Winchester Pre-64 1894 94 26″ Octagonal .30-30 WCF Lever Rifle, 1906 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1100
LSB#: 210519RS25
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1894
Serial Number: 352418
Year of Manufacture: 1906
Caliber: .30 Winchester Center Fire (.30-30 Winchester)
Action Type: This rifle has a lever action with a full-length tubular magazine.
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. PATENTED AUGUST 21. 1894.” in front of the rear sight, the left shoulder is marked “-NICKEL STEEL BARREL- / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER” and the top-rear is marked with “30 W.C.F.”. The top of the barrel at the rear and the top of the receiver’s chamber ring each have an ovalled “WP” proof. The front underside of the receiver is marked “352418”. The top tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK”. The bottom of the tang sight’s base is marked “DA”.
Barrel Length: 26″, Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed and screw-set to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “U”-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The notch is fine-adjustable for elevation. The top tang is drilled and tapped with a folding tang sight installed, adjustable for 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 some scattered light-moderate nicks, scuffs and scratches with some bruising on the right-rear of the forend. The wrist has some dark discoloration, most notable to the left of the top tang. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly worn to white with scattered light wear and discoloration from oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is light gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion in the bore. Our gauge shows an ME of about 2.0.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 70% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The magazine tube has some wear along each side. The receiver has mostly worn to white with scattered discoloration from oxidation. There is some other scattered light surface oxidation. There are scattered light 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 (see Mechanics).
Mechanics: The lever safety does not properly prevent the trigger from dropping the hammer when the lever is open. Otherwise, the action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety. The trigger is light and 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 1906 with a 26” octagonal barrel and chambered in .30-30 WCF. This model and cartridge have become synonymous in America with “deer rifle” and this gun’s bore is shootable. Whether you’re looking to add a Winchester to a collection or looking for a deer rifle, you can’t go wrong with an American classic. Please see our photos and good luck!