Pre-64 Winchester Model 1894 Takedown 26″ .30-30 WCF Lever Rifle, 1900 C&R

SOLD FOR: $1,305.00

WOA#: WY240526BJ125

Make: Winchester Repeating Arms  

Model: 1894 Takedown Rifle 

Serial Number: 193804 

Year of Manufacture: 1900 

Caliber: .30-30 Winchester (.30-30 W.C.F.) 

Action Type: This rifle has a takedown lever action with a full-length tubular magazine.   

Markings: The left of the barrel is marked “NICKEL STEEL BARREL / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER”, the top is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / -NEW HAVEN CONN. U.S.A. PATENTED AUGUST 21. 1894.-” in front of the rear sight and behind the rear sight with “30 W.C.F.”. The front underside of the receiver is marked “198145”. The top tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / PAT. AUG. 21. 1894”. The takedown lever is marked “-PAT. JUNE 6. 1893-“.  

Barrel Length: 26″, Octagonal 

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a german silver blade in a slotted base dovetailed and screw-set to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “V”-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel; the notch is fine-adjustable for elevation. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none included). 

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, scuffs and scratches. There is a more notable scrape in the belly and a few other more notable marks. There are no chips or cracks. 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 nicks, scratches, and a few spots of oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition. 

Type of Finish: Blue 

Finish Originality: Original 

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion scattered through the bore and some minor pitting. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 6 out of 10. 

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 60% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. Most remaining finish is in the barrel and magazine tube. The receiver is mostly worn to white with a little scattered finish. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is a small spot of aggressive polishing on the top-right of the barrel about 4″ in front of the forend. There is some scattered minor surface oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Good-Very Good condition. 

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety and 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 rifle followed the other John Browning designed lever action rifles to become one of the most famous and popular hunting rifles of all time. It was the first commercial sporting rifle to sell over 7,000,000 units, making the name “Winchester” synonymous with all lever action rifles. It was also the first commercial American repeating rifle built to be used with smokeless powder. It was introduced in 1894 in two black powder cartridges, the .32-40 and .38-55 Win. rounds, but by the next year Winchester had developed a different steel composition that could handle higher pressures, and the .30-30 Win. family of cartridges was born.

This is a Winchester Model 1894 Takedown rifle made in 1900 with a 26” octagonal barrel and chambered in .30-30 WCF. Having a takedown action, it is very convenient for transport and storage, also a desirable collector feature. This may still make for a good field gun, but this pre-64 takedown will also make a nice addition to a Winchester collection. Please see our photos and good luck!

Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud

Pre-64 Winchester Model 1894 Takedown 26" .30-30 WCF Lever Rifle, 1900 C&R
Pre-64 Winchester Model 1894 Takedown 26″ .30-30 WCF Lever Rifle, 1900 C&R