Winchester 1894 94 26″ Octagonal .32 Special Lever Action Rifle, 1910 C&R
SOLD FOR: $2801.17
LSB#: 220109RB124
Make: Winchester
Model: 1894
Serial Number: 538394
Year of Manufacture: 1910
Caliber: .32 Winchester Special
Action Type: Lever Action Tubular Magazine Rifle
Markings: The left shoulder of the barrel 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 dovetail, “-NICKEL STEEL BARREL- / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER” below the rear sight and “32 W.S.” at the rear. There is a Winchester proof mark on both the top-rear of the barrel and the top-front of the receiver. The underside of the receiver is marked “538394” ahead of the lever mechanism. The upper tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK REG. IN U.S. PAT. OFF.” (under the tang sight).
Barrel Length: 26”, Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a full buckhorn elevator sight with a “U” notch, fine-adjustable for elevation, which has a white diamond aiming reference. The notch can be reversed to present a “V”-notch. The top tang is drilled and tapped with a folding Marble tang sight installed, adjustable for elevation.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate. The stocks have scattered light-moderate nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is a loss at the left-front of the forend. There are no 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 surface oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in about Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is some scattered minor erosion in the bore.
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 some scattered minor surface oxidation, nicks and scuffs. The bottom of the magazine tube has some wear which has discolored from oxidation, similar light wear to the barrel, and one more notable ding in the bottom about halfway between the magazine bracket and forend cap. The receiver has mostly gone to a light patina with scattered light nicks, scuffs, scratches, and a few spots of minor surface erosion. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with useable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Good-plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock position and there is a lever safety. The lever locks up 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: 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 rifle made in 1910 with a 26” octagonal barrel and chambered in .32 Winchester Special, a necked up .30-30 cartridge. The rifle has been equipped with a Marble tang sight as well as a buckhorn rear elevator sight. The rifle shows its age, but still has a strong bore and good mechanics, so this rifle could still spend another few lifetimes taking game for the lucky winner. Please see our photos and good luck!