Winchester Pre-64 1894 94 26″ Octagonal .25-35 WCF Lever Rifle, 1907 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1335
LSB#: 210224DF13
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1894 Rifle
Serial Number: 419579
Year of Manufacture: 1907
Caliber: .25-35 Winchester (.25-35 W.C.F.)
Action Type: This rifle has a lever action with a full-length tubular magazine.
Markings: The left shoulder of the barrel is marked “-NICKEL STEEL BARREL- / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER” and “25-35 W.C.F.”, the top is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. PATENTED AUGUST 21. 1894.”. The top of the barrel at the rear and the top of the receiver at the front are each marked “WP” in oval. The bottom-front of the receiver is marked “419579”, the top tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK” under the tang sight.
Barrel Length: 26″, Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Marble Sheard beaded blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a folding Marble’s “U”-notch sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The notch is fine-adjustable for elevation, reversible to present a “V”-notch, and has a white diamond aiming reference. The top tang is drilled and tapped with a folding Marble’s peep sight installed, adjustable for windage and elevation.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and steel crescent buttplate. The stocks have several scattered nicks, dings, scratches and some bruising. There is discoloration at some edges where the wood meets metal. There are cracks on each side of the buttstock above the toe. The LOP measures 13″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly worn to white with nicks and scratches scattered throughout and some minor discoloration from oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in about Good-plus condition as refinished.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion scattered through the bore.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 40% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. Strongest finish is in the barrel and the top of the magazine tube. The barrel has scattered light finish wear, some nicks, scratches and infrequent minor erosion. The sides and bottom of the magazine tube show wear, discoloration from oxidation, some minor erosion, nicks, scratches and there is a shallow dent about 4″ behind the magazine bracket. The receiver is mostly worn to white, going to a light patina, with scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action has operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Good-plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety and 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: The Winchester Model 1894 rifle followed the other John Browning designed lever action rifles to become one of the most famous and popular hunting rifles of all time. It was the first commercial sporting rifle to sell over 7,000,000 units, making the name “Winchester” synonymous with all lever action rifles. It was also the first commercial American repeating rifle built to be used with smokeless powder. It was introduced in 1894 in two black powder cartridges, the .32-40 and .38-55 Win. rounds, but by the next year Winchester had developed a different steel composition that could handle higher pressures, and the .30-30 Win. family of cartridges was born. This is a Winchester Model 1894 rifle made in 1907 with a 26” round barrel and chambered in .25-35 WCF. The .25-35 WCF is a necked-down .30-30 which can use a range of projectiles from about 60-120 grains giving a muzzle velocity ranging from about 2,000-3,000 feet per second depending on projectile and powder charge. This makes it a nice rifle for smaller game and has been a popular cartridge for coyote. Whether you’re looking to add a Winchester to a collection or looking for a varmint rifle, you can’t go wrong with an American classic. Please see our photos and good luck!