Winchester Pre-64 1894 94 26” Octagon 38-55 Lever Action Rifle, 1900 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,525.00
LSB# LSB251101KD003
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1894 Rifle
Serial Number: 93595
Year of Manufacture: 1900
Caliber: 38-55
Action Type: Lever action, full length tubular magazine.
Markings: The top is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. PATENTED AUGUST 21. 1894.” in front of the barrel band and “38-55.” at the rear. The bottom-front of the receiver is marked “93595”, the top tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / PAT AUG.21.1894”.
Barrel Length: 26?, Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a Marbles styled leaf sight with elevator. The top tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for mounting a tang sight (not included).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and steel crescent buttplate. The stocks have some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches with a few dings. The forend has shrunk a little at the front receiver ring. The LOP measures 13? from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate is worn to white with scattered nicks, scratches and minor oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in about Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is minor erosion. There is some minor pitting. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 7/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 50% of its metal finish. The barrel has bluing wear on the points. The receiver has lost much of its bluing. There are scattered handling marks, scratches, and corrosion stains throughout. The screw heads are lightly marred but serviceable. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety. There is a lever safety. 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 Winchester Model 1894 rifle dates to 1900 production, placing it squarely in the early, formative years of one of the most influential sporting rifles ever produced. Designed by John M. Browning, the Model 1894 was Winchester’s first repeating rifle engineered specifically for smokeless powder cartridges, and it quickly became a benchmark for strength, reliability, and handling. The rifle configuration, as opposed to the carbine, with its long octagonal barrel and crescent buttplate, reflects a period when accuracy, balance, and deliberate shooting were emphasized over compactness.
Chambered in .38-55 Winchester, this rifle is closely associated with the cartridge’s reputation for accuracy and mild recoil, making it a favored choice for target shooting and medium game at the turn of the 20th century. The 26 inch octagonal barrel contributes to steady handling and consistent performance, while the Marble’s-style rear sight and provision for a tang sight underscore the rifle’s intended precision-oriented role. The bore remains bright with sharp rifling, showing only minor erosion and light pitting consistent with age, supporting its continued mechanical integrity as a representative early smokeless-era sporting rifle.
Overall, this example presents in good condition, retaining approximately 50 percent of its original finish with honest wear concentrated on the receiver and high points of the barrel. The walnut stocks remain particularly appealing, showing only light handling marks and minimal shrinkage at the receiver ring, with the crescent buttplate worn to white from use. Markings remain clear, the action functions correctly, and the rifle retains its essential early features. As an authentic 1900 production example from Winchester Repeating Arms, this Model 1894 in .38-55 stands as a classic expression of Winchester’s lever-action craftsmanship at the dawn of the 20th century. Please see our high resolution photos and good luck on your bid! MF
