Winchester 1894 94 26″ Express Sight .30-30 WCF Lever Rifle, 1896 Antique
Sold For: $1,200
LSB#: 201028MH06
Make: Winchester
Model: 1894 Rifle
Serial Number: 47694
Year of Manufacture: 1896
Caliber: .30-30 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)
Action Type: This rifle has a lever action with a full-length tubular magazine.
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “-MANUFACTURED BY THE- / -WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN CONN. U.S.A.-” and at the receiver with “30 W.C.F.”, the left shoulder is marked “NICKEL STEEL BARREL / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER”. The underside of the receiver is marked “47694”. The upper tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / PAT. AUG. 21. 1894”.
Barrel Length: 26″, Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a german silver blade in a slotted base dovetailed and screw-set to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a Winchester Express sight with three V-notch leaves. Two are the same piece with a third taller folding leaf in front, the rear leaf is marked “50”, the front is marked “2” and the middle leaf has had the right side break off. Each leaf has a vertical platinum line below the point of the notch and the whole assembly is mounted to a base dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none included).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and checkered black hard rubber Winchester buttplate with a small “widow’s peak” inlet to the heel. The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There is a more notable scrape on the right of the buttstock and two more notable dings on the bottom of the forend toward the front. There is a chip-loss at the toe and a tiny loss at the left-front of the top tang. The LOP measures 13 1/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has a matching chip-loss at the toe, some scattered light wear, and well defined checkering and lettering. Overall, the stocks are in about Good-Very Good condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is dark gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion scattered through the bore. Our gauge shows an ME of about 3.75.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 65% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. Strongest finish is in the barrel which shows some scattered minor surface oxidation, nicks, scuffs and scratches. The magazine tube has scattered finish wear with the worn areas gone to a light patina, and some light nicks, scrapes and scratches. The receiver has scattered remaining finish mottled with wear and light patina, showing several scattered light scratches, nicks and scuffs. The screw heads range from sharp to to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good-Fine condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety. The lever lock-ups properly and 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: None.
Our Assessment: This is a Winchester Model 1894 Rifle made in 1896, the third year of production. It has a 26” octagonal barrel chambered in .30-30 Winchester, the classic deer hunting cartridge of lever action rifles in America. The rifle has a german silver blade front sight and a Winchester Express rear sight as well as a Shotgun-style buttplate. The rifle is in about Very Good-Fine condition as Antique with about 65% of its original metal finish remaining. The bore is decent and the mechanics are sound. This early Winchester M1894 rifle is a nice find for Winchester collectors. Please see our photos and good luck!
CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable (THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO OUT OF STATE RESIDENTS): This cartridge-firing Antique can be transferred in California but we will transfer through your local dealer or at our Simi Valley location; we will not ship directly to you. Out of state residents can disregard this section – your local laws apply.
