Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894 Rifle

Serial Number: 182858

Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1899

Caliber: .25-35 Winchester (.25-35 W.C.F.)

Action Type: This rifle has a lever action with a full-length tubular magazine.

Barrel Length: 26", Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Marble No. 3 white-beaded blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel; the front sight is not original to the gun. The rear sight is a Winchester Express sight with three folding "V"-notch leaves marked 50, 1 and 2. The 50-yard notch has had the edges re-profiled to be slightly round-top. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none included).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and steel crescent buttplate. The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches with a few more notable bruises in the wrist. There is a small loss at the toe. The wood is generally slightly shy to the metal. There is a filled hole in the belly, likely from a previously installed sling stud. There are no cracks. The LOP measures 13 1/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly worn to white some scattered oxidation and residue from the stock's new finish. Overall, the stocks are in Good-plus condition as refinished.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is dark. The rifling shows wear but is well defined. There is moderate erosion and light pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 5/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 50% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The barrel has some wear around and behind the front sight. Most of the balance is wear on the receiver. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is fairly evenly scattered light surface oxidation. There is a more notable ding on the left of the receiver in front of the hammer screw. The head of the hammer screw shows notable tool marking and the screw will not thread all the way into the receiver. There is residue around the edges of the wood from the stocks' new finish. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. 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: The Winchester Model 1894 rifle followed the other John Browning designed lever action rifles to become one of the most famous and popular hunting rifles of all time. It was the first commercial sporting rifle to sell over 7,000,000 units, making the name “Winchester” synonymous with all lever action rifles. It 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 Win. rounds, but by the next year Winchester had developed a different steel composition that could handle higher pressures, and the .30-30 Win. family of cartridges was born.

This is a Winchester Model 1894 rifle made Ca. 1899 with a 26” octagonal barrel and chambered in .25-35 WCF. The .25-35 WCF is a necked-down .30-30 which can use a range of projectiles from about 60-120 grains giving a muzzle velocity ranging from about 2,000-3,000 feet per second depending on projectile and powder charge. This makes it a nice rifle for smaller game and has been a popular cartridge for coyote. The rifle shows wear consistent with its age and use in the field, but retains strong mechanics. Whether you're looking to add a Winchester to a collection or looking to restore this for a varmint rifle, you can't go wrong with an American classic. Please see our photos and good luck!