Winchester Pre-64 1894 94 26″ .25-35 WCF Lever Action Rifle, MFD 1919 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1522
LSB#: 210611TP36
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1894
Serial Number: 874725
Year of Manufacture: 1919
Caliber: .25-35 W.C.F.
Action Type: This is a Lever Action Rifle with a Full Length Mag tube.
Markings: The receiver’s chamber ring and the top rear of the barrel have an ovalled “WP” proof. The left shoulder of the barrel midway is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN . CONN. U.S.A. PATENTED AUGUST 21. 1884”, “-NICKEL STEEL BARREL- / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER” to the left of the rear sight, and “.25-35 W.C.F.” near the receiver. The front underside of the receiver is marked “874725”. The top tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK REG.IN U.S.PAT. OFF.”.
Barrel Length: 26″, Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a straw tipped blade in a slotted base dovetailed and screw-set to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “U”-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight, but none is present.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate. The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There are small splits in the wood on the left and right side of the wrist. The grains have become pronounced with age. Areas have darkened with age. There are no chips. The LOP measures 13″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate, which shows scattered light pitting and scratches and has gone to white. Overall, the stocks are in about Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue, Case-Color Hammer & Lever
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is dim with defined rifling. There is scattered erosion and pitting in the bore.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 75% of its metal finish. The case coloring on the hammer and lever has mostly gone mute. There is thinning at the leading edges of the barrel. There are several nicks and scratches throughout. There is pitting and erosion on the lever. There is light surface oxidation throughout the metal surfaces. The receiver shows finish loss along the edges. The action has standard operational wear. The screw heads are slightly disfigured with serviceable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Good-Plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety. The lever safety is present and fully functional. The trigger is crisp. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 1894 rifle followed the other John Browning designed lever action rifles to become one of the most famous and popular hunting rifles of all time. It was the first commercial sporting rifle to sell over 7,000,000 units, making the name “Winchester” synonymous with all lever action rifles. It was also the first commercial American repeating rifle built to be used with smokeless powder. It was introduced in 1894 in two black powder cartridges, the .32-40 and .38-55 Win. rounds, but by the next year Winchester had developed a different steel composition that could handle higher pressures, and the .30-30 Win. family of cartridges was born. This is a Winchester Model 1894 rifle made in 1919 with a 26” octagonal barrel chambered for .25-35 W.C.F.. Whether you’re looking to add a Winchester to a collection or looking for a deer rifle, you can’t go wrong with an American classic. Please see our photos and good luck!