Winchester 1895 Takedown Shotgun Buttplate .30-40 Krag Lever Rifle 1912 C&R
SOLD FOR: $3625
LSB#: 211027DC04
Make: Winchester
Model: 1895 Takedown
Serial Number: 67199
Year of Manufacture: 1912
Caliber: .30-40 Krag (.30 US)
Action Type: Lever Action Takedown Rifle 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. PAT. NOV.5.95.NOV.12.95.AUG.17.97.JAN.25.98.AUG.23.98.MAY 28.????” (some of this marking is covered by the installed Lyman sight). The upper tang is marked “MODEL 1895 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK”. The lower tang is marked “67199” and “B”. The top-left of the chamber ring and the top rear of the barrel are marked with a circled “WP” proof. The left side of the barrel is marked “-NICKEL STEEL BARREL- / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER” and “30 U.S.”.
Barrel Length: 24?
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded blade pinned to a slotted base fixed to the front of the barrel. There is a dovetail at the rear of the barrel which is currently filled with a Tilden Mfg. Co. blank. The left of the receiver is drilled and tapped with a Lyman 38 receiver sight, adjustable for elevation and windage. The aperture assembly has a folding small aperture and a fixed larger aperture.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with checkered steel shotgun-style buttplate, Schnabel forend tip with ebony insert, straight grip, and straight comb. The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There are some more notable dings on the left of the buttstock behind the wrist and one on the left of the forend toward the front. The grip areas show handling wear and thinning finish. There is a short crack at the heel. There are no chips. The LOP measures 12 7/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly worn to white with some finish left in the grooves of the checkering. There are some light nicks and scuffs, the checkering is well defined. The stocks rate in about Very Good overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifing. There is some minor erosion near the muzzle. Our gauge shows an ME of about 0.75.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 70% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is scattered finish wear, primarily in the barrel, the top of the receiver and on the bottom-front of the magazine which is mostly worn to white. There are several scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is infrequent minor surface oxidation. 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 Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The barrel assembly mounts to the receiver with no play. The hammer has a half-cock safety position. The action is smooth. The trigger is crisp. 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: This rifle comes with a green Bob Allen zipper case which stores the rifle taken down. The case has light storage wear with intact stitching and functioning zipper.
Our Assessment: The 1895 Winchester was the first lever-action model to incorporate a box magazine. The box magazine allowed the use of spitzer-type bullets, though they would not be developed until a few years after the 1895 was introduced. The use of spitzer bullets improved ballistics and allowed for much higher velocities, especially with the use of smokeless powder. At the time of its introduction, the 1895 was considered the lever action big-game rifle, but it also saw favor with some militaries, being purchased in large numbers by the Russian Empire for WWI, given to Pancho Villa’s best troops during the Mexican Revolution, and 10,000 were purchased by the US Military for use during the Spanish American War. With its quick handling characteristics, box magazine and pointed bullet capability, the Model 1895 changed the world of sporting rifles forever. Teddy Roosevelt himself favored the 1895 Winchester, considering his rifle chambered in .405 to be the “medicine gun” for lion. This rifle is a takedown version which was made in 1912 with a barrel chambered in .30-40 Krag. As is still true today, military cartridges were popular with sportsmen, possibly because of the availability of surplus cartridges on the market or perhaps from being familiar to servicemen. This example is interesting not only for being a takedown, but also for its shotgun-style buttplate and Lyman receiver sight, both desirable features in the 1895. The gun shows wear consistent with its age and use in the field, but is a nice specimen of a special-order, takedown Model 1895. Please see our photos and good luck!