Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894 Deluxe Rifle

Serial Number: 95977

Year of Manufacture: 1897

Caliber: .38-55 WCF

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle with Full-Length Tubular Magazine

Markings: The top of the barrel in front of the rear sight is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. PATENTED AUGUST 21.1894.” and the left shoulder is marked “38-55”. The top of the barrel and receiver are marked with WP proofs. The top tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / PAT. AUG. 21. 1894.”. The left side of the bottom tang is marked “10753 XX”. The rear of the buttstock under the buttplate is marked “94 / T / 10715”.

Barrel Length: 26”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Lyman ivory beaded blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a flat top u-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the barrel. The notch is fine elevation adjustable. The top tang is mounted with a Lyman tang peep sight.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece Deluxe XX checkered walnut with a capped forend, hard rubber capped pistol grip, straight comb, and smooth steel crescent buttplate. There are some scattered compressions, scratches, and little nicks. The checkering is strong and sharp with a few scattered defects. Nearly all of the receiver has worn to white. The LOP measures 13 1/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has patina and oxidation with some minor erosion in the heel. Overall, the stocks are in Fine condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blued with Case Colored Lever

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is faint erosion throughout with faint corrosion in the muzzle. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 8/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 30% of its metal finish. Nearly all of the case color has completely muted. There is thinning and patina throughout. There is finish wear on the edges. There are scattered spots of oxidation. There are some scattered nicks and scratches. There are a few marks in the metal on the outer circumference of the muzzle. The screwheads range from tool marked to sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Fine condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. 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. Not only was it a success, but as of 1983 it held the record for the best-selling center-fire rifle in U.S. history. 5,103,249 Winchester 1894’s and 94’s were produced from 1894 to 1983 alone and it didn’t stop there. From 1984 to 1997, the Model 94 angle eject was introduced and in 2003 the iconic rifle was offered as a .410 shotgun. U.S. production ceased in 2006. At the time there were 14 versions of the Model 94 in the Winchester catalog. In 2010 Winchester Repeating Arms reintroduced the model 94 in two Limited Edition models to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Oliver F. Winchester’s birth in New England in 1810.

This is an antique Winchester Model 1894 Deluxe Rifle rifle made in 1897 and has a 26″ Octagon barrel chambered in .38-55 WCF with deluxe XX checkered stocks. It will make a great addition to any collection and should still prove to be a very classy and classic shooter.