Pre-64 Winchester 1894 94 20″ Round .30-30 WCF Lever Rifle ,1896 Antique
SOLD FOR: $1025
LSB#: 210424MA46
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1894
Serial Number: 74796
Year of Manufacture: 1896
Caliber: .30-30 Winchester (.30 WCF)
Action Type: This rifle has a lever action with a full-length tubular magazine.
Markings: The left of the barrel is marked “-MODEL 94-“, “WINCHESTER / -TRADE MARK-“, “-NICKEL STEEL – 30 W.C.F.-“, the top-rear of the barrel is marked with an ovalled “WP” and an ovalled “P” (indicates replacement barrel installed outside the Winchester factory), the right of the barrel is marked “MADE IN U.S.A. WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / -NEW HAVEN, CONN.-“. The underside of the receiver is marked “74796”. The upper tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / PAT. AUG. 21. 1894”.
Barrel Length: 20″, Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade pinned to a slotted base fixed to the barrel. Its bead has broken off. There is a dovetail at the rear of the barrel for a rear sight, currently filled with a blank. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none present). The left of the receiver has been drilled and tapped with a Williams aperture receiver sight installed, adjustable for windage and elevation.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece smooth walnut with banded forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate. There is a sling stud in the belly and another mounted to the magazine tube forward of the forend, each equipped with a QD sling swivel. The stocks have some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is a small fill at a chip-loss/crack in the left of the wrist at the top edge at the shoulder of the top tang. The wood is generally shy to the metal. The LOP measures 13″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has some light nicks and scratches, wear at the heel and toe, and scattered light erosion under the finish. Overall, the stocks are in about Good-Very Good condition as refinished Antique.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished, the barrel is not original to the receiver.
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is some stubborn copper fouling. Our gauge shows an ME of about 1.0.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 90% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. The barrel’s finish has a plum hue, with a spot of wear on the top in front of the forend, wear at the rear, and some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The magazine tube has generally strong finish with a few minor marks. The receiver has light handling wear at the bottom-front and scattered minor erosion under the finish. There are dings on the top of the receiver to each side of the bolt toward the front. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from tool marked with strong slots to disfigured with useable slots. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good-plus condition as refinished Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety and the lever safety functions properly. The lever lock-ups properly and 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: This is a Winchester Model 1894 Rifle made in 1896. It has since been equipped with a new 20″ barrel chambered for the classic .30-30 cartridge. The cartridge, first developed in 1895, has become synonymous with deer hunting in the United States. This Winchester M1894 would be a nice addition to a Winchester collection and could be back out in the field dropping deer for another century. Please see our photos and good luck!