Winchester 1894 94 .38-55 WCF 26″ Octagonal Lever Action Rifle 1895 Antique
SOLD FOR: $3,910
LSB#: 231228WS005
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1894 Rifle
Serial Number: 50296
Year of Manufacture: 1895
Caliber: .38-55 Winchester
Action Type: This rifle has a lever action with a full-length tubular magazine.
Barrel Length: 26″, Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Lyman No. 5B folding sight, presenting either a white beaded post or a globe-style beaded post. 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. There is cracking in each side of the buttstock toward the rear. The stocks have some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There are a few deeper marks which have been mostly sanded out, most notable on the bottom-left of the forend. The wood is generally well fit to the metal, but is slightly shy in some spots. The LOP measures 12 7/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly worn to white with scattered minor surface oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good-plus condition as refinished Antique.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion and some minor pitting in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 6 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 75% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is scattered light finish wear, mostly blending well with the original finish as it goes to a light patina. There is some brighter wear at the bottom-front of the receiver and on the magazine bracket. There are scattered minor nicks, scuffs and scratches. There are tool marks around some screw heads. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly disfigured with usable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Fine condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The lever safety functions properly. 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 an early Winchester Model 1894 rifle made in 1895 with a 26” octagonal barrel and chambered in the original .38-55 cartridge. The gun shows quite modest wear for its age and use in the field. The bore shows erosion but much of the original blue finish remains and the mechanics are still quite strong. This would be a nice addition to a collection and may even still have more hunting seasons left in it. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
