By the end of the 19th century, many riflemakers, like Winchester, Savage and Marlin had solved the sportsman’s conundrum of how to get to and from a hunt discretely.

Rifles could be 3 feet long or longer and hunters didn’t always want to advertise they were carrying a gun when traveling by train or ship. Breaking it down also made it easier to stow in a backpack in the back country. Companies started making takedown versions that allowed the barrel to be removed for compact storage and carrying. The takedown rifle was born.

Marlin offered takedown rifles in its 1893, 1894 and 1895 models until 1915. According to author Lt. Col. William S. Brophy, the company’s catalog described its takedown method. “Strong as the regular rifle; no looseness; no danger of coming apart owing to accident or carelessness. No wear. No adjustments necessary.”

This Marlin Model 1893 chambered in .30-30 Winchester was made in 1905 in takedown configuration.

While the modern survival rifle is utilitarian, the 19th century and early 20th century takedown rifles were functional yet dignified. Follow along as we show some takedown rifles that will be available in Rock Island Auction’s Feb. 21-23 Sporting & Collector Auction.

Winchester Takedown Rifles

Winchester advertised its Model 1873, “the gun that won the West” as a takedown rifle in .22 Long in the company’s 1885 catalog. “For convenience in carrying, the barrel, forearm and magazine, fastened together are attached to the frame by a taper pin,” according to the catalog. “By drawing out this pin these parts may be separated from the frame, thus making the gun more easily packed in trunk or case.”

This takedown system proved to be a problem, according to Winchester author George Madis who wrote that the weight of the barrel and some use would the loosen barrel.

This takedown rifle is a Model 1873 lever action rifle manufactured in 1885 with a scarce and early takedown pin that comes as described in the 1885 Winchester catalog with a round barrel and chambered in .22 Long.

Madis makes no mention of takedown rifles offered during production of the Model 1876, but they return with the Model 1886, first offered in Winchester’s 1894 catalog with a patent date of June 6, 1893 on the takedown lever.

To remove the barrel, Madis wrote, “To dismantle, the lever which is hinged to the magazine tube was moved to an outward position and was turned counter clockwise and in this way was withdrawn from the frame. The action was then opened to withdraw the extractor from the extractor slot in the barrel, lest it be broken when the barrel is turned counter clockwise for removal.”

This Model 1886 lightweight lever action takedown rifle manufactured in 1923 is chambered in .33 Winchester Center Fire.

The single shot Winchester Model 1885 was the start of a fruitful partnership between Winchester and legendary gun designer John Moses Browning. However, a leap forward in time is required to get to the model as a takedown rifle. In 1907, a new patent was obtained that replaced the large, flat mainspring with coil springs moving all of the action’s parts to the rear of the receiver’s forward face and allow the introduction of the 1885 as a takedown rifle in 1910, according to author Bill West. Though the 1885 was made with both high-wall and low-wall receivers, only the high wall was available as a takedown rifle.

This Winchester Model 1885 deluxe single shot high-wall takedown rifle features engraving by 20th century Master Engraver Henry “Harry” A. Kell who engraved for English gunmakers that included John Dickson & Son, Holland & Holland and J. Purdey & Sons. The gun has ample floral scroll engraving on the action that surrounds circular scenes of a deer on the left and moose on the right, respectively. Kell signed the gun on the top of the takedown collar. The animal scenes appear inspired by the Ulrich Master Engravers for Winchester at the time, so the surrounding scrollwork is Kell’s. It is chambered for .45-70 WCF.

The Winchester Model 1892 was built on the same action as the Model 1886 and could be ordered as a takedown rifle. The barrel was removed similar to the 1886 by partially opening the bolt while rotating the barrel and forend. The extractor could get bent or broken if the bolt wasn’t opened during takedown.

This Winchester Model 1892 takedown rifle was manufactured in 1914 and features scroll engraving on both sides of the receiver and a circular game scene of a deer similar to a Winchester factory pattern. It is chambered in .25-20 WCF.

The Winchester Model 1894 brought together all the best feature of the company’s previous lever actions with the announcement, “We believe that no repeating rifle system ever made will appeal to the eye and understanding of the rifleman as this will and that use will continue to warrant first impressions.”

The gun was capable of firing smokeless cartridges like the .30-30 that would be a classic deer cartridge and the rifle a classic deer hunting gun. It was available as a takedown rifle starting in 1895 and discontinued in 1930.

Manufactured in 1901, this Winchester Model 1894 takedown rifle has a beaded blade Marble front sight, Marble elevation adjustable rear sight and folding tang peep sight.

Developed to handle the most powerful cartridges of the day, the Winchester Model 1895 was the first of the company’s lever action rifles with a box magazine capable of taking the pointed spitzer bullets. Theodore Roosevelt ordered four 1895s in .405 Winchester ahead of his 1909 African safari with some of those as takedown rifles. Just over 800 Model 1895 rifles were made in the takedown configuration.

L.L. Hepburn patented a takedown method for Marlin’s 1893, 1994 and 1895 models, but Winchester felt that they infringed on a patent from 1892 and 1893 and took legal action that failed. Marlin made takedown rifles until 1915.

Chambered in .35 WCF, this Model 95 manufactured in 1920 has a Lyman peep sight mounted on the left of the receiver.

Takedown Shotguns

Winchester offered a modern design on takedown shotguns with Browning’s Model 1897. Removing shotgun barrels has long been a standard for shotguns ever since, from the everday to bespoke European models for easier storage and travel or changing gauges depending on the prey.

This Perazzi Mirage over/under shotgun manufactured in 1980 is offered in 12 gauge with matching barrel sets in .410 bore, 28 gauge and 20 gauge along with a takedown case.

Takedown Rifles on Safari

A takedown rifle that can stop the largest beast is nice to have. For International hunters travel is necessary to reach the savannas and grasslands for a safari. A takedown rifle fits into a small case and offers discretion at airport check-ins. Theodore Roosevelt took takedown rifles on his celebrated African hunt, but of course he traveled by ocean liner.

This Verney-Carron Azur Safari Luxe dangerous game double rifle is chambered in the massive .600 Nitro Express and comes with a takedown case.

Savage Takedown Rifles

The hammerless lever action Savage 1899 offered some interesting features, from its five-round rotary magazine that took spitzer bullets, a small window on the left side of the receiver that served as a cartridge counter and a cocking indicator.

The company offered the Model 1899 as a takedown rifle starting in 1907 at a $5 additional cost. To remove the barrel, the bolt has to be open to withdraw the extractor and cartridge guide from the barrel cuts before rotating it. Takedown models have a square hole fitting in the forend’s barrel channel that is placed on the catch barrel lug to assist in removing and replacing the barrel, according to author Douglas P. Murray.

This Savage Model 1899H takedown rifle bears the “Running W” brand of Texas’s King Ranch, founded in 1853 that covers more territory than the state of Rhode Island.

Military Takedown Rifles

As the 20th century wore, takedown rifles faded from being a commercial option, but found its way into military use around World War 2. Sauer and Sohns’ M30 Drilling issued to Luftwaffe pilots could be broken down to fit in a case stored in an aircraft cockpit.

Japan worked on designs to make guns shorter for the Japanese Imperial Army paratroopers that included interrupted threads on the barrel and a folding stock. Those concepts didn’t get past the prototype stage. A third method with a barrel locked in place with a tapered wedge assembly that could be finger tightened. The gun proved satisfactory and was adopted in May 1943 as the Type 2 rifle.

This Imperial Japanese Nagoya Arsenal Type 2 bolt action paratrooper rifle has the “chrysanthemum” crest on the chamber ring.

After the adoption of the M1 Garand, one man believed the gun’s design to be flawed and that was Maynard Johnson. Johnson had his own gun design, what would be the Johnson 1941 that used a rotary magazine. The gun’s barrel was also easy to remove for paratroopers to carry. The takedown method required a small tool with a point – a bullet would work – to press a button in the forend that released the barrel. The simple takedown method impressed the U.S. Marine Corps that took delivery of about 750 rifles.

Inventor Maynard Johnson believed his rifle design, the Johnson Model 1941 rifle, was an improvement on the M1 Garand but couldn’t convince the U.S. Army as World War 2 started. The rifle, with a removable barrel, drew interest from the Netherlands for the Dutch East Indies and the U.S. Marine Corps took delivery of about 750 rifles.

Takedown Rifles for Sale

Takedown rifles are a fascinating genre that remains popular for its discretion, caliber conversions and as modern survival guns. Lever action rifles of the past from Winchester, Marlin and Savage offer memories of western adventure, while bespoke sporting arms offer practical refinement as takedown guns. Exciting and outstanding examples of takedown rifles whether they are from the 19th century, safari rifles or military examples are available in Rock Island Auction Company’s Feb. 21-23 Sporting & Collector Auction in Bedford, Texas.

A last look at two takedown rifles available in Rock Island Auction Company's Feb. 21-23 Sporting & Collector Auction.