It is generally understood that the pre war rifles were of better quality than the post was rifles. With its innovative Browning design action, the Model 1894 became the first Winchester specifically developed for smokeless powder. This model has seen continuous production since its inception and has outsold all other models. Most important of its many features were the cartridges Winchester developed for this action. The old standby 30 W.C.F., also known as the “30-30” (30 caliber bullet with 30 grains of powder) has killed more North American big game than any other cartridge and still remains popular to this day.
Early Model 1894 Calibers:
.32-40 – introduced in 1894
.38-55 – introduced in 1894
.25-35 – introduced in 1895
.30 W.C.F. (30-30) – introduced in 1895
.32 Winchester Special – introduced in 1901
The U.S. Army purchased 1,800 Model 1894 carbines on December 29, 1917 to help guard strategic defense industries in the Pacific Northwest. Production of receivers was suspended in 1943 during World War II. As serial numbers approached the one-million mark, the official model designation was changed from Model 1894 to the Model 94. The 1,000,000th Model 94 was presented to President Calvin Coolidge in 1927. As many special orders features were available, a variety of interesting configurations can be found in both rifles and carbines making the Model 1894 one of the most collectable of all Winchesters.
In 1964, major changes in the manufacturing process were adopted to lower production costs. As such, “pre ‘64” guns are recognized to be of higher quality and command higher prices in the collector market. The “post ‘64” guns have additional calibers, with both top and angle-eject models, and a variety of stock options.
oldguns.ca, virtual museum collection.
With its innovative Browning design action, the Model 1894 became the first Winchester specifically developed for smokeless powder. This model has seen continuous production since its inception and has outsold all other models. Most important of its many features were the cartridges Winchester developed for this action. The old standby 30 W.C.F., also known as the “30-30” (30 caliber bullet with 30 grains of powder) has killed more North American big game than any other cartridge and still remains popular to this day.
Early Model 1894 Calibers:
.32-40 – introduced in 1894
.38-55 – introduced in 1894
.25-35 – introduced in 1895
.30 W.C.F. (30-30) – introduced in 1895
.32 Winchester Special – introduced in 1901
The U.S. Army purchased 1,800 Model 1894 carbines on December 29, 1917 to help guard strategic defense industries in the Pacific Northwest. Production of receivers was suspended in 1943 during World War II. As serial numbers approached the one-million mark, the official model designation was changed from Model 1894 to the Model 94. The 1,000,000th Model 94 was presented to President Calvin Coolidge in 1927. As many special orders features were available, a variety of interesting configurations can be found in both rifles and carbines making the Model 1894 one of the most collectable of all Winchesters.
In 1964, major changes in the manufacturing process were adopted to lower production costs. As such, “pre ‘64” guns are recognized to be of higher quality and command higher prices in the collector market. The “post ‘64” guns have additional calibers, with both top and angle-eject models, and a variety of stock options.
oldguns.ca, virtual museum collection.
This standard rifle was manufactured in 1896 is chambered in 38-55 and sports an excellent bore. It is very unusual to find a high condition 1894 standard rifle as they were purchased to be used in the field and often have seen very hard use. The wood has seen some hunting but is in solid condition. The metal finish is a sold 85 percent, showing bright blues on the receiver as well as the barrel and vivid case colours on the lever and hammer. The loading gate shows bright nitre blue.
With its innovative Browning design action, the Model 1894 became the first Winchester specifically developed for smokeless powder. This model has seen continuous production since its inception and has outsold all other models. Most important of its many features were the cartridges Winchester developed for this action. The old standby 30 W.C.F., also known as the “30-30” (30 caliber bullet with 30 grains of powder) has killed more North American big game than any other cartridge and still remains popular to this day.
Early Model 1894 Calibers:.32-40 – introduced in 1894 .38-55 – introduced in 1894 .25-35 – introduced in 1895 .30 W.C.F. (30-30) – introduced in 1895 .32 Winchester Special – introduced in 1902.
The U.S. Army purchased 1,800 Model 1894 carbines on December 29, 1917 to help guard strategic defense industries in the Pacific Northwest. Production of receivers was suspended in 1943 during World War II. As serial numbers approached the one-million mark, the official model designation was changed from Model 1894 to the Model 94. The 1,000,000th Model 94 was presented to President Calvin Coolidge in 1927. As many special orders features were available, a variety of interesting configurations can be found in both rifles and carbines making the Model 1894 one of the most collectable of all Winchesters.In 1964, major changes in the manufacturing process were adopted to lower production costs. As such, “pre ‘64” guns are recognized to be of higher quality and command higher prices in the collector market. The “post ‘64” guns have additional calibers, with both top and angle-eject models, and a variety of stock options.
Original Winchester factory records are available for this model from the Cody firearms Museum Cody, Wyoming, from serial number 1 thru 353999. .30-30 was the Model 1894's most popular caliber for more than a century; over 80% of those manufactured are in this chambering. This caliber is a world standard, and .30-30 ammunition is often available when other cartridges are not. Winchester 94s in .30-30s are synonymous with the term "deer rifle" in the minds of many hunters. John Moses Browning (1855 - 1926) was a true genius of mechanical design. The son of a Mormon gunsmith, he began working full-time in that profession at age 15. His 1878 design for a single-shot metallic cartridge rifle resulted in the first of many patents that he would receive during his lifetime. In partnership with five of his brothers, Browning later opened a machine shop in Ogden, Utah, but the firm's output of three guns per day could not keep up with demand for his products. One of his rifles was purchased by a representative of Winchester Repeating Arms Company and shipped to Thomas G. Bennett, the firm's General Manager, who purchased the patent rights for $8,000 and hired the Browning brothers as Winchester "jobbers".
oldguns.ca virtual museum collection.
This rifle is chambered in 25-35 and sports an excellent bore and many special order features. The barrel is half round half octagon, it has a non checkered pistol grip, with pistol grip cap and button mag. There is a tang peep sight installed and the rear dovetail remains empty. The wood has seen some hunting but is in solid condition. The metal finish is a sold 70 percent, showing bright blues on the receiver as well as the barrel. The loading gate shows bright nitre blue.
With its innovative Browning design action, the Model 1894 became the first Winchester specifically developed for smokeless powder. This model has seen continuous production since its inception and has outsold all other models. Most important of its many features were the cartridges Winchester developed for this action. The old standby 30 W.C.F., also known as the “30-30” (30 caliber bullet with 30 grains of powder) has killed more North American big game than any other cartridge and still remains popular to this day.
Early Model 1894 Calibers:
.32-40 – introduced in 1894
.38-55 – introduced in 1894
.25-35 – introduced in 1895
.30 W.C.F. (30-30) – introduced in 1895
.32 Winchester Special – introduced in 1902.
The U.S. Army purchased 1,800 Model 1894 carbines on December 29, 1917 to help guard strategic defense industries in the Pacific Northwest. Production of receivers was suspended in 1943 during World War II. As serial numbers approached the one-million mark, the official model designation was changed from Model 1894 to the Model 94. The 1,000,000th Model 94 was presented to President Calvin Coolidge in 1927. As many special orders features were available, a variety of interesting configurations can be found in both rifles and carbines making the Model 1894 one of the most collectable of all Winchesters.
In 1964, major changes in the manufacturing process were adopted to lower production costs. As such, “pre ‘64” guns are recognized to be of higher quality and command higher prices in the collector market. The “post ‘64” guns have additional calibers, with both top and angle-eject models, and a variety of stock options.
Original Winchester factory records are available for this model from the Cody firearms Museum Cody, Wyoming, from serial number 1 thru 353999. .30-30 was the Model 1894's most popular caliber for more than a century; over 80% of those manufactured are in this chambering. This caliber is a world standard, and .30-30 ammunition is often available when other cartridges are not. Winchester 94s in .30-30s are synonymous with the term "deer rifle" in the minds of many hunters.
John Moses Browning (1855 - 1926) was a true genius of mechanical design. The son of a Mormon gunsmith, he began working full-time in that profession at age 15. His 1878 design for a single-shot metallic cartridge rifle resulted in the first of many patents that he would receive during his lifetime. In partnership with five of his brothers, Browning later opened a machine shop in Ogden, Utah, but the firm's output of three guns per day could not keep up with demand for his products. One of his rifles was purchased by a representative of Winchester Repeating Arms Company and shipped to Thomas G. Bennett, the firm's General Manager, who purchased the patent rights for $8,000 and hired the Browning brothers as Winchester "jobbers".
oldguns.ca, virtual museum collection.
This saddle ring carbine is chambered in 38-55 and sports an excellent bore and good solid walnut wood with sling swivels. I would classify the metal finish as a solid 70 percent, showing bright blues with the loading gate a bright nitre blue. Another hard to find Winchester in this condition.
With its innovative Browning design action, the Model 1894 became the first Winchester specifically developed for smokeless powder. This model has seen continuous production since its inception and has outsold all other models. Most important of its many features were the cartridges Winchester developed for this action. The old standby 30 W.C.F., also known as the “30-30” (30 caliber bullet with 30 grains of powder) has killed more North American big game than any other cartridge and still remains popular to this day.
Early Model 1894 Calibers:.32-40 – introduced in 1894 .38-55 – introduced in 1894 .25-35 – introduced in 1895 .30 W.C.F. (30-30) – introduced in 1895 .32 Winchester Special – introduced in 1902.
The U.S. Army purchased 1,800 Model 1894 carbines on December 29, 1917 to help guard strategic defence industries in the Pacific Northwest. Production of receivers was suspended in 1943 during World War II. As serial numbers approached the one-million mark, the official model designation was changed from Model 1894 to the Model 94. The 1,000,000th Model 94 was presented to President Calvin Coolidge in 1927. As many special orders features were available, a variety of interesting configurations can be found in both rifles and carbines making the Model 1894 one of the most collectable of all Winchesters.In 1964, major changes in the manufacturing process were adopted to lower production costs. As such, “pre ‘64” guns are recognized to be of higher quality and command higher prices in the collector market. The “post ‘64” guns have additional calibers, with both top and angle-eject models, and a variety of stock options.
Original Winchester factory records are available for this model from the Cody firearms Museum Cody, Wyoming, from serial number 1 thru 353999. .30-30 was the Model 1894's most popular caliber for more than a century; over 80% of those manufactured are in this chambering. This caliber is a world standard, and .30-30 ammunition is often available when other cartridges are not. Winchester 94s in .30-30s are synonymous with the term "deer rifle" in the minds of many hunters. John Moses Browning (1855 - 1926) was a true genius of mechanical design. The son of a Mormon gunsmith, he began working full-time in that profession at age 15. His 1878 design for a single-shot metallic cartridge rifle resulted in the first of many patents that he would receive during his lifetime. In partnership with five of his brothers, Browning later opened a machine shop in Ogden, Utah, but the firm's output of three guns per day could not keep up with demand for his products. One of his rifles was purchased by a representative of Winchester Repeating Arms Company and shipped to Thomas G. Bennett, the firm's General Manager, who purchased the patent rights for $8,000 and hired the Browning brothers as Winchester "jobbers".
oldguns.ca, virtual museum collection.
This particular 1892 rifle is outside the serial number range for a Cody letter outlining the features and when it was made. However, in examining the rifle (any rifle for that matter) one does not need a factory letter to determine originality. In my humble opinion I believe too much emphasis is put on factory letters, a lot of the time they are not correct, or incomplete, does that make the piece wrong..? Not to me, those collectors that only search out items that are letterable are leaving a great many rifles on the table. Of course many collectors will disagree with me. That's alright, I hope they keep it up.
The special order features on this rifle are as follows......
Shotgun butt
Pistol Grip
Pistol Grip Cap
Checkering
Sling Swivels
Take Down
Barrel Half Round Half Octagon
Half Magazine
Ivory Bead Front Sight
Folding Rear Sight
To those Cody Letter collectors, one could argue that the sling swivels and the sights may not letter, OK, so what, look at the rest of the rifle, the other features cannot be changed and given all the special order features would it not make sense that the sights and swivels are correct?
It is completely up to the collector to make that decision. This rifle is in very high condition, metal finish is 90 % blue and case colour, the wood is solid wearing some bumps and bruises but solid with an old repair to the toe on the butt stock. Although the 44-40 was and is the most popular, Madis states the 25-20 as the rarest caliber in an 1892.
The Winchester Model 1892 was a lever action repeater designed by John Browning as a smaller, lighter version of his large-frame Model 1886, and which replaced the Model 1873 as the company's lever-action for pistol-caliber rounds such as the 44-40.
When asked by Winchester to design an improved lever action to compete with a recent Marlin offering, John Browning said he would have the prototype completed in under a month or it would be free. Within two weeks, Browning had a functioning prototype of the '92. Calibers for the rifle vary and some are custom-chambered. The original rounds were the 32-20, 38-40, and 44-40, Winchester centerfire rounds, followed in 1895 by the new 25-20. A few Model '92s chambered for 218 Bee were produced in 1936-38. Rifles in .44-40 proved to be most popular, far outstripping sales of the other chamberings.
The Winchester Models 53 (1924) and 65 (1933) were relabeled Model 1892s. Admiral Robert E. Peary carried an 1892 on his trips to the North Pole and Secretary of War Patrick Hurley was presented with the one millionth rifle on December 13, 1932. Famous Amazon explorer Percy Fawcett carried a Winchester '92 on his expeditions and the famous jaguar hunter Sasha Siemel also used a short-barreled Winchester '92 carbine (with a bayonet attached). The Royal Navy used 21,000 examples during WW1.
The original Winchester company made 1,007,608 Model 1892 rifles. The Depression greatly affected sales of the Winchester '92, and at the start of World War II, Winchester dropped production when it retooled for the war effort. Production was not resumed after the war.
oldguns.ca virtual museum collection.
EXTREMELY RARE, SPECIAL ORDER 1ST TYPE WINCHESTER MODEL 1894 TAKEDOWN LEVER ACTION RIFLE.
AKA - THE TEN O'CLOCK SCREW - SN 4513. Cal. 38-55.
Winchester books state that 14,760 Model 1894's were built in the first year. Research indicates, while they may have manufactured a large batch of receivers, only about 1,300 to 1,400 1894's were actually built. Of those, not all of them even shipped in that first year. Several hundred were still uncompleted or simply sitting in Winchester's warehouse when the year 1895 rolled in. There are even model 1894's with one- and two-digit serial numbers that weren't built and shipped until 1895. In fact, the first .30-30 wasn't built until May 29, 1895 with a serial number that was only in the 5,000 range. The reason so few 1894's were built in that first year is that John Browning didn't patent the concept for the Model 1894 until August of that year. From there, it took engineers at Winchester about six weeks to tool up for production...which was quite a feat! Production didn't start until around October 20, 1894 with the first 1894 rifles being shipped at the end of October. As those last few remaining weeks passed in 1894, small quantities of 1894's trickled out of the Winchester warehouse to dealers but many...even very low numbers...stayed in the warehouse until 1895.
Winchester 1st Model 1894's. What are they? There were only approximately 2,000 made and they are generally found in serial ranges up to about 3,000. The highest known is one in the 7,000 range. All first models known are in caliber 38-55. So what's the difference between a first model and a second model, the main thing that separates a first model from a second model is the placement of the screws for securing the guide rails. First models have their screws located on the outside of the frame located just to the top left of the loading port. Second model guide rail screws are secured from the inside out about 1" forward of this position (or almost directly above the middle of the loading port.
This rifle would be the pride of any Winchester collection. This particular firearm is in amazing condition with, in my opinion, metal blue at 90% plus, with outstanding case colouring on the lever and hammer, vivid bright fire blue on loading gate and still visual on the extractor. This rifle is rare enough just being itself, now take into account the fine condition, then the fact that it is a special order take down rifle. My research so far indicates less than 10 take down 1st models were made, I will qualify that this research is ongoing. The hammer has the earliest style checkered border with the decorative dip at the top of the pattern. Upper tang is marked with the early three-line pattern 1. "MODEL 1894", 2. -WINCHESTER-, and 3. "PAT AUG. 21 1894." Nice barrel markings include the two line barrel address which reads "MANUFACTURED BY THE -WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A-". The caliber marking is located directly on the top of the barrel as "38-55" with no Winchester proofs. This is correct for an early 1894 made prior to 1901 or '02. Screws are all in excellent condition. The wood is excellent with outstanding figure. It functions beautifully with an excellent bright shiny bore. A very strong example of one of the latest 1st Model 1894's in existence.
oldguns.ca, virtual museum collection.
The 44 WCF was standard for the “gun that won the West,” though it also was made in 38 WCF (first offered in 1879), 32 WCF (introduced in 1882) and .22 rimfire (1884), with a few special-order guns built in .22 extra long rimfire. Model 1873s had iron receivers until 1884, when a steel receiver was introduced. The Model 1873 was offered as a sporting rifle (with a 24” round, octagonal or half-octagonal barrel), a carbine (with a 20” round barrel) and as a musket (with a 30” round barrel). The Model 1873 was officially discontinued in 1919, after approximately 720,000 guns had been produced.
The First Model 1873 (s/n 1 to about 31000) has grooved guides on each side to retain the dust cover (sometimes referred to as a “mortised dust cover). The Second Model (s/n 31000 to 90000) has a dust cover on one central guide secured to the receiver with two screws. The central guide rail on the Third Model is integrally machined as part of the receiver. The Model 1873 .22 Rimfire Rifle was the first .22 caliber repeating rifle in America was introduced in 1884 and discontinued in 1904. Winchester sold a little more than 19,000 .22 caliber Model 1873s.
This example was a barn find, it had been in the same family for generations and spent all of its life in the barn. The family member I got it from admitted that it had been lost in the barn until discovered recently and brought to me. It has been in my collection for many years. The outside appearance shows a very hard life as a tool, however, it functions flawlessly and has an amazingly bright shiny bore with really strong distinct rifling, only a bit of corrosion in a line, down one section of the bore, probably it was lying on its side for many years and that is where the moisture accumulated. It is an excellent shooter. As you can see in the pics the serial number is not visible, I attempted to polish the area where the number would normally be and tried etching chemical in an attempt to raise the serial number, I met with no success. Due to the fact that the upper tang is void of any model indication and there is no provision for a tang mounted peep sight, my research indicates that this carbine is definitely lower than serial number 31,000, and maybe lower than 600 and possibly lower than 350. Apparently, there are however a couple of conflicting components on this rifle, one being the hammer and the other being the dust cover, it has been proposed to me that these are of a later version. I am presently researching verification on these issues, however it is not impossible that these parts could have been changed. To date we have determined by the brass lifter that the corners are slightly rounded and that on the very first model variation the lifter corners were absolutely sharp, as viewed on Carbine serial number 47 from the W. Connor collection. One needs to ask the question, how rare is this rifle.......? Being such a low serial number how many of these carbines were produced and how many have survived.....?
oldguns.ca, virtual museum collection.
Date of manufacture is 1888, This rifle is in amazing original condition. The mechanics function as they should and it sports a minty bore, bright and sharp. Metal finish on the barrel is original and 85% plus, with the mag tube going more plum colour. The receiver has lost all of its colour case but is in the typical shiny silver that remains when the thin case colours disappear. The wood is wonderful, with no chips or cracks, lots of bumps and bruises as obviously this rifle was used for intended purposes. This is a very clean collector grade rifle in a rarer caliber.
oldguns.ca, virtual museum collection.
The Model 1886 action’s design is another result of the genius of John M. Browning and is generally recognized as one of the finest actions ever developed. Nearly 160,000 model 1886s were produced from 1886 until 1935. Offered in rifle, carbine and musket configurations, there were two variations referred to as First and Second Models. Muskets and early carbines had full length fore-ends and are considered rare.
Originally chambered in45-70 gov, 45-90 sharps and .40-82 Winchester, it was later offered in a half dozen other large cartridges. Despite being originally designed for use with black powder, the action was strong enough to make the jump to smokeless powder with only minor modifications, and was subsequently chambered in the smokeless .33 caliber cartridge beginning in 1903.
Model 1886 Calibers:
.45-70 Gov’t
.45-90 W.C.F.
.40-82 W.C.F.
.40-65 W.C.F.
.38-56 W.C.F.
.50-110 Express
.38-70 W.C.F.
.40-70 W.C.F.
.50-100-450 Express
.33 W.C.F.
Today’s collectors love the Model 1886 as they were available with many special order features and Winchester factory records are generally complete for this model. Original Winchester factory records are available for this model from theCody firearms museum in Cody, Wyoming, from serial number 1 thru 156999, except 146000 thru 150799.
oldguns.ca, virtual museum collection.