Pre-64 Winchester Model 1894 Saddle Ring Carbine .30-30 WCF 20″ C&R

SOLD FOR: $2,975.00

LSB# : LSB251016KS070

Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894 Saddle Ring Carbine

Serial Number: 225787

Year of Manufacture: 1904/ C&R

Caliber: .30-30 Winchester Center Fire

Action Type:  This is a Lever Action Rifle with a Full Length Magazine Tube.

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked with “Manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Co, New Haven Conn. USA, Pat Aug 21, 1894/ 30 WCF” The left side of the barrel is marked “-Nickel Steel Especially for Smokeless Powder” The top of the barrel and receiver are both marked with a Winchester WP proof. The top tang is marked “MODEL 94 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK REG.U.S.PAT.OFF.&FGN.”. The bottom of the receiver is marked “225787”. 

Barrel Length: 20″ Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade set and pinned in a square block integral to the barrel. The rear sight has been removed and the dovetail has been plugged. The top tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight Lyman tang sight has been installed.   

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with banded forend, semi pistol grip, straight comb and steel carbine style buttplate. There are factory installed sling mounts and loops. The LOP measures about 13″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stocks have been sanded and refinished. The checkering has been muted from sanding. There are handling marks, scratches, and compression dents that have been finished over. Overall, the stocks are in about Good condition for a refinish of this age.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original 

Bore Condition: The bore is gray and the rifling is distinct. There is erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 6/10. 

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 35% of its original finish. There are handling marks, scratches, and spots of bluing loss throughout. There are corrosion stains throughout. The receiver has lost most of its finish and has worn to a silver patina. The screw heads are sharp with serviceable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Good condition for a C&R of this age.

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: Cody Firearms Museum Records Search.

Our Assessment: This Winchester Model 1894 Saddle Ring Carbine dates to 1904 and represents an early example of John M. Browning’s landmark lever action chambered for the then-new smokeless .30-30 W.C.F. cartridge. The saddle ring carbine configuration was developed with portability and hard use in mind, making it especially popular with ranchers, horsemen, and outdoorsmen who needed a compact, fast-handling rifle. With its 20 inch round barrel, banded forend, and full-length magazine tube, this carbine embodies the classic working Winchester profile of the early twentieth century.

The .30-30 Winchester Center Fire was introduced in 1895 as the first small-bore smokeless sporting cartridge offered in the Model 1894, and it quickly became the dominant North American deer cartridge for decades. This example bears the correct Nickel Steel barrel marking, reflecting Winchester’s early emphasis on steels suitable for smokeless powder pressures. The bore shows gray coloration with distinct rifling, along with visible erosion and pitting consistent with extended use, and it rates 6 out of 10. The rear barrel sight has been removed and the dovetail plugged, while a Lyman tang sight has been installed, a period-appropriate upgrade commonly favored for improved precision.

Overall condition is good for a C&R carbine of this age. Approximately 35 percent of the original blued finish remains, with the receiver largely worn to a silver patina and scattered handling marks, scratches, and corrosion staining present throughout. The walnut stocks have been sanded and refinished, with muted checkering and finish applied over earlier wear, but they retain correct form and factory sling hardware. Markings remain clear and legible, and the action functions correctly with a crisp trigger and properly operating safeties. According to the Cody Firearms Museum Records Search, the rifle left the factory in this configuration with the noted exception of the sights, making this a well-used yet historically grounded example of an early smokeless Winchester saddle ring carbine. Please see our high resolution photos for a better understanding of condition and good luck on your bids!!! MF