Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894 

Serial Number: 154538

Year of Manufacture: 1899, C&R

Caliber: .25-35 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle with a half-length tubular magazine.

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

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Lyman ivory beaded steel blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “U”-notch semi-buckhorn elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The top tang is drilled and tapped with a folding Marble tang sight installed, adjustable for elevation.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a capped forend, straight grip and comb, and a smooth steel crescent buttplate. The stocks have scattered compression marks. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has worn to white with scattered wear and light surface oxidation. Overall, the stocks rate in about Fine Condition.

Type of Finish: Blued, with Case-hardened lever, trigger, and hammer.

Finish Originality: Original. The barrel has been Refinished. 

Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates about 10/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 93% of its current metal finish. There is some thinning on the edges of the receiver. The case color is strong on the lever and hammer. The barrel has been Refinished, though shows a few light scratches and scuffs. There are light scratches on the receiver, and there’s surface oxidation. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Fine Condition as Refinished.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety. The rifle is equipped with a lever safety, which is operational. The lever lock-ups properly and the trigger is crisp. We did not fire this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with a Winchester factory letter from the Cody Firearms Museum confirming this was produced as a “Rifle, 25/35 caliber, Barrel shape: 1/2 Octagon, Plain trigger, Sights: Sporting rear, 1/2 magazine, Takedown, Received in warehouse on October 24, 1902, Shipped from warehouse on November 6, 1902, order number 166379”.

Our Assessment: The Model 1894 was another Winchester lever action rifle designed by gunmaking genius John Moses Browning, and it became one of the most famous and popular hunting rifles of all time. It was the first commercial sporting rifle to sell over 7 million units, and 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 Winchester Center Fire rounds, but by August 1895 Winchester had developed a different steel composition that could handle higher pressures, and the .25-35 and .30-30 WCF chamberings were introduced. As R.L. Wilson relates in his reference book “Winchester An American Legend”, Winchester’s announcement of the Model 1894 in their November 1894 catalog certainly proved prophetic: “We believe that no repeating rifle system ever made will appeal to the eye and understanding of the riflemen as this will and that use will continue to warrant first impressions.”

This Special Order Winchester Model 1894 Half Octagon Half Mag Takedown Rifle was made in 1899 and is in Fine Condition as Refinished. It features a 26” half octagonal, half round barrel, 93% of its blued and case colored finish, which is original save for the barrel which has been refinished, some strong, vibrant, and iridescent original case coloring on the sides of the lever and hammer, a half length magazine, elegant two-piece smooth walnut stocks with a beautiful grain (really a step up from standard grade walnut) and a smooth steel crescent buttplate, a Lyman ivory bead steel blade front sight, a folding Marble tang sight, and a bright bore with sharp rifling and no erosion, and is a scarce takedown model. Lastly, it comes with a Winchester factory letter from the Cody Firearms Museum confirming this was produced as a “Rifle, 25/35 caliber, Barrel shape: 1/2 Octagon, Plain trigger, Sights: Sporting rear, 1/2 magazine, Takedown, Received in warehouse on October 24, 1902, Shipped from warehouse on November 6, 1902, order number 166379.” This is a wonderful Special Order Winchester Model 1894 Rifle.