Pre-64 Winchester Model 1894 .25-35 WCF 26″ Lever Action Rifle MFD 1912 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,101.00
LSB#: LSB251102CE011
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1894 Rifle
Serial Number: 578006
Year of Manufacture: 1912 C&R
Caliber: .25-35 WCF
Action Type: Lever Action fed by Full-Length Magazine Tube
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “Manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Co, New Haven Conn. USA, Patented August 21-1894/ Nickel Steel Barrel Especially for Smokeless Powder 25-35 WCF” The upper tang is marked “Model 1894 Winchester Trade Mark Reg in US Pat Off.” The serial number is marked on the bottom of the receiver.
Barrel Length: 26″ Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed and screw set to the barrel. The rear sight is a semi-buckhorn v-notch elevator sight with fine elevation adjustment, dovetailed to the barrel. The tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight (none present).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and steel crescent buttplate. The LOP measures 13 1/4? from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. There are scratches, handling marks, and compression dents throughout. There is a crack on the left side of the forend. There is weathered finish loss throughout. Overall, the stocks are in about Fair condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original.
Bore Condition: The bore is gray and the rifling is well defined. There is some light erosion throughout the bore. There is light pitting evenly throughout. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates about 6/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 10% of its metal finish. The majority of the metal has worn to a silver/gray patina. There are scratches, handling marks, and corrosion stains throughout. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Fair condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety and the lever safety functions properly. 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 pre-64 Winchester Model 1894 rifle chambered in .25-35 WCF represents one of the earliest successful smokeless sporting rifle combinations offered to the American market. Introduced in the 1890s, the .25-35 was among Winchester’s first small-bore smokeless cartridges and quickly gained favor for its flat trajectory, mild recoil, and effectiveness on deer-sized game at moderate ranges. Manufactured in 1912, this rifle dates to the early prewar period when the Model 1894 had firmly established itself as a cornerstone of American sporting arms under the banner of Winchester Repeating Arms Company.
This example is configured as a full-length rifle with a 26 inch octagonal barrel and full-length magazine tube, a classic configuration that emphasizes balance and steady offhand shooting. Factory iron sights are present, including a beaded blade front and a semi-buckhorn rear with fine elevation adjustment. The tang has been drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight, though none is currently installed. The two-piece walnut stock set retains the correct capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and steel crescent buttplate. The wood shows scattered scratches, compression dents, weathered finish loss, and a visible crack on the left side of the forend, consistent with long-term use and age.
Condition reflects honest wear from extended service life. Approximately 10 percent of the original blue finish remains, with most metal surfaces transitioned to a uniform silver-gray patina accompanied by scattered corrosion staining. The bore is gray with well-defined rifling, showing light erosion and evenly distributed light pitting, and rates 6/10. Markings remain clear and legible, and the action functions correctly with a crisp trigger and properly operating half-cock and lever safeties. Overall, this Model 1894 presents as a well-worn but mechanically sound example of an early smokeless-era Winchester rifle, offering tangible insight into the practical sporting arms carried by American hunters in the years leading up to the First World War. Please see our high resolution photos and good luck on your bid! MF
