Custom Winchester Model ’94 1894/64 .219 Zipper Lever Action Rifle 1917 C&R

SOLD FOR: $2090

LSB#: 210416DS11

Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894, Customized with Model 64 Barrel

Serial Number: 818269

Year of Manufacture: 1917

Caliber: .219 Zipper

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

Markings: The left of the barrel is marked -“WINCHESTER / PROOF STEEL”-, “MODEL 64”, -“WINCHESTER / -TRADE MARK-“-, and “219 ZIPPER-“, the right is marked “MADE IN U.S.A. WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / -NEW HAVEN. CONN.-“. The top of the barrel at the rear and the top of the receiver at the front are each marked “WP” in oval. The top of the barrel at the rear also has an ovalled “P”, indicating a replacement barrel installed outside the Winchester factory. The bottom-front of the receiver is marked “818269”, the top tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. & FGN.”.

Barrel Length: 26″, Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to a textured, ramped base fixed to the front of the barrel. The base is grooved for a hood which is not present. The rear sight is a square-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 present). The left of the receiver has been drilled, tapped and filled for a receiver sight (none present).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece walnut with capped, checkered, semi-beavertail forend, smooth straight grip, straight comb, and steel crescent buttplate. The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. The forend checkering has handling wear, but is well defined. There is a loss in the left of the wrist at the top-front corner. There are no cracks. The LOP measures 13″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has scattered remaining finish, mostly worn to white with scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. Overall, the stocks are in about Good-Very Good condition as partially not original to the gun.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original to the parts, the barrel is not original to the gun.

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There are a few tiny spots of minor erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 65% of its metal finish. There is finish wear scattered throughout, most showing discoloration from oxidation. The most notable finish wear is handling wear on the bottom-front of the receiver. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There are tool marks around most screw heads. The action has operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots, most appear to be replacements. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good condition as customized.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety and there is a lever safety. 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 1894 has been customized with a Model 64 barrel chambered for the .219 Zipper cartridge. The .219 zipper was introduced in 1937 for the Model 64 and is essentially a .30-30 necked down to .22 caliber. It makes for a great varmint cartridge that can be used in a lever gun. This custom rifle still has a nice bore and strong mechanics. If you’re having problems with coyotes, you may have found your solution. Please see our photos and good luck!