Winchester Pre-64 1894 94 Takedown 26″ .30-30 WCF Lever Rifle, MFD 1902 C&R

SOLD FOR: $1450

LSB#: 210217RC34

Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894 Takedown

Serial Number: 240130

Year of Manufacture: 1902

Caliber: .30-30 Winchester (.30 W.C.F.)

Action Type: This rifle has a takedown lever action with a full-length tubular magazine.

Markings: The left shoulder of the barrel is marked “NICKEL STEEL BARREL / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER”, the top is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. PATENTED AUGUST 21. 1894.” in front of the barrel band and “30 W.C.F.” at the rear. The bottom-front of the receiver is marked “240130”, the top tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK”. The magazine takedown arm is marked “-PAT. JUNE 6. 1893-“.

Barrel Length: 26″, Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Lyman beaded blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The bead has broken off. The rear sight is a semi-buckhorn “V”-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The notch is fine-adjustable for elevation. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none included).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and steel crescent buttplate. The stocks have some scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There is discoloration at some edges where the wood meets metal. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly worn to white with some scattered minor oxidation and spots of solid erosion. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion scattered through the bore with some minor pitting. Our gauge shows an ME of about 1.5.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 65% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. Strongest finish is in the barrel and magazine tube which have some scattered light nicks, scratches and surface oxidation. The magazine cap, magazine bracket and barrel extension have mostly worn to white showing discoloration from oxidation. The barrel extension has scattered surface erosion. The receiver retains finish in the flats and the bottom tang, mottled with wear and discoloration from oxidation. The rounds of the receiver are worn to white, showing scattered discoloration from oxidation. There are scattered nicks, scrapes and scratches on the receiver wtih tool marks at some screw heads. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Good-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: None

Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 1894 rifle followed the other John Browning designed lever action rifles to become one of the most famous and popular hunting rifles of all time. It was the first commercial sporting rifle to sell over 7,000,000 units, making the name “Winchester” synonymous with all lever action rifles. It was also the first commercial American repeating rifle built to be used with smokeless powder. It was introduced in 1894 in two black powder cartridges, the .32-40 and .38-55 Win. rounds, but by the next year Winchester had developed a different steel composition that could handle higher pressures, and the .30-30 Win. family of cartridges was born. This is a Winchester Model 1894 rifle made in 1902 with a 26” octagonal barrel and chambered in .30-30 WCF. The rifle was special-ordered as a takedown, allowing for convenient storage and transport. The gun’s original finish and takedown feature will interest Winchester collectors, but the bore is still shootable and this may still make for a nice hunting rifle. Please see our photos and good luck!