Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894 Saddle Ring Carbine

Serial Number: 951919

Year of Manufacture: 1924

Caliber: .25-35 Winchester Center Fire 

Action Type: This rifle has a lever action with a full-length tubular magazine.

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A.PATENTED AUGUST 21.1894”, “-NICKEL STEEL BARREL- / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER”, “-.25-35 W.C.F.”. The top of the barrel and receiver are marked with a “WP” proof. The top tang is marked “MODEL 94 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK REG.U.S.PAT.OFF.&FGN.”. The bottom of the receiver is marked “951919”.

Barrel Length: 20″

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade pinned to a slotted base fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a folding ladder-style sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. When folded down, it presents a “V”-notch. The ladder has a “V”-notched slider and is graduated from 0-2,000 yards. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none present).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece smooth walnut with banded forend, straight grip, straight comb, saddle ring on the left side of the receiver, and steel carbine-style buttplate. The wood is generally proud to the metal. The LOP measures 13″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has some nicks throughout with some patina around the stock screw. There are no chips or cracks. There are some minor compression lines, scratches, and nicks, more heavily found near the toe.There are a few mold spots on the right side of the buttstock. Overall, the stocks are 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. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 60% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows operation wear. There is thinning and finish loss on the leading edges. There is patina throughout the receiver. Most of the blue remains on the barrel, magtube, and protected areas. There is a mark on the left side of the receiver from the saddle ring. There are some nicks, scuffs and scratches. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with serviceable slots.The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety and a lever-safety. 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 1924 with a 20” round barrel and chambered in .25-35, which debuted in 1895 for the Model 1894.