Make: Winchester

Model: 1894

Serial Number: 154386

Year of Manufacture: 1902

Caliber: .30-30 Winchester (WCF)

Action Type: Lever Action, Tube Magazine Fed Rifle

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

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a "U"-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel, altered to a flat-top profile. The top 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 scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The buttstock has gaps at the front of the wrist. The wood is generally shy to the metal. The buttstock is not original to the gun. The LOP measures 13″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has worn to white with scattered light oxidation and minor erosion. Overall, the stocks are in about Good condition as refinished and/or replaced.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is dark. The rifling is worn, but visible. There is erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 4 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 2% of its metal finish. Very little finish remains in well protected areas. The surfaces have worn to white or gone to a light patina. The tip of the hammer spur has broken off. There is scattered surface oxidation and light erosion. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with questionably usable slots. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. Overall, this rifle is in about Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with a Cody Firearms Records Office records check which confirms this rifle's serial was applied August 20, 1902, it was produced with a 1/2 Octagon barrel, 1/2 magazine and a shotgun butt with a rubber plate (replaced), received in warehouse September 19, 1902 and shipped September 22, 1902 on order T102464.

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 1902 with a 26” octagonal barrel chambered in .30-30 Winchester. The .30-30 Winchester paired with the Model 1894 is nearly synonymous with "deer rifle" in America and a classic rifle to add to any collection. This example was produced with some special order features including a half-octagon barrel, half-length "button" magazine, and a shotgun-style buttstock, though the buttstock has since been replaced. The rifle is in about Good condition, retaining little original metal finish, a fair bore, and strong mechanics. It would make a neat addition to a Winchester collection and would be a good candidate for restoration. Please see our photos and good luck!