Make: Winchester

Model: 1895, Russian Contract

Serial Number: 165757

Year of Manufacture: 1915

Caliber: 7.62x54R

Action Type: Lever Action Fixed Box Magazine

Barrel Length: 28"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade pinned in a slotted base forged to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a folding ladder-style sight fixed to the rear of the barrel presenting a "U"-notch when folded down and also a "U"-notch when folded up. The ladder is graduated from 15-31 in hundreds of arshin with a notch on the top marked 32, the left of the base is graduated from 4-14 for use with the ladder down.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are three-piece smooth walnut with a spring clip secured handguard, nosecap with forward sling mounting point and bayonet lug, barrel band with sling swivel, finger grooved forend, straight grip, straight comb, steel carbine-style buttplate with sliding door, nothing in the compartment, and a sling plate inlaid to the belly with a Super Grade-style QD swivel. There is another sling mounting point in the front of the magazine. There are some scattered nicks, dings, scrapes and scratches, some of these have damaged or removed portions of the surface wood. The handguard has cracks at the top-rear. The forend has a small loss on the top-left edge. There are a few minor cracks around the front edges of the wrist. The LOP measures 12 5/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly worn to white with scattered nicks, scratches, and some minor oxidation. The stocks rate in Good overall condition as refinished.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is dark gray with well defined rifling. There is light-moderate erosion and pitting scattered through the bore, mostly in the grooves. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 5/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 35% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The exposed surfaces have scattered finish wear, more notable on raised surfaces or features. There are several scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is some scattered minor surface oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to slightly disfigured with usable slots. The markings are generally clear, some show wear. Overall, this rifle rates in Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired 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 correct Russian contract bayonet with Winchester marked guard.

Our Assessment: After some damned foolish thing happened in the Balkans, European great powers began to mobilize for war. Russia had three million men in their army, but not the equipment, manufacturing capacity, or logistics to properly supply them. When they entered WWI, it was quickly found that they would have to seek foreign arms production to equip their military. Huge orders were placed with American companies such as Westinghouse and Remington to produce their M1891 Mosin-Nagant rifles, but they needed something that could ship immediately in the largest volume possible.

Though Winchester had only made around 75,000 Model 1895 rifles since its introduction, Russia ordered a staggering 300,000 Musket variants, chambered for 7.62x54R and equipped with bayonets. The model was actually quite well suited to the cartridge, really only requiring charger-guides to be installed and a rear sight developed with graduations not for the cartridge and in the Russian arshin unit of measurement. All 300,000 rifles were delivered in 1915 and 1916.

This example is in Good condition, faring better than most of the 1895s that made their way to Russia just in time for a Revolution, Civil War, purges and violent repression which would follow. It will make a great addition to a collection of WWI, Russian, or Winchester rifles. Please see our photos and good luck!