I want a lever gun! I had one when I was a kid and remember loving it. The wife has a S&W 642 so there's one gun in the 38 platform to build on. In the future, it's likely I'll buy a .45 (don't know when). So, I guess it's either .45 or .38. Most likely, it'll have a small scope on it at some point. Any larger game is see is within 100-120 yards. Quality and reliability are more important than price - I plan on keeping it forever. Thanks.

Marlin makes a good rifle in 357mag (also shoots 38's) as well as in 45LC and 44mag.
Winchester made it also in 357, 44mag, 45LC, 41mag, etc...
Puma / Rossi make a winchester copy in 357, 44 mag, 45LC and 454CAS (also shoots 45LC)

Personall, I own the winchester type. (rossi in 357, puma in 454CAS and winchester in 44mag) because I never really got used to the marlin lever on the shorter pistol caliber frame. I end up pinching my fat fingers with marlins.

All are good guns. If you are looking to mount a scope later on save some time and buy a marlin. They have a flat top receiver that comes pre-drilled for a scope base. You can't do this with a winchester as easily.

The Marlin will function better than the others in a pistol cartridge. The 92 and 94 styles were made for the longer bottleneck cartridges and will jam more frequently with the short straight walled pistol cartridges. Unless you go real sllllllllloooooooooooww.

You are correct , the 94 was made for bottle neck rifle calibers like the .30-30 .

I am afraid you are mistaken on the 92 . It was / is made for handgun length calibers . The 92's feed fine with round nose or round nose flat point bullets . They may or may not feed OK with SWC's . This applies to my Marlins , also . At least the ones in hand gun calibers .

The .30-30's & .45-70 feed fine with any bullets I have tried , as long as the OAL is close to spec .

God bless
Wyr