Smith & Wesson marked the nation's 250th anniversary with a rifle that carries two origin stories on a single receiver. The Model 1854 America 250 Limited Edition lever gun honors both 1776 and 1854, the year Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson patented their first lever action, a lineage the company revived in 2024 and now commemorates in walnut and stainless steel. The receiver wears laser-engraved artwork depicting an eagle with shield and colors, ringed by stars and wrapped in a hand-lettered banner reading "250th Anniversary of the US of A." Walnut stock and fore-end both carry laser-textured panels. The stainless steel barrel and receiver wear an Armornite finish, a dark protective coating that resists corrosion without the visual weight of full black. The rifle itself was designed to echo the smooth action and feel of Smith & Wesson's large-frame revolvers. The flat-face trigger aids consistency, the large loop lever gives you purchase for cycling with gloves, and the side-loading gate keeps the aesthetic uncluttered. The removable magazine tube on the .44 Magnum version simplifies unloading when you need to clear the action fast. An adjustable XS Sights ghost ring rear sight and gold bead front sight come standard, with a Picatinny base for optics mounting should you want it. Both muzzles carry an 11/16-24 thread pattern for suppressor use, a modern touch that lets you run quiet if your platform and regulations allow. The .44 Magnum model feeds 9+1 rounds through a 19.25-inch barrel, while the .45-70 Government chambers 6+1 into a 20-inch barrel. The .44 Mag offers magazine capacity and relatively manageable recoil for follow-ups; the .45-70 trades rounds for stopping power and flatness on distance. For hunting, the .45-70's heavier bullet wins at distance. Are you drawn to commemorative engraving because it marks a moment in time, or does it feel like marketing overhead that distracts from what the rifle actually does downrange? What's on paper:Chambering: .44 Magnum or .45-70 GovernmentBarrel length: 19.25 inches (.44 Mag), 20 inches (.45-70)Capacity: 9+1 (.44 Mag), 6+1 (.45-70)Action: Lever-action, smoothTrigger: Modern flat-faceSights: Adjustable XS Sights ghost ring rear, gold bead frontMounting: Picatinny base, drilled and tappedFurniture: Walnut stock and fore-end with laser-textured panelsFinish: Stainless steel Armornite barrel and receiverMuzzle threads: 11/16-24 (suppressor compatible)Lever: Large loopLoading: Side gateEngraving: Limited edition eagle and stars, hand-lettered "250th Anniversary" bannerMSRP: $1,399 (.44 Magnum), $1,499 (.45-70 Government)Availability: Smith-Wesson.com, authorized dealersLimited production runWhen you're shopping for lever guns and split between .44 Magnum and .45-70 Government, does the round count matter more to you than terminal performance, or does the application decide it for you?