Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894 Saddle Ring Carbine

Serial Number: 983196

Year of Manufacture: 1926

Caliber: .30-30 Winchester Center Fire

Action Type: This is a Lever Action Rifle with a Full Length Magazine Tube.

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “-MODEL 94-WINCHESTER-NICKEL STEEL-30W.C.F.- / -TRADE MARK-”. The top of the barrel and top of the receiver are both marked with Winchester WP proofs. The top tang is marked “MODEL 94 / -WINCHESTER - / TRADE MARK REG.U.S.PAT.OFF.&FGN.”. The bottom of the receiver is marked “983196”.

Barrel Length: 20” Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Marble 94-C beaded blade set and pinned in a square black integral to the barrel. The rear sight dovetail is empty. The top tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight (not included).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth wood with banded forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel carbine style buttplate. There are a few light handling marks. The stocks have been refinished. The top corners of the wrist at the receiver have filled tiny losses. There is a small crack on the right side of the forend in front of the band. The LOP measures about 13” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue, Case Color Lever and Hammer

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is minor erosion throughout the bore. There is no deep pitting. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 6.5/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 35% of its metal finish. Most of the finish on the receiver has worn to white with some light browning patina on the flats. The action shows operational wear. There is finish loss on the magtube with oxidation. There is blue reserved mostly on the barrel near the protected areas. The saddle ring has been removed from its base. The screw heads are sharp with serviceable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety. The lever safety is present but the hammer drops even without it engaged. 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: 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 Saddle Ring Carbine made in 1926 with a 20” round barrel and chambered in .30-30. Whether you’re looking to add to your Winchester collection or want a classy vintage hunting rifle, you can’t go wrong with an American classic.