Winchester Model 1895 24″ .35 WCF Box Magazine Lever Action Rifle, 1923 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1051.01
LSB#: 210424MA41
Make: Winchester
Model: 1895
Serial Number: 407438
Year of Manufacture: 1923
Caliber: .35 Winchester
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 “407438” and “B”. The left of the barrel is marked “-NICKEL STEEL BARREL- / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER” and “35 W.C.F.”. The top-rear of the barrel and the left of the chamber ring each have an ovalled “WP” proof.
Barrel Length: 24″ Nominal, 23 7/8″ Measured
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Marble Sheard beaded blade dovetailed to a base fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a flat-top “V”-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The sight appears to have been filed down to its current flat-top configuration. The top of the chamber ring is matted for glare reduction. There is a hole drilled in the top of the wrist, just behind the top tang, which may have been for some sort of tang sight, the hole does not appear threaded.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a Schnabel forend with ebony tip, straight wrist, straight comb, and steel crescent buttplate. The stocks have some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The forend has tool marks around the mounting screw. There is a chip at the bottom-front corner of the wrist on the left side, held in place by the body of the stock. There is a thin crack at the right-rear of the top tang and a more notable crack at the right-front edge of the wrist. A hole has been drilled in the top of the wrist behind the top tang and the front of the comb has wear consistent with some form of tang-sight mount being previously installed. There is discoloration at most edges where the wood meets the metal. The LOP measures 12 3/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly worn to white with some scattered light wear and discoloration. Overall, the stocks are in about Good-Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is some scattered light erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 65% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. Most remaining finish is in the barrel, lever and magazine and magazine. The barrel has scattered light finish wear, mostly in front of the forend, and some scattered minor surface oxidation. The receiver has mostly gone to a light patina with infrequent minor erosion. The magazine has handling wear on the bottom. The lever has scattered light surface oxidation. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. 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 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. The 1895 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 1895 made in 1923 during the inter-war years. It is chambered in .35 Winchester, which is suitable for some of the larger North American big game at shorter distances. This example shows wear consistent with use in the field over the last 100 years and is in great mechanical shape with a very shootable bore. This should make a nice addition to a collection of Winchester lever-action rifles or could still be used as a hunting rifle. Please see our photos and good luck!