Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1894 Rifle
Serial Number: 1046375
Year of Manufacture: 1929 / C&R
Caliber: .30-30 Winchester
Action Type: This rifle has a lever action with a full-length tubular magazine.
Barrel Length: 22" Octagon. The front sight dovetail and the magazine tube dovetail measurements are correct to the muzzle which leads us to believe that this 22" barrel is original and factory correct.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Marble No. 5 beaded blade, dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a v-notch elevator sight, dovetailed to the barrel. The 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 a steel crescent buttplate. There are compression marks, scratches, and nicks, concentrated at the bottom of the forend. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 1/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the plate. The plate has mostly taken to a dark patina with wear at the heel and toe. Overall, the stocks are in Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is well defined. There is light erosion throughout the bore. In this writer's opinion the bore rates 6/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 45% of its metal finish. Most of the receiver has worn to white and taken to a light mottled patina. There is thinning and finish loss on the leading edges. There is light intermittent oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety. The lever safety functions properly. The trigger is crisp. 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: John M. Browning’s Winchester Model 1894 was designed around the emerging generation of smokeless-powder sporting cartridges and became one of the most successful American lever actions ever produced. The standard Model 1894 sporting rifle generally carried a 26" barrel, making this rifle’s 22" octagonal barrel an unusual, nonstandard-length configuration consistent with a special-order feature. The verified placement of the sight and magazine-tube dovetails supports the conclusion that the barrel was manufactured at this length rather than subsequently shortened and is a correct special order feature.
This rifle retains about 45% of its original blue finish, with strong remaining coverage on portions of the barrel and magazine tube, while the receiver has largely worn to a light mottled patina. Its walnut stocks remain in Good condition with scattered handling marks and no chips or cracks. The bright bore retains well-defined rifling with light erosion and rates 6/10, while the action functions correctly with a crisp trigger and operational half-cock and lever safeties. Its scarce 22" octagonal-barreled configuration, original finish, classic .30-30 chambering, and honest period character give this rifle considerably more collector interest than a standard-length Model 1894 sporting rifle.
