Editing Lever action (section)

=== Shotguns ===
[[file:M1887 LH.JPG|thumb|A modern reproduction of the [[Winchester Model 1887]] lever-action shotgun]]

Early attempts at repeating shotguns invariably centered around either bolt-action or lever-action designs, drawing obvious inspiration from the repeating rifles of the time. The earliest successful repeating shotgun was the lever-action [[Winchester Model 1887]], designed by [[John Browning]] in 1885 at the behest of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. The lever-action design was chosen for reasons of [[brand recognition]] despite the protestations of Browning, who pointed out that a [[slide-action]] design would be much better for a shotgun. Initially chambered for [[black powder]] shotgun shells (as was standard at the time), the Model 1887 gave rise to the Winchester Model 1901, a strengthened version chambered for 10ga [[smokeless powder]] shells. Their popularity waned after the introduction of slide-action shotguns such as the [[Winchester Model 1897]], and production was discontinued in 1920. Modern reproductions are manufactured by Armi Chiappa in Italy, [[Norinco]] in [[China]], and [[ADI Ltd.]] in [[Australia]]. Winchester continued to manufacture the [[.410 bore]] [[Winchester Model 1894]] (Model 9410) from 2003 until 2006.

Australian firearm laws strictly control [[pump-action]] shotguns and [[Semi-automatic firearm|semi-automatic]] actions (Category C, D & R). [[Lever-action]] operation falls into a more lenient category (Category A & B), which has led to an increase in popularity of lever action shotguns.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Salna |first1=Karlis |title=Imports of Adler shotgun pouring into Australia |url=https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2016/03/04/imports-adler-shotgun-pouring-aust/ |access-date=8 March 2020 |work=The New Daily |date=4 March 2016}}</ref>