Winchester Pre-64 Model 1894 94 .38-55 WCF 26” Round Lever Rifle 1906 C&R

SOLD FOR: $1,425.00

LSB#: LSB250524TL003

Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894 Rifle

Serial Number: 330080

Year of Manufacture: 1906, C&R (Factory Letter)

Caliber: .38-55 W.C.F.

Action Type: Lever Action fed by Full-Length Magazine Tube

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” and “38-55” with a Winchester WP proof. The top of the receiver is marked with a Winchester WP proof.  The tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK”.  The bottom of the receiver is marked “330080”.  

Barrel Length: 26” Round

Sights / Optics:  The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to the barrel. The bead has been damaged and the blade bent to the right. The rear sight is a flat top v-notch elevator sight with fine elevation adjustment, dovetailed to the barrel. The tang is drilled, tapped, and installed with a tang sight. 

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and steel crescent buttplate. There is light handling wear. There is a hairline crack on each side of the toe starting at the buttplate. The LOP measures 13 1/8? from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue, Case Colored

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is very faint erosion. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 8.5/10. 

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 65% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows general operational wear. There is thinning on the leading edges. There is light oxidation. Most of the case color lever and hammer has muted.  The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety and the lever safety functions properly. 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: This rifle comes with a factory letter. 

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” round barrel and chambered in .38-55. Please see our photos and good luck on your bid! – L.S.