Winchester Pre-64 1894 94 Carbine .30-30 Lever Action Rifle, MFD 1955 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,475.00
LSB#: LSB260128HS021
Make: Winchester
Model: 94
Serial Number: 2133007
Year of Manufacture: 1955
Caliber: .30-30 Winchester
Action Type: Lever Action Carbine with Full-Length Tubular Magazine
Markings: “The left side of the barrel is marked “Winchester Trademark, Made in USA/ Model 94, 30-30 Win, Winchester Proof Steel”. The serial number is marked on the bottom of the receiver.
Barrel Length: 20″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a hooded beaded blade dovetailed to a serrated, ramped base soldered to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “U”-notched elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The notch is fine-adjustable for elevation. The left side of the receiver is drilled and tapped for a receiver sight, none installed.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with banded forend, straight grip, straight comb, and checkered steel buttplate. The LOP measures 13 1/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. This stock has been sanded and refinished. The forend has shrunk and is slightly loose. There are scratches and compression dents throughout. There are a couple light chips and cracks along the upper tang. There is a gouge ahead of the forend band from reassembly. Overall this stock is in Good condition for a refinish.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. There is some stubborn fouling, particularly on the lands. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 90% of its original finish. There are scratches and light corrosion pits throughout. There is handling wear, most notably on the receiver from carrying. The screw heads are tooled but serviceable. The markings are clear. Overall this rifle is in Good to Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The rifle has a half-cock safety and a lever safety. 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 Winchester Model 1894 is one of the most recognizable and successful sporting rifles ever produced, designed by John Browning and introduced at the height of America’s transition into the smokeless powder era. By 1955, this example falls firmly into the desirable Pre-64 production period, known for its forged components and traditional manufacturing methods prior to Winchester’s cost-cutting changes in 1964. Chambered in .30-30 Winchester, introduced in 1895 as one of the first commercially successful smokeless sporting cartridges, the Model 94 became synonymous with American deer hunting, offering a balanced combination of moderate recoil, effective terminal performance, and quick handling in a lightweight carbine format.
This carbine shows the honest wear and field use expected of a mid-century working rifle, retaining approximately 90% of its original blue finish with scattered scratches, light corrosion pitting, and typical carry wear along the receiver. The walnut stocks have been sanded and refinished, with evidence of age and use including compression dents, minor chips and cracks at the upper tang, and a gouge near the forend band likely from reassembly. The forend has experienced some shrinkage and sits slightly loose, a common trait in older lever guns that have seen varying environmental conditions over time. Despite these factors, the rifle maintains strong visual character with clear markings and classic Pre-64 features intact.
Mechanically, the rifle remains in proper working order, with a correctly functioning lever action, half-cock safety, and lever safety consistent with the design. The 20-inch carbine barrel is paired with a traditional sighting arrangement, including a hooded front bead and adjustable rear elevator sight, while the receiver remains drilled and tapped for a period-correct receiver sight if desired. The bore is a strong point, showing bright metal and sharp rifling with only minor fouling, reflecting limited internal wear. This Model 94 represents a solid example of a Pre-64 Winchester that has seen practical use while retaining the qualities that made the platform an enduring staple of American sporting arms. Please see our photos for a better understanding of condition and good luck with your bids! MF