Make: Winchester

Model: 1895 Takedown

Serial Number: 410179

Year of Manufacture: 1923

Caliber: .30-06 Springfield

Action Type: Takedown Lever Action with Internal Box Magazine

Barrel Length: 24″

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a tall blade dovetailed and screw-set to a base that is forged to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a Winchester Express sight with three folding V-notch leaves marked 50, 1 and 2, dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The left of the receiver is drilled and tapped with a Lyman 38 receiver sight installed.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with an ebony-tipped schnabel forend, straight wrist, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches with some areas of discoloration. The stock has repaired cracks at the toe on each side. There is a spot of pooled finish at the rear of the top tang. The buttstock has been refinished, but the forend appears Original. The LOP measures 12 5/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has scattered light oxidation with areas worn to white. Overall, the stocks are in Good-Very Good condition as repaired and partially refinished.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion and minor pitting, most in the grooves. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 5-6/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 30% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is fairly evenly scattered wear with most remaining finish on the barrel. There is other scattered remaining finish in protected areas and around raised features. Most worn areas have gone to a light patina. There is some minor surface oxidation. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. 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 is a takedown version which was made in 1923, chambered for the venerable .30-06 cartridge. Its buttstock has been refinished, but the metal finish is original. The rifle retains a fair bore and strong mechanics. This 1895 shows honest wear, and is a neat specimen of a takedown Model 1895. Please see our photos and good luck!