Pre-64 Winchester Model 1894 Saddle Ring Carbine .32 W.S. Lever Action
SOLD FOR: $1,250.00
LSB#: LSB250930TS022
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1894 Saddle Ring Carbine
Serial Number: 505639
Year of Manufacture: 1911 / C&R
Caliber: .30-30 Winchester Centerfire
Action Type: This is a Lever Action Rifle with a Full Length Magazine Tube.
Barrel Length: 20”, Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a pinned blade to a raised block integral to the barrel behind the barrel band. The rear sight is a folding leaf with 3 leaves. The top tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight (none present).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth wood with banded forend, straight grip, straight comb and carbine style steel buttplate.The LOP is 13″. There are scattered handling marks, scratches, and compression dents throughout. There are a few small chips. There is oil darkening around the receiver. Overall, the stocks are in about Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright. The rifling is sharp. There is faint erosion but no pitting. There is minor fouling in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 8/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 50% of its finish.The receiver has had most of its finish worn to a gray/brown patina. The barrel and mag tube retain most of their finish with only minor scratches and handling wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Fair to Good 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: This pre-64 Winchester Model 1894 Saddle Ring Carbine dates to 1911 production, a period when the Model 1894 was firmly entrenched as one of the most important and widely used sporting rifles in North America. Designed by John M. Browning and introduced at the dawn of the smokeless powder era, the Model 1894 became synonymous with reliability, portability, and practical field use. The saddle ring carbine configuration, with its compact 20 inch barrel and full-length magazine tube, was especially favored for horseback carry, ranch work, and general utility, and it remains one of the most recognizable Winchester profiles ever produced.
Chambered in .30-30 Winchester Centerfire, this rifle is paired with the cartridge that defined the Model 1894’s legacy. Introduced in the mid-1890s, the .30-30 offered dependable performance, manageable recoil, and effective terminal ballistics for deer-sized game, quickly becoming a staple of American hunting. The bright bore with sharp rifling supports continued mechanical integrity, while the folding three-leaf rear sight reflects period-correct sighting practice. The tang remains drilled and tapped for a tang sight, preserving an important original feature even though no sight is currently installed.
Overall, this example presents in fair to good condition, retaining approximately 50 percent of its original blued finish. The receiver shows the majority of its finish worn to a gray-brown patina, while the barrel and magazine tube retain stronger finish with only light handling wear. The walnut stocks show honest use with scattered marks, small chips, and oil darkening around the receiver, yet remain sound and serviceable. With clear markings, sharp screw heads, and a correctly functioning action, this 1911 saddle ring carbine stands as an authentic and well-preserved example of early 20th century production from Winchester Repeating Arms, carrying the unmistakable character of a working rifle from America’s lever-action golden age. Please see our high resolution photos and good luck on your bid! MF
