Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894/94

Serial Number: 781356

Year of Manufacture: 1915

Caliber: .32 Winchester Special (.32 WS)

Action Type: Lever Action Carbine with full-length tubular magazine.

Barrel Length: 20” Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Lyman ivory bead steel blade dovetailed to a textured, ramped base fixed to the front of the barrel and slotted for a hood (none included). The top right of the bead has a small loss. The rear sight is a “U”-notch semi-buckhorn sight with riser, dovetailed to the barrel, fine adjustable for elevation. The tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight (none included).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a banded forend, straight grip, straight comb, and steel carbine-style buttplate. 11 serrations have been hand cut into the upper left edge of the buttplate. The stocks have some scattered marks, compressions, nicks, and dings. There are no chips or cracks. The marks have darkened with stain. The wood is also dark near the metal. The saddle ring has been removed, though its mount remains. The LOP measures 13 1/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate shows some light scratching, pitting, and spot patina. Overall, the stocks rate in Very Good Condition. 

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. There is some minor stubborn fouling on a few of the lands near the muzzle. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9/10.

Overall Condition: This carbine retains about 35% of its metal finish. The action shows operation wear. Most of the finish that remains is located on the barrel and protected areas. Most of the receiver has worn to white. The buttplate has worn to white. There is thinning and finish loss throughout. There are scratches and nicks, and there’s intermittent oxidation. Additionally, the “Model 94” marking on the barrel dates it to post-1919 when Winchester changed the model name from “Model 1894” to “Model 94”, but the receiver dates to 1915 by the serial number and is still marked “Model 1894”. Thus, the barrel is a replacement, which is further explained by the additional “P” proof mark on the barrel, denoting a Winchester mail order replacement barrel that was installed outside of the Winchester factory. It was likely sent to a gunsmith somewhere in the US for installation on this carbine, as replacing a spent barrel was far more cost effective than buying an entirely new carbine. Overall, this carbine is in about Good Condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The carbine has a half-cock safety and a lever safety. We have not fired this carbine. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment: The Model 1894 was another Winchester lever action rifle designed by gunmaking genius John Moses Browning, and it became one of the most famous and popular hunting rifles of all time. It was the first commercial sporting rifle to sell over 7 million units, and 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 Winchester Center Fire rounds, but by August 1895 Winchester had developed a different steel composition that could handle higher pressures, and the .25-35 and .30-30 WCF chamberings were introduced. As R.L. Wilson relates in his reference book “Winchester An American Legend”, Winchester’s announcement of the Model 1894 in their November 1894 catalog certainly proved prophetic: “We believe that no repeating rifle system ever made will appeal to the eye and understanding of the riflemen as this will and that use will continue to warrant first impressions.”

This Winchester Model 1894/94 Saddle Ring Carbine was made in 1915 and is in Good Condition. It features a 20” replacement barrel, 35% of its original blued finish (the receiver has worn to white, the remaining finish is primarily on the barrel and protected areas), rugged two-piece smooth walnut stocks with a banded forend, straight grip and comb, and steel carbine-style buttplate (the saddle ring has been removed, though its mount remains), solid mechanics, and a bright bore with sharp rifling and no erosion (only some minor stubborn fouling on a few of the lands near the muzzle). The “Model 94” marking on the barrel dates it to post-1919 when Winchester changed the model name from “Model 1894” to “Model 94”, but the receiver dates to 1915 by the serial number and is still marked “Model 1894”. Thus, the barrel is a replacement, which is further explained by the additional “P” proof mark on the barrel, denoting a Winchester mail order replacement barrel that was installed outside of the Winchester factory. It was likely sent to a gunsmith somewhere in the US for installation on this carbine, as replacing a spent barrel was far more cost effective than buying an entirely new carbine. The .32 Winchester Special cartridge is based on .30-30 WCF, perhaps the most popular deer cartridge in America, but necked-up to .32 caliber, giving it a little more power. This is an interesting and sweet Model 1894 Saddle Ring Carbine in .32 WS.