Marlin Firearms Co. Model 1894 .38-40 WCF 20” Lever Action Rifle C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,054.00
LSB#: WY250328JS014
Make: Marlin
Model: 1894
Serial Number: 446260
Year of Manufacture: 1906-1948
Caliber: .38-40 Winchester Center Fire
Action Type: Lever Action with Full Length Tubular Magazine
Barrel Length: 20”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a small blade pinned to a square base integral to the barrel. The rear sight is a Marble’s invertible u-v notch elevator sight with white diamond aim reference. The left side of the receiver has two pairs of drilled, tapped, and filled holes. The top of the receiver has a pair of drilled, tapped, and filled holes. The top tang has a pair of drilled, tapped, and filled holes.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece smooth walnut with straight wrist, straight comb, carbine style buttplate, banded forend, and Marlin’s “bullseye” in the belly of the buttstock. There are scattered nicks and scratches. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 1/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stocks rate in about Fine overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with well-defined rifling. There is faint erosion throughout the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 6.5/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 99% of its metal refinish. The balance of the finish is strong and complete throughout. There is scattered frosting and intermittent oxidation. The case color on the hammer and lever is vibrant with minor muting in the handling areas. The actions shows light operation wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock 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 Marlin Firearms Co. Model 1894 chambered in .38-40 WCF is a classic example of late 19th-century American lever-action design, built with the strength and craftsmanship that made Marlin a trusted name among frontiersmen and sportsmen alike. This rifle features a 20” round barrel, full-length magazine tube, and the signature solid-top receiver with side ejection, allowing for ease of use and durability in the field. The blued finish has aged into a handsome patina, while the walnut stock and forend retain their classic straight grip profile, showing honest wear consistent with its age.
Chambered in the versatile and historically significant .38-40 Winchester Center Fire cartridge, this rifle would have served well for both hunting and ranch use at the turn of the century. As a true classic from Marlin’s early production, this rifle is both a collector’s piece and a functional lever gun, retaining the smooth cycling and crisp trigger pull that these rifles are known for. Eligible for Curio & Relic status, it will appeal to Marlin collectors, lever-action enthusiasts, and fans of frontier-era firearms alike. Please see our photos and good luck on your bid! – L.S.
