Are lever action rifles meant to be field stripped?
 

And when I say field strip I don't necessarily mean in the field, but for routine cleaning. Marlin seems to have the easiest disassembly process. But some of the others, like Henry and especially Winchester, look a lot more complex just to take apart.

I've been spoiled by Sig P226s and Glocks into thinking a gun should be dead simple to field strip. But how is one SUPPOSED to clean a lever action sufficiently? Open action and from the muzzle to the chamber?

Or delicately remove all the screws and go from there?

Good question. I usually just clean the barrel & chamber & call it clean.

Take-down model is what You are looking for.

I drop a bore snake down the barrel of my 22 lever.
My 30-30 hasnt been shot in 15 or more years, given to me 17 or so years ago and never more than a brush down the barrel, hasnt seen 20 rounds from me. Not sure what gramps but threw it in his years of ownin it.

I'm not a huge fan of take-down models, I'm just curious how your average lever-action is designed to be cleaned and maintained.

Can't talk for Winchester, but Marlin is like the Glock of the lever actions. It's just getting harder and harder to find the older one in excellent condition.

I agree with your point about how easy Marlin lever guns field strip. Just like Glocks. In fact, detail stripping a Marlin is quite easy.

With respect to other long guns, my experience for many years with pump action shotguns was to clean the bore, clean the action to the extent I could reach parts with a rag and q-tip, and clean the exterior. I never even tried to field strip one of my shotguns. My bolt action rifles got the same level of care, except I pulled out the bolt. I still own most of these guns, and they're still in great shape.

If we don't let them get filthy, don't put them away wet or store them carelessly (without a wipedown, in humidity, without ventilation), guns will hold up well for decades with simple, common sense care. Easy field stripping makes deep cleaning easy and fun, but its probably not necessary. I suspect Winchester lever gun owners will testify to this.

I like the Marlin's ability to be cleaned from the breach, with the easily removable bolt.

There isn't much to detail clean.