Winchester 1894 94 .38-55 WCF 26” ½ Octagon Button Mag Lever Rifle 1902 C&R

SOLD FOR: $1,312.00

LSB#: WY250417JB192

Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894 Carbine 

Serial Number: 235300

Year of Manufacture: 1902, C&R

Caliber: .38-55 Winchester

Action Type: Lever Action fed by Button Mag Tube.

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER  REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. PATENTED AUGUST 21. 1894” and “32-40” with a Winchester WP proof. The top of the receiver is marked with a Winchester WP proof. The tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK”. The bottom of the receiver is marked “235300”.  

Barrel Length: 26” Half Octagon, Half Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a u notch elevator sight dovetailed to the barrel. The notch has been ground out into a very wide notch. The tang is drilled, tapped, and filled. 

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, fluted straight comb, and crescent steel buttplate. The stocks have some scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. The left side of the buttstock at the top of the buttplate has a large chip. There are no cracks. The LOP measures 13 3/8? from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall, the stocks are in about Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue, Case Colored

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is defined. There is light erosion evenly distributed throughout the bore.  In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 6.5/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 55% of its metal finish. Most of the finish on the receiver has gone to white with a mottled gray to dark patina. There is more prominent blueing on the barrel. The action shows operational wear. There are trace amounts of case color in the protected areas, but most has gone mute. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety and the lever safety functions properly. 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 1902 with a 26” special order half round half octagon barrel, highly desirable “Button Mag” and chambered in .32-40. Please see our photos and good luck on your bid! – L.S.