Which type of firearm action is characterized by a lever mechanism?

The lever action is a specific type of firearm mechanism that uses a lever located beneath the receiver to load, fire, and eject cartridges. When the shooter operates the lever, it rotates around a pivot point which cycles the action, ejecting the spent cartridge case, chambering a new round, and resetting the firing mechanism. This design allows for quick follow-up shots and is commonly found in rifles, particularly in hunting applications.

Lever action firearms have a unique charm and history, being popular for their reliability and ease of use. Unlike break actions, which require the user to open the gun to reload, or bolt actions that require the manual cycling of a bolt to chamber a round, lever actions offer a continuous cycle of operation with minimal disruption to the shooter's aim and position. Semi-automatic guns, on the other hand, utilize gas or recoil mechanisms to automatically cycle the action but do not employ a lever. Therefore, identifying lever action firearms emphasizes the distinctive lever mechanism that sets them apart from other types of firearm actions.