Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894 Rifle

Serial Number: 232108

Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1901

Caliber: .30-30 Winchester (.30 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 Lyman Beach-style sight folding to present either a hooded, beaded post or a beaded blade (the bead has broken off). The rear sight is an after-market "V"-notch elevator sight dovetailed and screw-set to the barrel; the elevator is missing. 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. There is a small crack at the bottom-rear of the forend. There are a few tiny losses around the edges. The LOP measures 13" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly worn to white some scattered oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in Good-Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is light erosion and stubborn fouling scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 6-7/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 75% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The barrel has some wear around and behind the rear sight. Most of the balance is scattered wear on the receiver. The top tang has wear from a previously installed tang sight. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is fairly evenly scattered light surface oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with questionable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Good-Very 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 .30-30 WCF. The .30-30 is perhaps the most popular cartridge the Model 94 was ever chambered for, and today is nearly synonymous with "deer rifle". The rifle shows wear consistent with its age and use in the field, but retains strong mechanics and a decent bore. Whether you're looking to add a Winchester to a collection or looking to take this back out in the field to drop some deer, you can't go wrong with an American classic. Please see our photos and good luck!