Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894 Takedown Rifle

Serial Number: 240610

Year of Manufacture: 1904

Caliber: .32-40 Winchester

Action Type: This rifle has a takedown lever action with a half-length tubular magazine.

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / -NEW HAVEN, CONN.U.S.A. PAT. AUG.21.1894” in front of the rear sight and “32-40” behind. The top tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK”. The bottom of the receiver is marked “240610”. The rear of the buttstock under the buttplate is marked “94 / T / 20095” (a special order mark). The inside of the buttplate is marked “2338”. The left side of the rear sight riser is marked “PAT.FEB.5.1901.”

Barrel Length: 26”, Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Lyman beaded blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a Winchester 1A semi-buckhorn “V”-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The notch is fine-adjustable for elevation. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none included).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are Semi-Deluxe 2-piece checkered walnut with capped forend, capped checkered pistol grip, straight comb, ½ magazine, and steel crescent buttplate. The stocks have some scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. The checkering is generally crisp and attractive. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall, the stocks are in about Fine condition.

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. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 10/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 80% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. Strongest finish is in the barrel and magazine tube which have some scattered light nicks, scratches, a few nicks, and surface oxidation. The receiver’s finish is strong throughout, with some discoloration from oxidation. There are scattered scratches on the receiver with tool marks at some screw heads but most are sharp. The action shows operational wear. The case color is strong with muting on the edges and bottom of the lever. The markings are clear. There are “takedown” marks on the barrel. Overall, this rifle is in about Fine 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 Cody Firearms Museum Records letter confirming its checkered pistol grip stock, Lyman front sight, ½ Magazine, received in warehouse and shipped in November 1904 order 255057, with a Repair and Return date of December 15, 1904 order number 260716.

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 1904 with a 26” octagonal barrel and chambered in .32 -40. The rifle was special-ordered as a takedown allowing for convenient storage and transport, with checkered pistol grip stocks, and ½ magazine. The gun’s original finish and Special Order features will interest Winchester collectors, but the bore is still nearly pristine and may still make for a nice hunting rifle.