Browning's Lever Rifle

- Brian Pearce

The Browning Lever Rifle (BLR) series has been in production for almost 50 years during which the rifles have evolved with a number of changes and improvements. Additionally, they have been offered in variations that include limited editions, Takedown, Tactical and Lightweight versions. Both short and long actions are available, and the BLR has been chambered in a large number of popular cartridges that range from the .222 Remington to .450 Marlin. Popular modern magnums such as the .300 WSM and .300 Winchester Magnum have also been available. According to company representatives, the BLR series is currently enjoying a surge in sales, which is understandable as it is reliable, handsome and accurate.

Lever-action rifles have traditionally been chambered for cartridges containing bullets with a flatpoint that serve to prevent possible cartridge ignition in tubular magazines. However, by 1895 Winchester offered the Model 1895 lever action designed specifically to house modern cartridges containing spitzer-profile bullets, and Savage introduced its Model 1895 (actually built by Marlin) that soon evolved into the Model 1899 (Model 99) that was produced for almost 100 years. Beginning in 1955 Winchester offered its Model 88 lever-action rifle, and Sako introduced its Finnwolf in 1962. While both were intended for the .308 Winchester and similar short-action cartridges with spitzer-profile bullets, they each had a relatively short lifespan and were discontinued.

The story of the BLR actually began in 1966 when preproduction rifles were manufactured in the U.S. by TRW in Cleveland, Ohio, for Browning Arms Company. The exact number of rifles is unknown but was probably between 50 and 250 units, and they are generally considered collectible prototypes. Regardless, that business arrangement was ended by 1968.