Winchester Model 1895 24″ .30-06 Springfield Box Mag Lever Rifle, 1922 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1275
LSB#: 210929DF16
Make: Winchester
Model: 1895
Serial Number: 406391
Year of Manufacture: 1922
Caliber: .30-06 (.30 Gov’t ’06)
Action Type: Lever Action with Internal Box Magazine
Markings: The left side of the receiver is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S. / PATENTED NOV. 5. 95. NOV.12. 95. AUG. 17. 97.JAN.25.98. AUG. 23. 98. AUG. 6. 1907.”. The upper tang is marked “MODEL 95 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK REG. IN U.S. PAT. OFF. & FGN.”. The lower tang is marked “406391” and “B”. The left of the barrel is marked “-NICKEL STEEL BARREL- / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER” and “-.30 GOV’T’06”. The top of the barrel and the chamber ring are each marked “WP” in oval, the receiver’s “WP” is to the left of a strip of matting along the top of the chamber ring.
Barrel Length: 24″ Nominal, 23 7/8″ Measured
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Marble Sheard brass beaded blade dovetailed to a base fixed to the front of the barrel. There is a blank dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The left of the receiver is drilled and tapped with an un-branded receiver sight installed, adjustable for windage and elevation.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a Schnabel forend with ebony tip, straight wrist, straight comb and a ventilated black rubber recoil pad. The original plate was cut, leaving its top tang filling the inlet at the heel. There are holes in the belly and the bottom of the forend for sling studs, but none are present. The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scrapes and scratches. The forend has two cracks and a chip-loss on the top-left edge. There are small losses at the top-front corners of the wrist to each side of the top tang. The LOP measures 13 1/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the recoil pad, 12 3/8″ to the back of the wood. The rear face of the stock has been cut straight. The recoil pad has heavy wear and crush-damage and is coming free of its spacer. Overall, the stocks are in about Good condition as refinished.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is some scattered minor erosion in the bore. Our gauge shows an ME of about 3.0.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 80% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The barrel has some scattered minor finish wear, spots of light surface oxidation and there is a line of wear on the top from the original rear sight’s elevator. The receiver and lever have scattered finish wear with strongest finish on the magazine flats and around the receiver sight on the left. The worn areas show discoloration from oxidation. The bolt retains strong finish. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with a serviceable slot. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Good-Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The action is fairly smooth and the lever locks up correctly. 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: None.
Our Assessment: The 1895 Winchester was the first lever action model to incorporate a non-detachable box magazine. This is the model Teddy Roosevelt called his “Big Medicine” that he used in hunting here and in Africa. With its quick handling characteristics, box magazine and spitzer bullet capability, the Model 1895 changed the world of sporting rifles forever. This rifle was used by major powers worldwide, with Russia alone purchasing nearly 300,000 1895’s just before World War I. In 1898, the United States ordered 10,000 of the rifles in musket form with handguard for use in the Spanish-American War, but the war ended before they could be delivered. One hundred were issued for field testing in the Philippines and the remaining 9,900 were sold to M. Harley Company. Many of these were shipped to the new Cuban government in 1906 and some found their way to Pancho Villa’s troops in Mexico. The U.S. Government also ordered carbines, but we can’t find records as to how many. This rifle was made in 1922 during the inter-war years. It is chambered for .30-06 and is in about Good-Very Good condition with about 80% of its original metal finish remaining. It has a decent bore considering its age and that this rifle clearly saw some use in the field, and it retains strong mechanics. This should make a great addition to a collection of Winchester lever-action rifles and could be back out in the field dropping deer for another lifetime. Please see our photos and good luck!