Winchester 1894 94 26″ Octagonal .32 Special WS Lever Action Rifle 1905 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1100
LSB#: 220213DA007
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1894 Rifle
Serial Number: 317535
Year of Manufacture: 1905
Caliber: .32 Winchester Special (W.S.)
Action Type: This rifle has a lever action with a full-length tubular magazine.
Markings: The left shoulder of the barrel is marked “NICKEL STEEL BARREL / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER”, the top is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. PATENTED AUGUST 21. 1894.” in front of the rear sight and at the receiver with “32 W.S.”. The top of the barrel at the rear and the top of the receiver at the front are each marked “WP” in oval. The bottom-front of the receiver is marked “317535”, the top tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK”. The left-front of the forend has had “DEER” hand-carved.
Barrel Length: 26″, Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a german silver blade in a slotted base dovetailed and screw-set to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a Winchester .32 WS Smokeless sight with a “V”-notch leaf adjustable for elevation in a base dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none 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 several scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches with one more notable ding on the left-front of the forend. There is a crack in the bottom-front of the forend extending back into the right side. The LOP measures 13″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly worn to white with scattered discoloration from oxidation and some light surface erosion. Overall, the stocks are in Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion scattered through the bore.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 70% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The finish of the barrel and magazine tube are generally strong with some handling wear in front of and behind the rear sight, a spot of light wear on the left flat behind the rear sight where it looks like an attempt was made to scrub out a spot of erosion, and the magazine tube has some scattered light wear. There is a dent on the left of the magazine tube about 4″ in front of the nosecapThe receiver has mostly worn to white or gone to a light patina with infrequent spots of finish in protected areas. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is some scattered surface oxidation, most notable on the receiver. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with useable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Good condition
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety and there is a lever safety. 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 1905 with a 26” octagonal barrel and chambered in .32 Winchester Special. The .32 Winchester Special is a necked-up .30-30 giving it a little more power. Whether you’re looking to add a Winchester to a collection or looking for a hunting rifle, you can’t go wrong with an American classic. Please see our photos and good luck!