Make: Winchester

Model: 1895, Russian Contract

Serial Number: 375632

Year of Manufacture: 1916

Caliber: 7.62x54R

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle with Fixed Box Magazine

Barrel Length: 28"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade pinned in a slotted base fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a folding ladder-style sight fixed to the rear of the barrel. There is a slider which presents a "V"-notch when folded down and also has a "V"-notch when folded up, the ladder is graduated from 15-31 (hundreds of arshin) with a notch on the top marked 32, the left of the base is graduated from 4-14 for use with the ladder down.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are three-piece smooth walnut with a handguard secured with spring clips installed around the rear sight, nosecap with forward sling mounting point and bayonet lug, barrel band with sling swivel, finger grooves in the forend, straight grip, straight comb, steel carbine-style buttplate with sliding door (nothing in the compartment), and a sling plate inlaid to the belly. There is another sling mounting point built into the front of the magazine. There are scattered nicks, dings, scrapes and scratches, some of these have damaged or removed portions of the surface wood. The handguard has a repaired crack at the top-rear and a more minor crack at the top-front. The forend has a small patch-repair in the nose on the top-left edge. There are dowel-repairs through the wrist, indicating an internal crack/break. There is some scattered discoloration, mostly in the buttstock. The LOP measures 12 3/4” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a moderate-dark patina with scattered erosion, worn to white at the heel and toe. The stocks rate in Good overall condition as refinished and repaired.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is dark gray with well defined rifling. There is light-moderate erosion and pitting scattered through the bore, mostly in the grooves. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 5-6 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 35% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The exposed surfaces have scattered finish wear, more notable on raised surfaces or features. There is evenly scattered light surface erosion. There are several scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. Areas covered by the stocks retain strong finish. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The markings are generally clear, there is a Russian "P" inspection mark stamped over the receiver's Winchester proof. Overall, this rifle rates 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: This rifle comes with a correct Russian contract bayonet with Winchester marked guard.

Our Assessment: After some damned foolish thing happened in the Balkans, the European great powers began to mobilize for war. While Russia had three million men in their army, they did not have the equipment, manufacturing capacity, or logistics to properly supply all of them. When they entered WWI, it was quickly found that they would have to seek foreign arms production to equip their massive military. Huge orders were placed with American companies such as Westinghouse and Remington to produce their standard M1891 Mosin-Nagant rifles, but they needed something that could ship immediately in the largest volume possible.

Though Winchester had only made around 75,000 Model 1895 rifles total since its introduction, Russia ordered a staggering 300,000 of the Musket variants, chambered for 7.62x54R and equipped with bayonets. The model was actually quite well suited to the cartridge, really only requiring charger-guides to be installed and a rear sight developed with graduations not only for the cartridge, but in the Russian arshin unit of measurement. All 300,000 rifles were delivered in 1915 and 1916.

This example is in Very Good condition, likely faring better than most of the 1895s that made their way to Russia just in time for a Revolution and Civil War, not to mention the purges and violent repression which would follow. It will make a great addition to a collection of WWI military rifles, Russian rifles, or Winchesters. Please see our photos and good luck!