Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894 Deluxe Takedown Rifle

Serial Number: 15174

Year of Manufacture: 1896 / Antique

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

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

Markings: The top of the barrel in front of the rear sight is marked "MANUFACTURED BY THE / -WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A.-" and "30 W.C.F." at the rear. The top tang is marked "MODEL 1894. / -WINCHESTER- / PAT. AUG. 21 1894.". The left side of the bottom tang is marked "2801XXXS". The top of the buttstock inside the tang inlet is marked "2801". The inside of the buttplate is marked "2801". The rear of the buttstock under the buttplate is stamped "2801" and again "2801" in pencil. The takedown tab on the magtube is marked "-PAT.JUNE 6.1893".

Barrel Length: 26" Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed and screw set to the barrel. The rear sight is a 3-leaf v-notch express sight dovetailed to the barrel. The top tang is mounted with a Marble tang peep sight.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece XXX Grade Deluxe checkered walnut with a capped forend, hard rubber capped pistol grip, straight comb, and smooth steel shotgun style buttplate. There are sling rings front and rear. There are scattered compressions, scratches, and little nicks. The checkering is strong and sharp with faint peak wear and a couple compressions. There is a small crack on the right side of the wrist at the rear portion of the upper tang. The LOP measures 13" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has patina and oxidation with some minor erosion. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued with Case Colored Lever and Hammer

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is minor erosion throughout. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 7/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 50% of its metal finish. Most of the case color has muted with some small areas where the color is vibrant though interfered with patina.There is thinning and patina throughout the receiver. There is finish wear on the edges. There are scattered spots of oxidation. There are some scattered nicks and scratches. There is scattered erosion on the barrel and magtube, especially toward the muzzle end. The screwheads range from sharp to mildly tool marked with serviceable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Good condition as Antique.

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: This rifle comes with its Factory Records Letter confirming a manufacture date of 1896, round barrel, plain trigger, checkered stock with pistol grip, shotgun butt, takedown, and shipment date of March 16,1896 with order number 7751.

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. Not only was it a success, but as of 1983 it held the record for the best-selling center-fire rifle in U.S. history. 5,103,249 Winchester 1894’s and 94’s were produced from 1894 to 1983 alone and it didn’t stop there. From 1984 to 1997, the Model 94 angle eject was introduced and in 2003 the iconic rifle was offered as a .410 shotgun. U.S. production ceased in 2006. At the time there were 14 versions of the Model 94 in the Winchester catalog. In 2010 Winchester Repeating Arms reintroduced the model 94 in two Limited Edition models to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Oliver F. Winchester’s birth in New England in 1810.

This is a Winchester Model 1894 Deluxe Takedown Rifle rifle made in 1896 and has a 26″ Round barrel chambered in .30-30 WCF with deluxe XXX checkered stocks. It will make a great addition to any collection and should still prove to be a very classy and classic shooter.