Pre-64 Winchester 1894 22″ Octagonal .32-40 WCF 94 Lever Action Rifle C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,125.00
LSB# LSB251016KS054
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1894 Lever action Rifle
Serial Number: 331782
Year of Manufacture: 1906
Caliber: .32-40
Action Type: Lever action, 3/4 length tubular magazine.
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / —NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. PATENTED AUGUST 21. 1894—.” and is marked .32-40 near the receiver. There are WP WInchester proofs on the top of the barrel and the receiver. The bottom-front of the receiver is marked “331782”, the top tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK”
Barrel Length: 22″ Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a two position flip up sight with a white diamond. The top tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for mounting a tang sight (not included).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate. The rifle has a 3 /4 length tubular magazine. The stocks have scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is a small chip out of the right side wrist at the upper tang. The LOP measures 13″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is dark but the rifling is sharp. There is significant erosion and heavy pitting throughout. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 5/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 85% of its metal finish, retaining blue on the barrel, receiver and lever. The barrel has been period polished and refinished. There are a few scattered handling marks and scratches throughout. The screw heads are lightly marred but serviceable. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety notch. 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 is one of John Moses Browning’s most influential designs and a cornerstone of American sporting rifle history. Introduced at the dawn of the smokeless powder era, the Model 1894 became the first repeating rifle engineered to fully exploit modern propellants while retaining the balance and handling that made Winchester lever actions legendary. By 1906, the model was firmly established as the dominant sporting rifle in North America, offered in a wide range of barrel configurations and chamberings to suit hunters, marksmen, and outdoorsmen alike.
Chambered in .32-40 WCF, this rifle reflects one of the original cartridges associated with the Model 1894 and a chambering long respected for its accuracy and moderate recoil. Originally developed as a target cartridge before finding favor in the deer woods, the .32-40 bridges the transition from black powder heritage to early smokeless sporting use. The 22 inch octagonal barrel adds both visual presence and practical sight radius, evoking the classic lines of early Winchester sporting rifles while reinforcing the model’s reputation for balance and shootability.
This example retains strong overall eye appeal, with clear markings, a high percentage of remaining metal finish, and a crisp, properly functioning action. The stocks show honest handling wear consistent with age, including a small chip at the wrist, while maintaining solid fit and traditional lines. Though the bore shows notable use, the rifle remains a representative pre-64 Model 1894 in a desirable early chambering and classic configuration, offering a tangible connection to Winchester’s formative years of lever action rifle production. Please see our photos for a better understanding of condition and good luck! –
BF
