Lever action firearms having gear assemblies and linkage assemblies for connecting its action lever to its bolt carrier assembly and associated methods

A lever action firearm comprising:

• an upper frame that defines a bolt passage;
• a bolt carrier assembly received in the upper frame and operable to reciprocate between an open position and a closed position, wherein the bolt carrier assembly includes a first pivot;
• a lower frame defining a magazine well configured to removably receive a box magazine;
• an action lever movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the action lever includes second and third pivots, and wherein the action lever is pivotally connected to the lower frame at the second pivot;
• and
• a linkage assembly is pivotally connected to the action lever at the third pivot, wherein the linkage assembly is pivotally connected to the bolt carrier assembly at the first pivot, wherein the linkage assembly is configured to position the bolt carrier assembly in the closed position when the action lever is in the retracted position, and wherein the linkage assembly is configured to position the bolt carrier assembly in the open position when the action lever is in the extended position,
• wherein the linkage assembly comprises a first link and a second link, and
• wherein the first link and the second link are pivotally attached at the third pivot.