Winchester Model 1895 26” 30 US .30-40 Krag Lever Action Rifle 1899 C&R
SOLD FOR: $2,225.00
LSB#: LSB251104SK002
Make: Winchester
Model: 1895
Serial Number: 20801
Year of Manufacture: 1899 / C&R
Caliber: .30-40 Krag, 30 US
Action Type: Lever Action with Internal Box Magazine
Markings: The left of the barrel is marked “—NICKEL STEEL BARREL— / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER” and “.30 US”. The left side of the receiver is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN CONN. CONN. U.S.A.” over patent dates. The top tang is marked “Winchester Model 1895”.
Barrel Length: 26” (25 7/8″ measured)
Sights/Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade pinned in a slotted base soldered to the front of the barrel. The rear sight dovetail is filled with a blank. There is a Lyman side mounted receiver sight installed.
Stock Configuration and Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with schnabel forend with triangular ebony inlay at the tip, straight grip, straight comb, and a steel crescent buttplate. The LOP measures 12 ¾” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. There are scattered scratches, handling marks, and compression dents. There are a few spots of light finish loss. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is well defined. There is no erosion throughout the bore. There is light fouling in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 85% of its metal finish. There are light scratches, corrosion spots, and handling wear throughout. The receiver shows more wear than the barrel. The action shows operational wear. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with useable slots. There are tool marks around some screw heads. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good condition.
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: Cody Firearms Museum Letter.
Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 1895 represented a decisive shift in Winchester’s lever action development, departing from tubular magazines in favor of a box-fed system capable of handling modern smokeless military cartridges. Designed by John M. Browning and introduced in the mid-1890s, the Model 1895 was Winchester’s answer to the rapid evolution of cartridge technology at the close of the 19th century. This example, manufactured in 1899, dates to the earliest production period and reflects the model’s original intent as a robust, forward-looking rifle bridging traditional lever action handling with contemporary ballistic requirements.
Chambered in .30-40 Krag, also marked “.30 U.S.,” this rifle is closely tied to the United States’ first smokeless military service cartridge, adopted in 1892. The cartridge offered improved velocity and flatter trajectory over earlier black powder rounds, and its use in the Model 1895 underscored Winchester’s push into the modern era.
Overall condition is very good, with approximately 85 percent of the original blued finish remaining and light handling wear visible across the metal surfaces, most notably on the receiver. The walnut stocks present cleanly, retaining sharp lines at the schnabel forend and ebony tip, with only scattered marks and minor finish loss consistent with careful use. Markings remain legible, screw heads show mixed wear with usable slots, and the action functions smoothly with correct lockup. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter, this 1899 Winchester Model 1895 in .30-40 Krag stands as a well-documented and historically significant example of Winchester’s transition into the smokeless military cartridge era. We are no longer offering layaway. Please see our photos for a better understanding of condition and good luck with your bids! MF