Make: Winchester

Model: 1895 Saddle Ring Carbine

Serial Number: 68739

Year of Manufacture: 1913

Caliber: .30-40 Krag (.30 Army)

Action Type: Lever Action with Internal Box Magazine

Barrel Length: 22"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a german silver blade pinned to a slotted base fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a King "U"-notch elevator sight with white diamond aiming reference dovetailed to the rear of the barrel; the notch is fine-adjustable for elevation. The left of the receiver has a series of drilled, tapped and filled holes, one blind-filled, presumably for mounting a receiver sight or optic (none present).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth wood with finger-grooved forend secured by a barrel band, straight grip, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate. The buttstock has been replaced. The top edges of the forend are relieved for a spring-clip handguard which is not present, there is a filled hole in the bottom forward of the band. The forend has some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches with a few more notable dings. The buttstock has no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 12 5/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate shows some polishing under strong finish which has a plum hue. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition as refinished and/or replaced.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 7/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 87% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. Some areas of the magazine, lever and bolt are taking on a plum hue or going to a light patina. The finish is otherwise generally strong. The finish is thinning at most edges. There is scattered erosion under the finish, most on the receiver and magazine. There are polish marks under the finish at the screw holes on the left of the receiver. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with questionably usable slots. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete. Overall, this rifle is in Good-plus condition as refinished.

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 non-detachable box magazine. This is the model Teddy Roosevelt called his “Big Medicine” that he used in hunting here and in Africa. With its quick handling characteristics, box magazine and spitzer bullet capability, the Model 1895 changed the world of sporting rifles forever. This rifle was used by major powers worldwide, with Russia alone purchasing nearly 300,000 1895’s just before World War I. In 1898, the United States ordered 10,000 of the rifles in musket form with handguard for use in the Spanish-American War, but the war ended before they could be delivered. One hundred were issued for field testing in the Philippines and the remaining 9,900 were sold to M. Harley Company. Many of these were shipped to the new Cuban government in 1906 and some found their way to Pancho Villa’s troops in Mexico. The U.S. Government also ordered carbines, but we can’t find records as to how many.

This example was made in 1913, just before the Great War. The outbreak of the war would see production ramp up from a few thousand rifles per year to more than 100,000 in 1915 and more than 200,000 in 1916. This rifle is an interesting configuration, a saddle ring carbine chambered in .30-40 Krag. While the United States Army had moved on to the .30-03 and then the .30-06, these rifles were still marked ".30 Army" to denote the .30-40 cartridge. The rifle is in Good-plus condition as refinished, having had some extra holes drilled in the left of the receiver, but retaining a good bore and strong mechanics. This would be a neat addition to a Winchester collection and a worthwhile restoration project if you can source a proper handguard. Please see our photos and good luck!