Winchester Model 1895 24″ .405 Win “Big Medicine” Lever Action Rifle C&R
SOLD FOR: $2,625.00
LSB#: LSB260602CL004
Make: Winchester
Model: 1895
Serial Number: 425437
Year of Manufacture: 1931
Caliber: .405 Winchester
Action Type: Lever Action with Internal Box Magazine
Barrel Length: 24″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed into a base integral to the barrel. The rear sight is a spring leaf U notch with elevator dovetailed into the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is two piece smooth walnut, schnabel forend tip, straight grip, straight comb, and crescent steel buttplate. The LOP is 13″ from trigger to buttplate. There are scratches and compression dents throughout. There is a repaired crack at the forend tip. Overall this stock is in Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is semi bright. The rifling is well defined. There is very minor erosion and pitting evenly throughout the bore. In this writer’s opinion this bore rates 8/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 65% of its original finish. There are scratches and corrosion stains throughout. There is light pitting mostly on the receiver including a fabric pattern that has corroded into the sides of the receiver. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall this rifle is in Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired 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 1895 is one of John M. Browning’s most distinctive lever-action rifles, combining a strong box-magazine action with the ability to handle powerful smokeless-powder cartridges. This 1931 example is chambered in the formidable .405 Winchester and features a 24″ barrel, straight-grip walnut stocks, Schnabel forend, crescent steel buttplate, and traditional barrel-mounted sights. Its classic configuration and powerful chambering give it strong appeal as both a vintage sporting rifle and a significant example of Winchester’s big-bore lever-action development.
Introduced in 1895, the Model 1895 departed from Winchester’s traditional tubular-magazine layout in favor of an internal box magazine, allowing the use of pointed bullets and more powerful cartridges. The .405 Winchester became especially famous through Theodore Roosevelt, who praised the cartridge during his African safari and referred to the Winchester 1895 in .405 as his “Big Medicine” for lions. The cartridge earned a lasting reputation as one of the most powerful sporting rounds ever offered in a traditional Winchester lever action, and surviving original rifles remain highly desirable to collectors and big-bore enthusiasts.
This rifle retains about 65% of its original finish, with scattered scratches, corrosion staining, and light pitting, particularly on the receiver where a fabric-like corrosion pattern is visible. The walnut stocks remain in Good condition with scratches, compression dents, and a repaired crack at the forend tip. The semi-bright bore has well-defined rifling with only very minor erosion and pitting and rates 8/10, while the action functions correctly. Overall, this is a Good-condition Winchester Model 1895 in the iconic .405 Winchester chambering with substantial historical, sporting, and collector appeal. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! MF