Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894

Serial Number: 104157

Year of Manufacture: 1897

Caliber: .30-30 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)

Action Type: Takedown Lever Action Rifle with a Full-Length Tubular Magazine

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE / WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A.”, the left shoulder of the barrel is marked “NICKEL STEEL BARREL / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER”, and the top rear of the barrel is marked “30 W.C.F.”. The top tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / PAT. AUG. 21. 1894”. The magazine takedown arm is marked “-PAT. JUNE 6. 1893-”. The bottom front of the receiver is marked with the serial number “104157”.

Barrel Length: 26”, Half Octagonal, Half Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed and screw set to the barrel. The rear sight is a “V"-notch sight with flip-up panels for two other distances dovetailed to the top rear of the barrel. The top tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight (none included).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a capped forend, straight grip and comb, and crescent steel buttplate. The stocks have some scattered light draglines, compressions, and scratches. The left side of the buttstock at the toe has a small crack in the grain of a knot. The crack does not creep into the edges of the stock. The LOP measures 13” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall, the stocks are in about Fine Condition.

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

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is very faint erosion. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates at 9/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 50% of its metal finish. The majority of the bluing resides on the barrel and mag tube. The receiver retains some blue on the flats but most of the finish has taken to a patina or worn to white around the edges, especially the tangs. The action shows operational wear. There is finish loss on the end of the mag tube, and on the mag tube behind the band. The screw heads are sharp with serviceable slots. There is some case color in the protected areas of the hammer and lever but most of the finish has muted. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good Condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety and the lever safety functions properly. 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: None

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 Antique Winchester Model 1894 Lever Action Rifle in .30 WCF was made in 1897 and is in Very Good Condition. It features a 26” half octagonal, half round barrel, 50% of its original blued finish (the majority of which resides on the barrel and mag tube), with most of the receiver having worn to white, and most of the case coloring on the lever and hammer having muted, rugged two-piece smooth walnut stocks (the left side of the buttstock at the toe has a small crack in the grain of a knot, though the crack does not creep into the edges of the stock), solid mechanics, and a bright bore with sharp rifling and very faint erosion, and is a scarce takedown model, allowing for easy storage and transport. .30-30 WCF is one of, if not the most popular deer hunting cartridges in America. This is a rare, fine Winchester ’94 rifle.