Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894 Takedown Rifle

Serial Number: 139953

Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1901

Caliber: .30-30 Winchester (WCF)

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

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 folding "V"-notches dovetailed to the barrel. Originally, there were three notches, the middle notch has broken off at the hinge. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none present).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate. The stocks have scattered light nicks, scuffs, scratches. There are a few more notable dings, most notable in the left of the wrist just in front of the comb. 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 scattered spots of minor oxidation, nicks and scratches, and some surface erosion at the heel and toe. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is gray. The rifling shows wear, but is generally well defined. There is light erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 5 or 6 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 60% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. Most of the balance is in the receiver and barrel extension which have worn to white. The barrel has some scattered finish wear, most notable along the right shoulder and right flat. The magazine has more notable finish wear. There is wear on the magazine from disassembly/assembly. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is some minor oxidation, mostly in the worn areas. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to slightly disfigured with a usable slot. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. 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.

Not only was it a success, but as of 1983 it held the record for the best-selling center-fire rifle in U.S. history. 5,103,249 Winchester 1894’s and 94’s were produced from 1894 to 1983 alone and it didn’t stop there. From 1984 to 1997, the Model 94 angle eject was introduced and in 2003 the iconic rifle was offered as a .410 shotgun. U.S. production ceased in 2006. At the time there were 14 versions of the Model 94 in the Winchester catalog. In 2010 Winchester Repeating Arms reintroduced the model 94 in two Limited Edition models to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Oliver F. Winchester's birth in New England in 1810.

This is a Model 1894 Takedown rifle made right at the turn of the century. It has a 26” octagonal barrel chambered in .30-30 WCF. It functions well, has an Old West appearance and will fit right in to a Winchester or lever action rifle collection. Please see our photos and good luck!