Make: Winchester

Model: 1895

Serial Number: 50803

Year of Manufacture: 1905

Caliber: .405 WCF

Action Type: Lever Action with Internal Box Magazine

Barrel Length: 24"

Sights/Optics: The front sight is a Lyman white beaded blade dovetailed to a base fixed to the front of the barrel. The barrel has a dovetail for a rear sight, currently filled with a blank. The left of the receiver has a Lyman 21 receiver sight installed. There is a strip of matting on the chamber ring for glare reduction.

Stock Configuration and Condition: The stocks are checkered select walnut with schnabel forend, inlaid ebony tip, straight grip, straight comb, and a smooth steel shotgun-style buttplate. The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. The checkering shows some wear, but is generally well defined. The toe is notably proud to the buttplate. The LOP measures 12 3/4" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly worn to white or gone to a patina with some scattered surface erosion. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition as not original to the gun.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is scattered minor erosion and stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 7+ out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. Most of the balance is in scattered minor surface oxidation, primarily on the receiver. There are some light nicks and scratches. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, the rifle is in Very Good condition.

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

Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: This rifle comes with a Cody Firearms Records Office records search which indicates that this rifle's serial number was applied July 7, 1905, the rifle was received in warehouse August 11 and shipped August 12, 1905.

Our Assessment: The 1895 Winchester was the first lever action model to incorporate a fixed box magazine (i.e., it could not be removed). This is the model Teddy Roosevelt used for hunting both here in the United States and in Africa—he referred to it as his “Big Medicine”. With quick handling characteristics, a box magazine, and spitzer—more aerodynamic, accurate—bullet capability, the Model 1895 completely changed the world of sporting rifles. This rifle pattern was utilized by major powers worldwide, with Russia alone purchasing nearly 300,000 1895 rifles in the lead-up to World War I. In 1898, the United States ordered 10,000 1895 rifles in musket form for use in the Spanish-American War (the war ended before they could be delivered, however). One hundred of those were issued for field testing in the Philippines and the remaining 9,900 were later sold to a private business. Many 1895 rifles were shipped to the new Cuban government in 1906 and some even found their way to Pancho Villa’s troops in Mexico.

This example was made in 1905, just a few years after Teddy Roosevelt's hunting trip which created the term "Teddy Bear". Its 24" barrel is chambered for the .405 Winchester cartridge, one of the most powerful cartridges designed for use in lever-action rifles. The rifle is in Very Good condition, retaining 90% original metal finish, a strong bore and great mechanics, appearing to have seen gentle use over the last 120 years. The stocks have been replaced, but are select walnut checkered in a pattern that strongly suggests they were made by Winchester. This would be a neat addition to a Winchester collection missing the 1895 Model, especially chambered for the "Big Medicine" cartridge. Please see our photos and good luck!