Pre-64 Winchester Model 1894 94 .38-55 Win. 26″ Lever Action Rifle MFD 1903
SOLD FOR: $2,525.00
LSB#: LSB251104SK001
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1894 Rifle
Serial Number: 173164
Year of Manufacture: 1903 / C&R
Caliber: .38-55 Winchester
Action Type: Lever Action fed by Full-Length Magazine 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 “38-55” 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 “173164”.
Barrel Length: 26″ Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed and screw set to the barrel. The rear sight is a semi-buckhorn v-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the barrel. The tang is drilled, tapped, and tang peep sight installed.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and steel crescent buttplate. The LOP measures 13 1/4? from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. There are scattered scratches, handling marks, and compression dents overall. There are no cracks or chips. 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 well defined. There is some light erosion throughout the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates about 6/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 60% of its metal finish. There are scratches, handling marks, and light corrosion spots throughout. There are spots of thinning bluing on the top of the barrel. The screw heads are lightly tooled but serviceable. 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: Cody Firearms Museum records search.
Our Assessment: The pre-64 Winchester Model 1894 is one of the most important American sporting rifles ever produced, representing John M. Browning’s breakthrough lever-action design specifically engineered for smokeless powder cartridges. Manufactured in 1903, this early example dates from the formative years of Model 1894 production, when the rifle was still closely associated with traditional black powder era cartridges transitioning into the smokeless age. Chambered in .38-55 Winchester, one of the original and most respected chamberings for the model, this rifle reflects a period when accuracy, moderate recoil, and effectiveness on game made it a favored choice among hunters and target shooters alike under the banner of Winchester Repeating Arms Company.
This rifle is configured as a full-length rifle with a 26 inch round barrel and full magazine tube, paired with classic period sights including a semi-buckhorn rear with elevator and a dovetailed blade front. A tang-mounted peep sight has been installed, enhancing practical sighting while remaining visually consistent with early 20th-century sporting use. The two-piece walnut stock set features the correct capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and steel crescent buttplate. The wood shows scattered handling marks, scratches, and compression dents consistent with long-term use, but remains free of cracks or chips and presents as a sound, honest stock set.
Condition overall is strong for a 1903-produced Model 1894. Approximately 60 percent of the original metal finish remains, with thinning blue on the barrel, scattered handling marks, and light corrosion spotting throughout. The receiver retains clear markings, and the screw heads remain serviceable despite light tool marks. The bore is mostly bright with well-defined rifling, showing light erosion throughout and rating 6/10. The action functions correctly with a crisp trigger and proper half-cock and lever safety operation. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum records search, this rifle stands as a solid and historically significant example of an early Winchester Model 1894 in its classic .38-55 chambering. Please see our high resolution photos and good luck on your bid! MF