Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1894 Rifle 

Serial Number: 1025401

Year of Manufacture: 1927

Caliber: .32 W.S. Winchester Special

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

Markings: The left shoulder of the barrel is marked “-MODEL 94-WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK”, “NICKEL STEEL - 32W.S.-”. The right shoulder of the barrel is marked “MADE IN U.S.A. WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / -NEW HAVEN.CONN.”. The top of the barrel and receiver are marked with WP proofs. The top of the rear sight is a “PAT.FEB.22’27”. The left side of the front sight is marked “LYMAN”. The top tang is marked “WINCHESTER / -TRADE MARK- / -MADE IN U.S.A.-”. The bottom of the receiver is marked “1025401”.

Barrel Length: 26″, Octagonal 

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Lyman beaded blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a u-notch semi-buckhorn elevator sight dovetailed to the barrel. The tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight (not included).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 1/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has some surface oxidation on the heel and toe and most of the plate has turned to a dark patina. There are scattered nicks and compressions. Overall, the stocks are in Fine 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 10/10. 

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 70% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The barrel and magazine tube have generally strong finish with some scattered minor wear. There is wear all around the receiver that has taken some discoloration and oxidation. There are scattered light nicks and scratches. The action shows operational wear. 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 there is 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 rifle made in 1927 with a 26” octagonal barrel and chambered in .32 Winchester Special. The .32 Winchester Special is a necked-up .30-30 giving it a little more power. Whether you’re looking to add a Winchester to a collection or looking for a hunting rifle, you can’t go wrong with an American classic.