Winchester Miroku 1895 Big Medicine .405 Win Case Color Lever Action Rifle
SOLD FOR: $1,476.00
WOA#: WY240601DB015
Make: Winchester, made by Miroku for U.S. Repeating Arms Co.
Model: 1895 Big Medicine
Serial Number: 00380TEX95
Year of Manufacture: Late 1990’s to Early 2000’s
Caliber: .405 Winchester
Action Type: Lever Action with Internal Box Magazine
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “SPECIAL STEEL BARREL / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER” and at the rear with the Winchester proof, the top is marked “.405 WIN. CAL.”, the right is marked “WINCHESTER / U.S. REPEATING ARMS CO., NEW HAVEN, CT. U.S.A. / JAPAN/MIROKU” and “WINCHESTER TRADEMARKS LICENSED FROM OLIN CORPORATION”. The right of the receiver is marked with the serial number. The top tang is marked “WINCHESTER / MODEL 1895”.
Barrel Length: 24”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded blade pinned into a base fixed to the top of the barrel. The rear sight dovetail is filled. The receiver is mounted with a “LYMAN” Model 21 sight with windage and elevation adjustment and a flip up aperture ring.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with a schnabel forend, straight grip, straight comb, and a steel buttplate. The checkering is sharp. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 3/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate shows no notable wear or damage. Overall, the stocks are in about Excellent-Like New condition.
Type of Finish: Blued & Case Colored. Gold Trigger
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 10/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 99% of its original metal finish. The balance of the finish shows no wear whatsoever. This rifle is unfired. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about LIKE NEW condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety, there is a tang-safety and the trigger pull is crisp. Rebounding Hammer. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes in its serial matching box with a manual and a safety lock.
Our Assessment: The 1895 Winchester was the first model to incorporate a non-detachable box magazine. Teddy Roosevelt called this model, chambered in .405 WCF, his “Medicine Gun for Lions” (from his book “African Game Trails”). The M1895 rifle became the preference of major powers worldwide, with Russia alone purchasing nearly 300,000 1895’s for use in the Great War. The Model 1895 was designed for the new generation of cartridges utilizing smokeless powder and pointed bullets, and many of its original chamberings remain popular today. With its quick handling characteristics, box magazine and pointed bullet capability, the Model 1895 changed the world of sporting rifles forever. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the U.S. Repeating Arms Co. licensed Miroku to produce a limited re-introduction of the design. The rifles were chambered in a variety of original calibers. This rifle is a faithful reproduction chambered in .405 WCF. The .405 WCF round itself is similar dimensionally to the earlier black-powder .40-72 WCF that was also a ’95 chambering. Winchester engineers enlarged the .40-72’s 330-grain .406-inch lead bullet to a jacketed .411-inch bullet of 300 grains and poured in plenty of the new smokeless powder. This rifle is in LIKE NEW condition. With its limited production, Winchester collectors who missed their chance when this re-introduction first took place will want to jump on this one. If they fall asleep at the wheel, this will make someone a great “Medicine Gun”. Please see our photos and good luck! – L.S.
