Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894 Rifle

Serial Number: 272122

Year of Manufacture: 1905 / C&R

Caliber: .38-55 Winchester

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 "272122".

Barrel Length: 26" Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed and screw set to the barrel. The rear sight is a semi-buckhorn v-notch elevator sight with fine elevation adjustment, dovetailed to the barrel. The tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight (none present).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and steel crescent buttplate. The stocks have some scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There is a small crack on the left side of the wrist at the receiver. There is some grain splitting particularly on the left side of the buttstock near the toe. The LOP measures 13″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall, the stocks are in about Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue, Case Colored

Finish Originality: Original. There are dark splotches on the barrel, magtube, lever, trigger, and receiver (possibly old clear coat or cold blue).

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is well defined. There is some light erosion throughout the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates about 6/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 45% of its metal finish. The case color has mostly gone mute on the lever and hammer. The action shows operational wear. There is thinning and finish loss on the leading edges as well as the top and bottom of the receiver including the tangs. There are some mild nicks and dings on the edges of the barrel’s octagon. There is intermittent oxidation and mottled patina. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about 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: 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. This is a Winchester Model 1894 rifle made in 1905 with a 26" octagonal barrel and chambered in .38-55.