Winchester Model 1895 Carbine .30-40 Krag 30 Army Lever Rifle, MFD 1929 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,225.00
LSB#: WY240713MS005
Make: Winchester
Model: 1895 Saddle Ring Carbine
Serial Number: 423165
Year of Manufacture: 1929
Caliber: .30-40 Krag (.30 Army)
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.A. / 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 “423165” and “B”. The left of the barrel is marked “-NICKEL STEEL BARREL- / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER” and “-.30 ARMY”. The top of the barrel and the chamber ring are each marked “WP” in oval, the chamber ring is also marked “.30 / ARMY”.
Barrel Length: Nominal 22″, 21 7/8″ measured.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded blade pinned to a slotted base integral to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a Type 2 sliding elevator/ladder sight. When the ladder is folded down, the slider is used to control the elevation using the marks on the left side of the base “1 3 5 7 8 9 10”. The rear face of the ladder is marked from “10” to “18”, alternating sides. There is a “V” notch on the rear face of the slider for use when the ladder is folded down and another on the top edge of the slider for use when the ladder is raised. The left of the receiver has been drilled and tapped with a Redfield receiver sight installed, adjustable for windage and elevation.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with barrel band, finger-grooved forend, straight grip, straight comb, and carbine-style buttplate with sliding trapdoor (there is nothing in the compartment). The handguard is missing. The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There is a repaired chip in the bottom of the wrist to the left of the bottom tang. There are cracks at the rear edge of the top tang going to each side of the comb. The LOP measures 12 5/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly worn to white with scattered nicks and scratches. Overall, the stocks are in Good condition as refinished.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion and stubborn fouling scattered through the bore.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 75% of its metal finish. The saddle-ring mount is present on the left of the receiver, but no ring is present. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is some scattered wear on the barrel including from the missing handguard’s spring-clips and some finish loss toward the muzzle-end that appears to be from a solvent or some other chemical. Most of the finish loss is in the receiver. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is some minor surface oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Good-plus 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 saddle ring carbine was made in 1929 during the inter-war years. It is chambered in .30-40 Krag and is in Good-plus condition with about 75% of its original finish remaining. It looks like it saw its share of use, now missing the often cracked handguard and without its saddle ring. This should make a great addition to a collection of Winchester lever-action rifles. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
