Winchester 1895 95 Saddle Ring Carbine SRC .30-06 Govt Lever Rifle 1923 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1915
LSB#: 210925MZ47
Make: Winchester
Model: 95 Saddle Ring Carbine
Serial Number: 408505
Year of Manufacture: 1923
Caliber: .30-06 Gov’t
Action Type: Lever Action with Internal Box Magazine
Markings: The left side of the receiver is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A. / PATENTED NOV.5.95. NOV.12.95. AUG.17.97. JAN.25.98. AUG.23.98. AUG.6.1907.”. The upper tang is marked “MODEL 95 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK REG. IN U.S. PAT. OFF. & FGN.”. The lower tang is marked “408505” and “B”. The left shoulder of the barrel is marked “—NICKEL STEEL BARREL— / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER” and “—30 GOV’T’-06”. The top of the barrel and the chamber ring are each marked “WP” in oval, the chamber ring is also marked “.30 / GOV. / ‘06.”.
Barrel Length: Nominal 22″; 21 7/8″ measured.
Sights/Optics: The front sight is a beaded brass blade pinned to a slotted base at the front of the barrel. The original folding ladder-style sight is not present and the barrel is filled. The installed rear sight is a Williams 5D-572 aperture sight.
Stock Configuration and Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with banded, finger-grooved forend, straight grip, straight comb, and a brown rubber ventilated serrated White Line recoil pad. The hand guard is not present and the stock has been shortened at the butt-end. The wood appears to have been refinished and there are light nicks, dings and scuffs scattered throughout with notable examples being on the side of the buttstock and along the upper edges of the forend. The LOP measures 12″ and 13″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the wood and recoil pad, respectively. The pad is stained, on the drier side and has balding wear on the heel and toe. Overall, the stocks are in Good-to-Very Good condition, as refinished.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is rather dark with well-defined rifling. There is evidence of light erosion in places and heavy stubborn fouling persists throughout. Our muzzle erosion gauge reads an ME of slightly more than 1.25.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 33% of its current metal finish. The upper and lower tangs have scattered moderate pitting from surface oxidation. The lever, magazine, and receiver have moderate surface oxidation throughout, but most heavily concentrated on the forward portions. The hammer has light thinning on all edges as does the receiver. The barrel has clusters of light pitting scattered throughout. All metal surfaces have light nicks, dings, scrapes and scuffs. The screw heads range from sharp to moderately tool marked, all have usable slots. Most markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Good condition, as refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. It is fairly smooth, the lever locks up correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The 1895 Winchester was the first lever action model to incorporate a fixed box magazine (i.e., it could not be removed). This is the model Teddy Roosevelt used for hunting both here in the United States and in Africa—he referred to it as his “Big Medicine”. With quick handling characteristics, a box magazine, and spitzer—more aerodynamic, accurate—bullet capability, the Model 1895 completely changed the world of sporting rifles. This rifle pattern was utilized by major powers worldwide, with Russia alone purchasing nearly 300,000 1895 rifles in the lead-up to World War I. In 1898, the United States ordered 10,000 1895 rifles in musket form for use in the Spanish-American War (the war ended before they could be delivered, however). One hundred of those were issued for field testing in the Philippines and the remaining 9,900 were later sold to a private business. Many 1895 rifles were shipped to the new Cuban government in 1906 and some even found their way to Pancho Villa’s troops in Mexico. The U.S. Government also ordered carbines, but we are, as of this writing, unable to find records as to just how many. This saddle ring carbine was made in 1923 during the inter-war years. This example, chambered in .30-06 Gov’t lacks the martial appearance these rifles have due to the missing handguard, shortened stock and commercial recoil pad. The rifle has been equipped with a Williams 5D sight, normally for Remington sporting rifles, but a good sight for this little carbine. This example was well used, and a previous owner made the effort to refinish the rifle at some point, though that finish has mostly worn away as well. Often, refinished firearms have a bad reputation, but as seems to be the case with older pieces, the refinishing is about preservation or repair. And the plain fact is, Winchester rifles were exceedingly well built, and this one looks better than any of us will at 99 years of age. Good luck and happy bidding!