Winchester Pre-64 Model 1894 ’94 26″ .32-40 WCF Lever Rifle, MFD 1923 C&R

SOLD FOR: $1198

LSB#: 210814JE03

Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894

Serial Number: 925881

Year of Manufacture: 1923

Caliber: .32-40 W.C.F.

Action Type: This is a Lever Action Rifle with a Full Length Magazine Tube.

Markings: The receiver’s chamber ring and the top rear of the barrel have an ovalled “WP” proof. The left shoulder of the barrel is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATIN ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. PATENTED AUGUST 21. 1894.” and “32-40”. The front underside of the receiver is marked “925881”. The top tang is marked “MODEL   94 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK REG.U.S.PAT. OFF. & FGN.” (under the tang sight).

Barrel Length: 26″, Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. There is an empty dovetail at the rear of the barrel. The top tang is drilled and tapped with a folding Lyman tang sight installed, adjustable for elevation.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate. The stocks have some scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches, more in the buttstock than the forend. There is a very small metal stud or pin of some sort in the left of the buttstock, it doesn’t appear to have any purpose. There is some discoloration around the edges of the wrist. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate is worn to white with scattered wear and minor discoloration from oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is light gray. The rifling is sharp where not interrupted by erosion. There is scattered light erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 70% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The receiver is mostly worn to white with some minor discoloration from oxidation and some scattered light nicks and scratches. The barrel’s finish is generally strong with wear on the top-rear from the previously installed rear sight, tool marks on the rear dovetail, some scattered nicks, scuffs, scratches and spots of minor oxidation and one patch of more notable finish wear on the bottom-left in front of the forend where there is also a patch of more notable nicks and scratches. The magazine tube has scattered wear, scuffs and scratches with the worn areas discolored from oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with serviceable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Good-Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety. The lever safety is present and fully functional. 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 1923 with a 26” octagonal barrel chambered for .32-40 W.C.F.. The rifle shows honest wear for its age and retains strong mechanics. This is a nice example of the 1894, chambered for one of the model’s original calibers, and would be a nice addition to a Winchester collection. Please see our photos and good luck!