Pre-64 Winchester Model 1894 Carbine 20″ .38-55 Win. Lever Action Rifle C&R
SOLD FOR: $2,550.00
LSB: LSB251016KS062
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1894 Carbine
Serial Number: 922948
Year of Manufacture: 1920
Caliber: .38-55 Win.
Action Type: This is a Lever Action Carbine with a 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—.” The shoulder of the barrel near the chamber is marked “.38-55”. The top of the barrel and receiver are marked with Winchester “WP” proofs. The top tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK REG U.S. PAT OFF & FGN.” underneath the tang sight. The bottom of the receiver is marked with the serial number “922948”.
Barrel Length: 20″, Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade pinned to an integral base on the barrel. The rear sight is a v-notch folding ladder style sight dovetailed to the barrel. The upper tang has an adjustable Marbles peep sight installed.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with banded forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel carbine buttplate and carbine-style buttstock. The stocks have been lightly sanded. There is a saddle ring present. The stocks have some scattered nicks and scratches and scuffs. The checkering is worn but still visible. There is a larger ding on the left side of the forearm. There are no notable cracks or chips. The LOP measures about 13 1/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition as a C&R.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore but there is minor fouling. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 8/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 70% of its finish with the barrel and magazine retaining most of their blue. The metal on the receiver has worn to a silver patina. The screw heads are lightly tooled with serviceable slots. The markings are legible. Overall, this rifle is in about Very 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. The saddle ring is intact. 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 is one of John Moses Browning’s most enduring designs and remains a cornerstone of American sporting arms history. Introduced at the dawn of the smokeless powder era, the Model 1894 became the first repeating rifle engineered to fully capitalize on modern propellants while retaining the handling qualities that made Winchester lever actions famous. By 1920, production had matured into a refined and reliable platform, and pre-64 carbines from this period are widely regarded for their quality of materials, machining, and finish.
Chambered in .38-55 Winchester, this carbine reflects one of the original cartridges offered with the Model 1894 and one deeply rooted in late 19th century sporting use. The .38-55 earned a strong reputation for accuracy and effectiveness on deer-sized game, bridging the transition from black powder ballistics to early smokeless performance. Paired with the 20 inch round barrel, saddle ring, and period-correct iron sights augmented by a Marble’s tang peep, this configuration exemplifies the practical sporting and field rifles carried across North America in the early 20th century.
This example retains strong visual appeal, with much of its original blue remaining on the barrel and magazine and the receiver having aged gracefully to a silvered patina. The bore remains bright with sharp rifling, and the action functions correctly with all safety features intact. With clear markings, solid overall condition, and a desirable pre-64 configuration in a classic chambering, this Winchester Model 1894 carbine stands as a well-preserved representative of one of the most iconic lever action rifles ever produced. Please see our photos for a better understanding of condition and good luck! –
BF