Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894 Rifle

Serial Number: 459497

Year of Manufacture: 1908

Caliber: .30-30 Winchester Center Fire (.30-30 W.C.F.)

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

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN.CONN.U.S.A.PATENTED AUGUST 21.1984” and “-NICKEL STEEL BARREL- / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER”. The left side of the chamber is marked “30 W.C.F.”. The top of the barrel and receiver are marked with WP proofs. The top tang is marked “MODEL 1894 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK REG.IN.U.S.PAT.OFF.”. The bottom of the receiver is marked “459497”.

Barrel Length: 26”, Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a replaced beaded blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a 3-leaf flip up v-notch sight dovetailed to the barrel. The top 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 steel crescent buttplate. The stocks have some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches with finish loss intermittently throughout the buttstock. The stocks have been refinished. The new lacquered finish is mottled throughout the buttstock. There are no cracks. There is a loss on the left side of the forend at the upper edge near the cap. The LOP measures 13” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has worn to white with some oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in Fine condition as refinished.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is scattered minor erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 6.5 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 60% of its metal finish.The receiver, lever, and hammer have all worn to white. The barrel and magtube have strong blue remaining. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is some scattered minor surface oxidation. The action has operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety and there is a lever safety that functions correctly. 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: This 1908 production Winchester Model 1894 is a classic example of one of the most iconic lever-action rifles in American history. Chambered in .30 W.C.F. (.30-30 Winchester), this rifle was built to take advantage of smokeless powder and higher-pressure rounds, as indicated by its “Nickel Steel Barrel” marking. It features a full-length mag tube, 26” round barrel, crescent buttplate, and a 3-leaf express rear sight paired with a replacement beaded front blade for improved sight picture. The bore remains mostly bright with strong rifling and some minor frosting, while the action locks up with the reliable smoothness you'd expect from a rifle that helped define American hunting and frontier heritage. The receiver and lever have gracefully aged to a silver-gray patina, while the barrel retains about 60% of its original blued finish. With refinished wood and a mechanically sound action, this is a handsome, functional early-production ’94 with over a century of field experience. A fine addition for the collector, shooter, or history-minded outdoorsman.