Make: Winchester

Model: 1895

Serial Number: 45711

Year of Manufacture: 1904

Caliber: .35 Winchester Centerfire (WCF)

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle with Internal Box Magazine.

Barrel Length: 24”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Marble No. 3 sight with a fixed brass beaded blade and a folding aperture, dovetailed to a base fixed to the front of the barrel. The folding aperture is dented and we were not able to fold it into the up position. The front sight is not original to the gun. There is a dovetail at the rear of the barrel, but it is empty. The left of the receiver has a Lyman 21 receiver sight installed.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece smooth walnut with steel crescent buttplate, Schnabel forend tip with ebony insert, straight grip, and straight comb. A sling swivel is installed in the belly, but there is no forward sling mount. The stocks have some scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There is a loss on the top-left edge of the forend toward the front. There is a short crack at the right-front edge of the wrist and a few grain-line cracks around the rear edge of the buttstock. 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 infrequent erosion. The stocks rate in Good overall condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is light gray with sharp rifling. There is scattered light erosion and a little minor pitting in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 6 or 7 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 60% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is fairly evenly scattered wear, a little more notable in the receiver and lever. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches, most notable on the left of the barrel over the front of the forend and just in front of the receiver sight. There is infrequent surface erosion, mostly on the right receiver flat. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with usable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger is crisp. The lever locks up 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: None.

Our Assessment: The 1895 Winchester was the first lever-action model to incorporate a box magazine. The box magazine allowed the use of spitzer-type bullets without the danger of ignition in a tubular magazine. The use of spitzer bullets improved ballistics and allowed for much higher velocities, especially with the use of smokeless powder. At the time of its introduction, the 1895 was considered the lever action big-game rifle, but it also saw favor with some militaries, being purchased in large numbers by the Russian Empire for WWI, given to Pancho Villa's best troops during the Mexican Revolution, and 10,000 were purchased by the US Military for use during the Spanish American War. With its quick handling characteristics, box magazine and pointed bullet capability, the Model 1895 changed the world of sporting rifles forever. Teddy Roosevelt himself favored the 1895 Winchester, considering his rifle chambered in .405 to be the “medicine gun” for lion.

This example was made in 1904 just after the turn of the century. Its 24" barrel is chambered for the .35 Winchester cartridge, a medium-bore round that can push a 250 grain bullet past 2,000 fps. The rifle is in Good condition, retaining 60% original metal finish, a decent bore and good mechanics, appearing to have seen its fair share of use over the last 120 years. This would be a neat addition to a Winchester collection missing the 1895 Model. Please see our photos and good luck!