Make: Winchester

Model: 1895

Serial Number: 45806

Year of Manufacture: 1904

Caliber: .35 Winchester Centerfire (WCF)

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle with Internal Box Magazine.

Barrel Length: 24″

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Lyman beaded blade dovetailed to a base fixed to the front of the barrel. The front sight is not original to the gun. The rear sight is a "V"-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel; the notch is fine-adjustable for elevation. The chamber ring is matted for glare reduction.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece smooth walnut with steel crescent buttplate, Schnabel forend tip with ebony insert, straight grip, and straight comb. The stocks have scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches with a couple of more notable dings in the right of the buttstock. There are a few tiny losses and a very small crack around the front edges of the wrist. There is scattered finish wear. The LOP measures 12 3/4" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has worn to white with scattered oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is semi bright with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion and stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates about 7 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 35% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is fairly evenly scattered wear, more notable at the top-rear of the barrel and on the receiver flats. There is scattered light oxidation. There are nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots, there are notable tool marks around the stock mounting screw in the top tang. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired 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 1895 Winchester was the first lever-action model to incorporate a box magazine. The box magazine allowed the use of spitzer-type bullets without the danger of ignition in a tubular magazine. The use of spitzer bullets improved ballistics and allowed for much higher velocities, especially with the use of smokeless powder. At the time of its introduction, the 1895 was considered the lever action big-game rifle, but it also saw favor with some militaries, being purchased in large numbers by the Russian Empire for WWI, given to Pancho Villa's best troops during the Mexican Revolution, and 10,000 were purchased by the US Military for use during the Spanish American War. With its quick handling characteristics, box magazine and pointed bullet capability, the Model 1895 changed the world of sporting rifles forever. Teddy Roosevelt himself favored the 1895 Winchester, considering his rifle chambered in .405 to be the “medicine gun” for lion.

This rifle was made in 1904, chambered for .35 WCF and is expressly marked as a nickel steel barrel and designed for smokeless cartridges. This example shows honest wear given its age, but is a nice specimen of a Model 1895. Please see our photos and good luck!