“A .45-70 lever gun with a suppressor? Now we’re talking.” That’s the sort of reaction Smith & Wesson seems to be courting with its latest addition to the Model 1854 lineup the Stealth Hunter variant chambered in .45-70 Government. Officially released September 9, 2025, this rifle blends the old-school authority of one of America’s most storied big-bore cartridges with the modularity and accessory readiness of a modern tactical platform.
As its basis, the Stealth Hunter includes a **16.5-inch 410 stainless-steel barrel** finished in matte black Armornite, a departure from the 20-inch tubes found in the other Smith & Wesson .45-70 M1854 models. The shorter barrel brings overall length down to 34.3 inches while keeping weight at a manageable 6.57 pounds, facilitating better maneuverability in close cover or off a vehicle. Threaded 11/16×24 at the muzzle and capped with a protector, the rifle is suppressor-ready out of the box a feature previously rare for lever guns but now more common as hunters and backcountry shooters see the value of lower report and recoil. The receiver is constructed of 416 stainless steel for durability in use, and the **T6 aluminum forend** has 15 M-LOK slots to attach bipods, lights, or other attachments.
A 10.5-inch Picatinny rail runs along the top, with ample space for optics on standard or scout configurations. The large loop lever accommodates gloved fingers, a practical nod to cold-weather shooting. Internally, the 1:20-inch right-hand twist barrel is calibrated for stabilizing heavy bullets typical of .45-70 loads, from 300-grain hunting slugs to 405-grain hard-cast slugs. Sight acquisition is controlled by a **HIVIZ Litewave H3 fiber-optic front sight** and an XS adjustable ghost ring rear.
These two combine for fast target indexing in bright light and can be seen in low-light, thanks to tritium illumination. The flat-faced trigger has a consistent break, and the black synthetic stock features textured grip panels for traction in wet or gloved hands. Magazine capacity is 5+1, loaded through a side gate, with the added benefit of being able to remove the magazine tube for safe removal without passing live cartridges through the chamber. The choice of .45-70 Government is not anachronistic.
Developed in 1873 for the Trapdoor Springfield, the cartridge has evolved from its original black powder charge a 405-grain bullet at around 1,350 fps into a do-it-all bruiser. Modern smokeless powder loadings can launch a 325-grain Hornady FTX to about 2,050 fps, with over 3,000 foot-pounds of energy, or drive a 405-grain jacketed flat nose to 2,000 fps for **3,597 foot-pounds**. This ballistic profile makes it very potent inside 150 yards on large North American game such as moose, elk, and bear, and remains a favorite among Alaskan guides for penetration and stopping power. But that power comes with recoil.
In a 7.5-pound rifle, a 325-grain load at 2,000 fps produces over 34 foot-pounds of recoil energy nearly three times that of a .44 Magnum carbine. The Stealth Hunter’s can compatibility offers the solution to that desire, as well as calming muzzle blast, a benefit in hunting as well as self-defense work. Like other suppressor-ready lever rifles like Henry’s X Model series, the ability to fire subsonic loads through a can accesses what some shooters call “Hollywood quiet” performance, especially in heavy woods or where predator control demands stealth.
From a technical standpoint, Stealth Hunter’s design mirrors the broader modernization of lever rifles. Aluminum on the forend lightens the rifle without compromising rigidity or heat resistance. Increased Picatinny rail and M-LOK slots mimic AR-platform ergonomics for night vision, thermal scopes, or offset red dots without compromising the rifle’s balance. The threaded barrel, once the domain of ARs and bolt guns, has become a signature in this “tactical lever” category.
Compared to its siblings in the .45-70 M1854 family both 20-inch-barrreled, 6+1-capacity, more traditionally-styled stainless/synthetic or matte blued/walnut finished the Stealth Hunter gives up a round of capacity for a smaller, accessory-friendly package. It is effectively a purpose-designed weapon for shooters and hunters who want the mechanical reliability of a lever gun, the terminal ballistic performance of the .45-70, and the facility to shoot optics, lights, and suppressors without aftermarket modification.
It comes with an MSRP of $1,499 and enters a competitive but growing market space where technology and tradition meet. For people who’ve always had a respect for the .45-70’s heritage but wished that there was a platform that could blend in with a modern, accessorized shooting system, the Model 1854 Stealth Hunter brings that blending to the market.
