Winchester Model 1894 94 26″ .38-55 WCF Lever Action Rifle, 1896 Antique

SOLD FOR: $1,551

WOA#: WY240315JV023

Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894

Serial Number: 53800

Year of Manufacture: 1896

Caliber: .38-55 WCF

Action Type: This rifle has a lever action with a tubular magazine.

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “-MANUFACTURED BY THE- / -WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN CONN. U.S.A.-” in front of the rear sight and “38-55” at the rear. The underside of the receiver is marked “53800”. The upper tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / PAT. AUG. 21. 1894”.

Barrel Length: 26″, Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Lyman brass beaded blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “V”-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The notch has a white diamond aiming reference, is fine adjustable for elevation and can be reversed to present a “U”-notch. The sights are not original to the gun. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none present).

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, dings, scuffs and scratches. There is a small loss in the top-front of the wrist to the right of the top tang. There are no cracks. The LOP measures 12 7/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate is mostly worn to white with some scattered minor oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

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

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 25% of its metal finish. Finish remains mostly in protected areas and around raised features. Most exposed surfaces show wear with some going to a light patina. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety 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: This is a Winchester Model 1894 Rifle made in 1896. Its 26″ octagonal barrel is chambered for .38-55 and has been equipped with a new set of sights. The .38-55 WCF was originally developed by Ballard and could push a 250gr projectile at about 1,300 fps. This makes it a nice rifle for black bear and other similar sized game and has remained a somewhat popular cartridge, perhaps most due to the large number of Winchester rifles chambered for the round. The gun has fairly light wear given its age of more than 125 years and has likely served its previous owners well. This early Winchester M1894 rifle may interest the Winchester collectors, but may also still be ready for a few more trips out in the field. Please see our photos and good luck!

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