Make: Winchester

Model: 1894

Serial Number: 141372

Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1901

Caliber: .25-35 W.C.F. (Winchester Center Fire)

Action Type: Lever Action, Tube Magazine Fed Rifle

Barrel Length: 26", Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a german silver blade in a slotted base dovetailed and screw-set to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a Winchester Express sight with three folding "V"-notches in a base dovetailed to the rear of the barrel; each notch has a vertical platinum aiming reference. 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 some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches with a few more notable marks. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13? from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has worn to white with some scattered light oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 7 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 50% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The receiver and nosecap are mostly worn to white. The case color on the hammer and trigger have mostly muted. There is some scattered light wear on the barrel. The magazine tube has some wear along the bottom, more notable toward the nosecap. There is some minor surface oxidation, mostly in the worn areas. There are some light nicks and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are generally sharp, the tang sight fill-screw is disfigured with a usable slot. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in 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: 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 1901 with a 26” octagonal barrel and chambered in .25-35 WCF. The .25-35 WCF is a necked-down .30-30 which can use a range of projectiles from about 60-120 grains giving a muzzle velocity ranging from about 2,000-3,000 feet per second depending on projectile and powder charge. This makes it a nice rifle for smaller game and has been a popular cartridge for coyote. Whether you’re looking to add a Winchester to a collection or looking for a varmint rifle, you can’t go wrong with an American classic. Please see our photos and good luck!