Pre-64 Winchester 1894 94 26″ Octagonal .30-30 WCF Lever Rifle 1896 Antique
SOLD FOR: $2225
LSB#: 210416DS13
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1894 Rifle
Serial Number: 72995
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 top of the barrel is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE / WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A.” in front of the rear sight and “30 W.C.F.” behind, the left shoulder is marked “NICKEL STEEL BARREL / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER”. The underside of the receiver is marked “72995”. The upper tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / PAT. AUG. 21. 1894”. The bottom of the tang sight’s base is marked “D”.
Barrel Length: 26″, Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Lyman blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The sight appears to have had a bead which has broken off. The rear sight is a “V”-notch semi-buckhorn elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The notch is fine-adjustable for elevation. The top tang is drilled and tapped with a folding tang sight installed, adjustable for elevation.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate. The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There are some areas of thinning finish with most notable wear in the belly. There is a long crack in the bottom of the forend with more minor cracks around the front edges of the wrist. The LOP measures 13″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly worn to white with scattered scuffs, scratches, and spots of light surface oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in about Good-Very Good condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion scattered through the bore. Our gauge shows an ME of about 2.0.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 65% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The barrel has generally strong finish with scattered nicks, scratches and light surface oxidation. The bottom half of the magazine tube is worn, showing scattered surface oxidation with strong finish in the top half. The receiver is mostly worn to white with finish remaining at the rear of the flats and around the trigger. The worn surfaces of the receiver have some scattered nicks, scratches and surface oxidation. There are tool marks around some screw heads, most notable is tool wear around the stock mounting screw in the rear of the tang sight. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good-plus condition as 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 with a 26” octagonal 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 early Winchester M1894 would be a great 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!