picatinny rail, and a gun lock. It is a minimalist approach, but truly, all you require besides that is a couple of boxes of ammunition.
A Threaded .44 Magnum Barrel Built to Run Suppressed
This 19.25″ 410 stainless steel barrel shot well and features 11/16”-24 threads for using other muzzle brakes or suppressors. The 1:20″ RH twist 8-groove rifling had no problem stabilizing 200-300gr projectiles.
I fired this rifle nearly 100% suppressed and without an issue. Utilizing a threaded barrel really helps bring a lever gun into the modern era, and shooting one suppressed was a great experience. I will say the added forward weight made the Model 1854 a little front-heavy, but this is the case for any suppressed rifle.
One Muzzle Device Problem Worth Knowing Before You Buy
I found that some muzzle brakes may block the removable magazine tube. I was using a Silencerco ASR muzzle brake, which was just wide enough to trap the mag tube and prevent it from being removed. Otherwise, this caused no issues.
Ghost Rings or Red Dot: The Model 1854 Handles Both
For those trying to run the Model 1854 right out of the box, it features a gold bead front sight and an XS ghost ring rear sight. However, for those who want to truly bring this lever gun into the modern era, it utilizes a top Picatinny rail.
This allows for mounting scopes or red dots such as the Vortex Defender-ST, which I immediately installed when this rifle arrived. The receiver is drilled to accept any mounts compatible with Marlin 1894 hole patterns.
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Torque the Model 1854 Picatinny Rail Before Shooting
One thing to note is that the top Picatinny rail should be torqued down upon arrival. While mine felt tight originally, after shooting it, the top Picatinny rail had worked loose. I heard of someone else having this issue as well, so avoid the headache and torque it down when you get it.
Lightweight Synthetic Stock Tames Heavy .44 Magnum Loads
The black synthetic stock is simplistic and sleek. It is thin and lightweight, yet still provides a solid cheek weld. There is a rubber butt pad about 1/2″ thick that provides great padding for taming 200-300 gr projectiles getting launched out of the Model 1854.
Near the trigger, the grip utilizes what I would call aggressive texturing. It is not as rugged as some pistol grips, yet it provides a great non-slip hold.
The stock features a single sling swivel stud, and the forend cap also has a sleek sling swivel hole machined right into it. At first glance, I was wondering how I would mount a sling, but I appreciate the integration of a sling swivel into the metal forend cap.
M-LOK Furniture Turns the Model 1854 Into a Working Rifle
This lever action is as functional as it is sleek. The polymer furniture remains lightweight, coming in at only 6.8 lbs. The forend features M-LOK slots at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions for ease of mounting accessories such as bipods and weapon lights.
This made mounting my Valhalla Tactical weapon light quick and easy. While the mount I had placed the light’s tail cap farther back than I would have preferred, a cantilever mount would solve this problem.
The handguard and stock are easily interchangeable and compatible with Marlin 1894 pattern forends and stocks. This allows for multiple customization options. However, I find the Model 1854 to be configured perfectly right from the factory.
The Flat-Faced Trigger Breaks Cleanly at 3.75 lbs
Smith & Wesson uses a flat-faced trigger with the Model 1854, and it feels good. The slack is clean, and the wall is well-defined. Pulling past it, the rifle I received has the tiniest slip of creep before breaking, but this is hardly noticeable. I measured the trigger weight to break at 3.75 lbs consistently.
The trigger guard is large to allow for use with gloves, and even the loop is enlarged for quicker weapon manipulations. One thing I found interesting is that there is forward spring pressure on the trigger except for past the wall once fired.
This means that it kinda flops around with or without the hammer cocked. S&W let me know this is normal, but it is just not something I am used to.
S&W Model 1854 Accuracy: Sub-Inch Groups at 50 Yards
Throughout this review, most of the ammunition used was either an assortment of Hornady or Magtech supplied by Ammunitiontogo.com.
They are the official ammo sponsor for this review and offer a wide selection of competitively priced ammunition. For this review, I ordered some ammo, and it was on my doorstep within the week. Easy-to-use online website, insanely quick shipping, and competitive prices. Go check them out!
Aiming to test the precision of the S&W Model 1854, I used an assortment of various Hornady ammunition. I proceeded to shoot 3-round groups from 50 yards.
I got multiple sub-inch groups with Hornady 200gr XTP, which seems reasonable for a rifle chambered in 44 Magnum. Also, to help show what sort of velocities I was getting when shooting suppressed, I used a Garmin Xero C1 chronograph and listed my results in the table below.
Fast, Smooth, and Reliable: Running the Model 1854 Hard
Throughout this review, I never encountered any mechanical issues with the S&W Model 1854. Everything ran as it was designed to do. The rubber butt pad made shooting 300gr Hornady leisurely.
Also, the aggressive texturing on the polymer furniture made it easy to run this lever gun quickly with a solid grip. The action is smooth, and I even shot 10 rounds in 5.5 seconds, getting all hits on steel at 20 yards.
Watch the Model 1854 speed test: See the rifle put 10 rounds on steel at 20 yards.
Reloading Angle Matters More Than You Might Expect
One thing I found out during this review is that the orientation of the gun matters when reloading. If the gun is turned to the right, the shell you are trying to load may bind up or fall out completely when working the operating lever.
While I don’t have much lever-action experience, I don’t think this is unique to the Model 1854. I think this is more of a downside of lever guns in general.
This makes unconventional positions, such as lying on the ground and shooting through a port in a VTAC board, more tricky. However, if the gun is kept with the ejection port facing either to the side or toward the sky, I didn’t have this problem.
The Only Real Hiccups During the Model 1854 Review
My only other hiccup was that the Picatinny rail worked itself loose on me. While I didn’t verify it was torqued correctly upon arrival, I would recommend torquing it down as soon as the rifle is received.
Otherwise, everything ran great, and I thoroughly appreciate all of the modern features incorporated into the Model 1854. The loose rail is worth addressing before the first range trip, but it did not turn into a mechanical reliability issue with the rifle itself.
S&W Model 1854 Pros and Cons
- Pros: Smooth and reliable action, threaded 19.25″ barrel, effective recoil pad, useful M-LOK slots, optic-ready Picatinny rail, Marlin 1894 furniture compatibility, clean 3.75 lbs trigger, suppressor-friendly operation, sub-inch accuracy with Hornady 200gr XTP, and fast handling.
- Cons: The Picatinny rail worked loose during testing, some muzzle devices can block magazine-tube removal, suppressor weight makes the rifle front-heavy, the trigger can feel loose after the break, and cartridges may bind when cycling the rifle at certain angles.
Final Verdict: Is the S&W Model 1854 Worth $1279?
When it comes to modern lever actions, the Smith & Wesson Model 1854 perfectly blends a classic aesthetic with modern functionality.
It maintains the slim and lightweight profile lever guns are known for while incorporating a Picatinny rail, threaded barrel, M-LOK slots, and aggressive texturing on its polymer furniture. Those upgrades feel integrated into the rifle rather than bolted on as an afterthought.
This lever gun ran great throughout my testing and handled 200-300gr ammunition with ease. It ran well suppressed, and I might subjectively add that it has a very good balance and feel to it.
Coming in with an MSRP of $1279 and a street price of around $1179, this is going to be a solid contender in the modern lever-action market. Torque the optic rail, check muzzle-device clearance, and the S&W Model 1854 offers a compelling mixture of .44 Magnum power, classic lever-gun handling, and genuinely useful modern hardware.
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Mitchell Graf is a dedicated hunter, competitive shooter, and firearms enthusiast. As a former instructor and president of Oklahoma State’s Practical Shooting Team, he has a strong foundation in marksmanship and competition shooting. These days, he spends as much time as possible chasing pigs and coyotes with night vision and thermal optics.
When he’s not in the field or on the range, Mitchell works as a full-time Mechanical Engineer in the Aerospace and Defense industry and manages a part-time farming operation. Whether he’s behind a rifle, designing parts, or working the land, his drive for precision and performance remains the same.
Experience:– Mechanical Engineer – Full-time professional in the Aerospace/Defense industry.– Competitive Shooter & Instructor – Former President and Instructor of Oklahoma State’s Practical Shooting Team.– Night Vision & Thermal Hunter – Passionate about night time predator and hog hunting.– Part-Time Farmer – Working to provide for my family, and raise food for this great nation.
