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For many shooters, the first time they hear the term pistol caliber carbine it feels modern, technical, and new. The phrase sounds like something born out of contemporary product marketing or recent ballistic innovation. The reality is far more grounded. Long before polymer frames, red dots, or detachable magazines, Americans were defending livestock, homesteads, and communities with carbines chambered in the same cartridge as the revolver on their hip. The idea of logistical simplicity, shared ammunition, and practical power has been with us since the earliest days of repeating firearms in this country.
While materials, manufacturing methods, and accessories have evolved, the core concept has not. What makes this especially compelling today is not that pistol caliber carbines still exist, but that they continue to be produced, refined, and used daily in meaningful ways. Taylor’s & Company understands this lineage deeply, and the Taylors & Co. Take Down .44 Alaskan is a modern expression of a very old and very proven idea.
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.44 Alaskan — A Working Classic
Taylor’s & Company traces its roots to the modern revival of classic American and European firearms, with a deliberate focus on faithful reproductions of 19th and early 20th century designs. Founded in the late 1980s, the company built its reputation by importing high quality reproductions of Old West firearms, working closely with respected Italian manufacturers to ensure historical accuracy, proper metallurgy, and reliable function.
What has always set Taylor’s apart is intent. These are not wall hangers or novelty pieces. Taylor’s builds firearms meant to be carried, fired, and relied upon. Today, the company blends traditional aesthetics with modern manufacturing standards, serving shooters, collectors, and competitors who value period correct firearms that are meant to be used rather than merely admired.
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That philosophy is evident in their approach to pistol caliber rifles and carbines, and it shows clearly in the Take Down .44 Alaskan.
The 92’s Legacy
This rifle is based on the Model 1892 pattern, a design penned by John Moses Browning as a lighter, scaled down companion to the larger Model 1886. The 1892 was specifically engineered for pistol caliber cartridges, offering smoother operation, reduced weight, and excellent handling while retaining the strength of Browning’s dual vertical locking lug action.
Adopted by Winchester in 1892, the design was originally chambered in cartridges such as .44-40, .38-40, and .32-20. It quickly earned a reputation as a fast, reliable, and practical lever gun for ranchers, lawmen, and civilians alike. Over time, it became deeply embedded in the American West and later cemented its legacy through extensive use in early Western films and television.
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Although the .44 Magnum cartridge did not arrive until the 1950s through the work of Elmer Keith, the Model 92 action chambers it exceptionally well. Today it continues to be offered in several robust calibers. While the .44 Magnum is the big brother to the .357 Magnum, which Taylor’s also offers in this Alaskan 92 pattern, the action is well suited to both. Larger cartridges can be found in the Model 1886, but that is a different editorial altogether.
Configurations & Impressions
The Taylors & Co. Take Down Alaskan reviewed here is the 16-inch take down variant with a threaded muzzle. The stock is wood, finished in a black speckled pattern that immediately suggests this rifle is meant to be run hard rather than babied. The receiver and barrel wear a hard chrome finish applied over bead blasted steel. While some shooters may wish for stainless steel in a rifle like this, hard chrome finishes are exceptionally durable and well suited to harsh environments.
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The barrel is half octagonal and wears a bright red fiber optic front sight. At the rear, the borefeatures a 4.5 inch picatinny rail paired with a ghost ring sight. I ran the rifle both with irons and with a Trijicon MRO SD mounted. At 125 yards I had no trouble calling shots with irons, but the addition of a red dot offers a meaningful increase in precision at distance. The MRO SD, Trijicon’s latest iteration, offers rugged performance and improved clarity and feels entirely appropriate on a rifle of this type.
.44 Alaskan Manual of Arms
The lever loop on this Taylors rifle features a wider, more ergonomic profile that makes quick cycling intuitive and efficient. The ejector is strong, sending spent cases well clear of the action as the next cartridge rides the elevator into alignment with the bore. The Model 92 action has always favored longer cartridges, and it handles the .44 Magnum without complaint.
The loading gate is well executed, with broken edges on the interior that spare your thumb while topping off the magazine tube. There are no external safeties here, just the straightforward manual of arms that has defined single-action firearms for generations. Historically, the rifle is well carried with a round chambered and the hammer at half cock. This keeps the rifle ready while remaining safe on the trail or slung across the back.
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The rifle ships without sling studs, so those will need to be added by the user. While a set of studs would have been a welcome inclusion, their absence is not unexpected on a take-down rifle and is far from a deal breaker.
Quality Delivered
It is no secret that these rifles are manufactured by Chiappa. They are ordered and configured by Taylor’s, then quality controlled and tested once they arrive in the United States. Taylor’s makes firearms intended to be used, and they inspect them accordingly.
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Fit and finish on this rifle are exactly where they should be. Out of the box, everything looks and feels as a new firearm should. There were no marks, no rattles, and no loose tolerances. That is not something I can say about every firearm that crosses my bench, but it is worth stating clearly here.
Range Performance
On the range, the rifle performed as expected and then some. I fired several boxes of HSM .44 Magnum ammunition at eight inch steel plates, engaging targets from close and fast at 50 feet out to deliberate shots at 125 and 200 yards.
At 50 feet, the refined lever profile made rapid follow up shots easy. Delivering that level of power quickly is impressive, and I was able to push my target stand over with five rounds, which is the standard magazine capacity for this configuration. At 125 yards, the rifle felt entirely at home. Standing shots were easy to call, and hits came without drama.
At 200 yards, the rifle required more concentration and groups opened up slightly. Ballistically, the .44 Magnum is capable at that distance, but shooters expecting consistent performance there may want to consider a long eye relief scope.
The rifle can be loaded with the action closed, allowing one round to be chambered and the tube filled for a total of 6 rounds. Non-threaded versions hold two additional rounds, bringing capacity to 8. It’s worth noting that the rifle cannot be loaded while broken down.
Breaking the rifle down is straightforward. Open the action, fold out the take down lever, unthread the barrel, and twist. The system requires a few cycles to loosen up initially, but it holds zero after reassembly. That level of repeatability matters on a rifle intended to be packed and reassembled in the field.
Trigger, Weight & Ammo
The Alaskan weighs 6 pounds 11 ounces empty as configured. The trigger breaks cleanly at 2 pounds 8 ounces, which makes precision shooting far easier than expected from a working lever gun.
All of the HSM ammunition tested performed well from the 16 inch barrel. The bear load, however, proved slightly long for the lifter and required more deliberate cycling due to its large hard cast bullet. It would cycle, but it did not prefer that particular projectile. Chronograph data was collected using a Garmin Xero chronograph.
- HSM 240gr Plated FP: 1342.8 fps
- HSM 300gr JHP: 1409.2 fps
- HSM 305gr Lead Hard Cast: 1445.7 fps
- HSM 300gr JSP: 1437.7 fps
The HSM Pro Pistol 300 grain Jacketed Soft Point stood out as a star performer, offering excellent accuracy and meaningful downrange energy.
Final Thoughts
The Taylors & Co. Take Down Alaskan carries an MSRP of $1842.49. The fit, finish, and quality delivered justify that price, and the performance lands exactly where it should. The Model 92 is a historic rifle, and offering it in this configuration with a modern take down system is an aggressive and well executed move.
Taylor’s did an excellent job bringing this rifle to market. It balances heritage and modern utility in a way that feels natural rather than forced. If you have been considering a pistol caliber lever gun and have not yet made the leap, you are missing out on a tremendous amount of practical performance and great fun. I’m not sure Taylor’s is going to get this one back.
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