Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894 Takedown

Serial Number: 297345

Year of Manufacture: 1904

Caliber: .32-40 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle with a half-length tubular magazine.

Barrel Length: 26”, Half-Octagon, Half-Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Lyman ivory bead steel blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a Lyman No. 6 folding leaf dovetailed to the barrel. The top tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight (none included). 

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are “deluxe” two-piece checkered walnut with a capped forend, capped semi-pistol grip, and checkered Winchester hard rubber shotgun style buttplate. The stocks have scattered compression marks. The checkering is crisp to semi-worn. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 1/4” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall, the stocks rate in about Fine Condition.

Type of Finish: Blue with a Case-hardened lever

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright. The rifling is sharp. There is minor erosion throughout the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates about 8.5/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 83% of its metal finish. There is some thinning on the edges of the receiver and on the edges of the octagonal portion of the barrel. The barrel has generally strong finish with a few light scratches and scuffs. There are light scratches, rub areas, and scuffs on the receiver which have taken a light surface oxidation and even pitting in some areas. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good Condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety. The rifle is equipped with a lever safety, which is operational. The lever lock-ups properly and the trigger is crisp. We did not fire this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None 

Our Assessment: The Model 1894 was another Winchester lever action rifle designed by gunmaking genius John Moses Browning, and it became one of the most famous and popular hunting rifles of all time. It was the first commercial sporting rifle to sell over 7 million units, and 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 Winchester Center Fire rounds, but by August 1895 Winchester had developed a different steel composition that could handle higher pressures, and the .25-35 and .30-30 WCF chamberings were introduced. As R.L. Wilson relates in his reference book “Winchester An American Legend”, Winchester’s announcement of the Model 1894 in their November 1894 catalog certainly proved prophetic: “We believe that no repeating rifle system ever made will appeal to the eye and understanding of the riflemen as this will and that use will continue to warrant first impressions.”

This Deluxe Winchester Model 1894 Half Octagon Half Mag Takedown Rifle was made in 1904 and is in Very Good Condition. It features a 26” half octagonal, half round barrel, 83% of its original blued finish, with a bit of case coloring on the lever, a half length magazine, elegant “deluxe” two-piece checkered walnut stocks with a beautiful grain, a capped semi-pistol grip, and a checkered Winchester hard rubber shotgun style buttplate, classic Lyman front and rear sights, and a bright bore with sharp rifling and only minor erosion, and is a scarce takedown model. This is a wonderful Deluxe Winchester Model 1894 Rifle.