Pre-64 Winchester 1894 Takedown 20.5″ Oct. .30-30 Lever Action Rifle C&R

SOLD FOR: $1,475.00

LSB# LSB251016KS135

Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894 Lever action Rifle

Serial Number:  146229 

Year of Manufacture: 1902 

Caliber: .30-30 (.30 WCF) 

Action Type: Lever action, Full length takedown 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 “.30 WFC” near the receiver.  The bottom-front of the receiver is marked “146229”, the top tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK”.  The left shoulder of the barrel is marked ”  NICKEL STEEL BARREL / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER”. 

Barrel Length: 20.5″ Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to the barrel.  The rear sight is a V-notch semi Buckhorn sight on an elevator, dovetailed to the barrel. 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 full  length tubular magazine.  The stocks have scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is an incorrect screw in 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, Case hardened

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition: The bore is dark but the rifling is sharp. There is significant erosion and heavy fouling throughout. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 6.5/10.  

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 75% of its metal finish.  The receiver has lost most of its case coloring. There is an incorrect screw in the upper tang. 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 and the hammer spring is strong.  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 consequential firearm designs and remains the definitive American lever action rifle of the smokeless powder era. Introduced in 1894, it was the first repeating sporting rifle engineered specifically for smokeless cartridges, a technological leap that reshaped rifle design at the turn of the 20th century. By 1902, the Model 1894 had firmly established itself as Winchester’s flagship sporting arm, offered in a wide range of configurations that appealed to hunters, ranchers, and outdoorsmen across North America.

This example, manufactured in 1902, is configured as a takedown rifle with a desirable 20.5 inch octagonal barrel chambered in .30-30 Winchester, the cartridge that would become inseparably linked to the Model 1894’s legacy. The use of a Nickel Steel barrel marked especially for smokeless powder reflects Winchester’s early metallurgical advances and underscores the rifle’s position at the forefront of modern sporting arms of its day. The takedown feature added practical versatility, allowing the rifle to be easily transported or packed without compromising strength or handling.

The rifle retains strong overall presentation with clear markings, a substantial amount of remaining metal finish, and a crisp, correctly functioning action. The walnut stocks show honest handling wear consistent with age, including a small chip at the wrist and scattered light marks, while maintaining good fit and classic lines. Though the bore shows notable use with erosion and fouling present, this remains a highly representative early takedown Model 1894 in its most iconic chambering, offering a tangible connection to Winchester’s formative years in smokeless sporting rifle production. Please see our photos for a better understanding of condition and good luck! –

BF