Winchester Model 1895 95 .30-06 Lever Action Rifle Lyman 21, MFD 1927 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1500
LSB#: 210323JB02
Make: Winchester
Model: 1895
Serial Number: 420908
Year of Manufacture: 1927
Caliber: .30-06 (.30 Gov’t ’06)
Action Type: Lever Action with Internal Box Magazine
Markings: The left side of the receiver is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A. / PATENTED NOV. 5. 95. NOV.12. 95. AUG. 17. 97.JAN.25.98. AUG. 23. 98. AUG. 6. 1907.”. The upper tang is marked “MODEL 95 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. & FGN.”. The lower tang is marked “420908” and “B”. The left of the barrel is marked “-NICKEL STEEL BARREL- / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER” and “-.30 GOV’T’06”. The top of the barrel and the chamber ring to the left of the matted strip are each marked “WP” in oval.
Barrel Length: The barrel has been cut to 23 1/2″.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Marble Sheard bronze beaded blade fixed to a base which is itself dovetailed to a base integral to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a Marble’s folding sight which has a “U”-notch which can be reversed to present a “V”-notch and is fine-adjustable for elevation. The left of the receiver is drilled and tapped with a Lyman 21 receiver sight installed, adjustable for windage and elevation.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a Schnabel forend with ebony tip, straight wrist, straight comb and ventilated brown rubber Mershon Blue Line recoil pad. The forend has lines visible from its original checkering, but it has mostly been sanded smooth. There is a hole in the belly from a previously installed sling stud. The stocks have some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches with a few more notable dings in the bottom-rear of the forend. There is a chip-loss on the top-right edge of the forend toward the front and a few minor losses around the bottom tang. There are no cracks. The LOP measures 12 5/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the recoil pad, 11 3/4″ to the back of the wood. The pad has scattered wear, most at the heel and toe, and has hardened slightly with age. Overall, the stocks are in about Good-plus condition as refinished.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is some scattered faint erosion in the bore. Our gauge shows an ME of about 2.0.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 95% of its current metal finish. The new finish is generally strong throughout with some scattered light nicks and scratches, most on the right of the receiver. The action shows operational wear. The barrel’s finish has a distinct plum hue. There is some scattered erosion under the finish, most in the receiver. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with a useable slot. The markings are clear with soft edges, and the left-side receiver markings are partially obscured by the installed receiver sight. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The action is fairly smooth and the lever locks up 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 1895 Winchester was the first lever action model to incorporate a non-detachable box magazine. This is the model Teddy Roosevelt called his “Big Medicine” that he used in hunting here and in Africa. With its quick handling characteristics, box magazine and spitzer bullet capability, the Model 1895 changed the world of sporting rifles forever. This rifle was used by major powers worldwide, with Russia alone purchasing nearly 300,000 1895’s to supplement their own arms production during World War I. In 1898, the United States ordered 10,000 of the rifles in musket form with handguard for use in the Spanish-American War, but the war ended before they could be delivered. One hundred were issued for field testing in the Philippines and the remaining 9,900 were sold to M. Harley Company. Many of these were shipped to the new Cuban government in 1906 and some found their way to Pancho Villa’s troops in Mexico. The U.S. Government also ordered carbines, but we can’t find records as to how many. This rifle was made in 1927 during the inter-war years. It is chambered for .30-06 and is in about Very Good condition with about 95% of its new metal finish remaining. It looks like it was well maintained by responsible sportsmen since it was refinished. The bore is mostly bright with some faint erosion and our bore gauge measures a ME of about 2.0. This should make a great addition to a collection of Winchester lever-action rifles. Please see our photos and good luck!