01/19
For years collectors have been aware of Model 1892 and 1894 carbines marked with the DCP (Dominion of Canada Proof). The 1892s dominate and the Model 1894's are relatively difficult to find.
Great Britain purchased three different Winchester lever-action models: the Model 1886, Model 1892 and Model 1894. The first wartime purchase, by the Royal Flying Corps, was for fewer than 50 Model 1886 Winchesters chambered in .45-90 Win. Special cartridges were developed with incendiary bullets designed to ignite the hydrogen gas in German airships and balloons. The rifles allowed the Royal Flying Corps to counter this airborne threat while they were developing more effective arms. To allow all standard-issue Lee-Enfield rifles to be available for the front, Winchester repeaters were also purchased by the Royal Navy, and they were used shipboard for guard duty and mine clearing, the details of which are unknown. The Royal Navy acquired 20,000 Model 1892 rifles in .44-40 Win. and approximately 5,000 Model 1894 carbines in .30 WCF (.30-30 Win.). Those Winchesters, along with some Remington Rolling Block rifles, were replaced in 1915.
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01/43
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01/14
Manufactured in 1905, as with all true baby carbines, this carbine features a 20 inch barrel and a half magazine, barleycorn front sight with 900 yard carbine ladder rear sight. The barrel features the standard two line Marlin legend ahead of the rear sight and "44-40" behind at the breech. The left side of the receiver is fitted with a staple and saddle ring, which has been removed. Mounted to a straight grain walnut carbine forearm and straight grip stock with carbine buttplate. The included factory letter lists this carbine in 44-40 with 20 inch barrel, and half magazine when shipped. Not a lot of information is available on the Model 1894, baby carbines.
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01/38
I'm moving out of Marlins for the most part, so I am listing a few of my collector grade rifles. This is a nice example of a rare Marlin Model 1893 Lever Action Rifle manufactured in 1907. Special order features include a beautiful half octagon to round barrel as well as factory sling swivels, most half octagon to round barrels had shortened magazine tubes, this one obviously has a rarer, full magazine, for this configuration. This rifle is chambered in the highly desirable 38-55 Caliber. Most examples are chambered in .30-30. It also has the earlier "Model 1893" designation. Later they changed it to "Mod 93". This particular example is in extraordinarily high condition. The barrel has retained most of its original dark rich bluing, a solid 95 % on the barrel and magazine. Just a hint of spotty patina here and there, mostly near the muzzle. There are areas that have hardened oil that appears brownish in the pictures, I have not cleaned this off as I believe it is in keeping with the rifle, however this is easily cleaned off. The receiver has virtually all of its original vibrant case-hardening, except for a little loss around the carry area, a solid 90 % case colours. The stock is very nice with minor storage marks, the butt stock sports the S shape butt plate. The bore has strong, sharp, rifling throughout with some minor black powder roughness. From the wear on the loading gate and the slight loss of colour in the carry area you can tell this rifle was obviously hunted in its day but not very often, as well it must have been put away in a dark place, early in its life, as that would be the only way to keep the original case colours from fading.
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01/22
The Winchester Model 71 was a lever action rifle introduced in 1935 and discontinued in 1958. Essentially, a slightly modified version of the Browning designed 1886, it was only chambered for the 348 Winchester round; except for an extremely rare 45-70 and 33 WCF. It was also (other than 400 rifles chambered for the .348 in the Cimarron 1885 Hi-Wall in 2005-06) the only firearm that ever used that cartridge. The Model 71 was conceived as a replacement for both the 1886 and the 1895 as a complement to the Winchester Model 70 bolt-action rifle and to replace a raft of cartridges (the .33 Winchester, the .45-70, the .35 Winchester, and the .405 Winchester) with just one (the .348 Winchester. The rifle and cartridge were very effective against any North American big game animal in heavy timber, including the great bears, if using the 250-grain (16 g) bullet. It was once very popular for hunting in Canada and Alaska. The 71 was built in 2 different barrel lengths the standard rifle and the short rifle and in two configurations, the standard rifle and the deluxe rifle. New research indicates that less than 5% were manufactured in the short rifle configuration. After a certain year Model 71's came from the factory drilled and tapped for side mounted peep sights. Unfortunately, economics caused the rifle to be very expensive, and with less costly lever action rifles available in common and fairly powerful rounds such as 35 Remington and the growing popularity of cheap bolt-actions in military and Magnum chambering, the Winchester 71 with its excellent but unique cartridge was destined for commercial oblivion. The .348 was also the only 34 caliber cartridge ever made by an American manufacturer and essentially the first short magnum cartridge, making it a little problematic for hand loaders, as there was never a wide selection of 34 caliber bullets. Cartridges of the World remarks that factory ammunition was available in 150, 200 and 250-grain (16 g) weights. Only the 200-grain (13 g) weight is still available in factory ammunition. Browning re-issued the Model 71 as a limited edition in the mid 1980s. The Winchester and Browning versions showed very high degrees of craftsmanship. As of August, 2013, the Winchester Repeating Arms website again lists model 71s as available, new from the factory. The Winchester Model 71 still has a loyal following for what is arguably "the finest big bore lever gun that has ever been" as well as being used as a strong and solid platform for various 'wildcat' projects. This example sports a 20" barrel with hooded integral-ramp front sight. Short tang. Super Grade swivel studs. Checkered walnut stock with capped pistol grip and original checkered steel buttplate. Bolt peep sight. Checkered hammer. Excellent bore, factory short rifles are extremely rare, this is the only one I have ever owned and frankly the only one I have ever seen.
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01/31
The Marlin 1894 was originally patented on August 1, 1893 by L.L. Hepburn. With this design, Marlin simplified and strengthened the internal lever-action mechanism while continuing the practice of using a flat solid steel top receiver with side ejection. With the Model 1894, Marlin removed the rear-locking lug, which extended down into the trigger guard and had a tendency to pinch the shooter’s fingers during rapid-fire cycling. Other design improvements over the Model 1889 included a one-piece trigger and a two-piece firing pin to prevent the rifle from firing unless the finger lever was fully closed or if the locking lug were missing. Additionally, the finger lever lock of the Model 1889 was eliminated on the Model 1894 and replaced by a latch built into the lever itself. This model was chambered in the same calibers with the addition of the 25-20 and later 218 bee.
The Model 1894 and its successors found particular favour in Canada, Alaska, and the Pacific Northwest, where precipitation combined with cold temperatures sometimes caused top-eject designs to freeze solid. During the Klondike Gold Rush, the solid-top Marlin design was preferred by many prospectors facing subzero temperatures and dangerous animals, since the solid top frame was better at keeping freezing rain, snow and dirt out of the operating parts of the action.
This is a 20 inch factory short barrelled rifle in 44-40, he double stamp for the caliber is very unusual and reportedly has not been seen before according to the Marlin Collectors records, the forearm wood is standard length. Short rifles are scarce as the standard barrel length was 24 inches. Most people that wanted a shorter barrel would go to a carbine which had a 20 inch barrel standard, why spend money on a special order 20 inch barrel when you could buy a standard rifle with a 20 barrel in a carbine. We cannot say how many short barrel rifles were made as the records end in December of 1906, and there was another 10 years of production after that before the Marlin family sold the company. The new company continued producing sporting arms to 1921, when yet another company took over, producing sporting arms using left over parts. That continued to 1924, when the company went broke and sold to yet another company. So, you can see, there is a problem trying to determine how many would have been produced. By far, the 20 inch short rifles are more scarce than either the 24, 26 and maybe even the 28 inch barrelled versions. The receiver shows mottled grey from fading case colours and there is case colours still present in the protected areas. Wood is good and solid, bore is mint (bright shiny, with strong rifling), barrel and mag tube blue is a solid 80%. Mechanically it is perfect and a great shooter.
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01/28
This extreme high condition standard rifle 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 is mint, the metal finish is a unbelievable, bright blues everywhere and vivid case colours. 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".
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01/30
In order to prioritize issue of the standard infantry rifle—the Model 1886 Lebel—to frontline troops, France turned to obsolete Gras Model 1874 rifles for service and support soldiers. Almost immediately, the French embarked on a program to convert blackpowder Gras rifles to the smokeless 8 mm Lebel cartridge. The conversion proved difficult, and progress was slow. Unable to produce enough standard-issue Lebel rifles or convert enough Gras rifles, France contracted with Winchester and Remington to arm rear-echelon soldiers. Remington was contracted for a modified version of its Rolling Block rifle, while Winchester received a contract for 15,100 Model 1894 carbines, although there is some argument that the order filled was in the amount of 2000 not 15,100 .
The contract required the addition of metric graduations to Winchester’s No.44A rear sight and the addition of sling swivels on the left side of the butt stock and barrel band. The sling swivels were specifically required so that the carbine could be carried en bandoulière (the French term for carrying a carbine across the back). These added features were unique to the French contract. The carbines were issued to motorcycle couriers, artillery troops and transport units. Model 1894s also found their way to balloon units, and some may have been used by airmen in their aircraft.
After the war, the French Winchester Model 1894s were sold by the French government to unknown buyers. Some bear Belgian proof marks, as they were transferred through Belgium. The Belgian proofs have led many to incorrectly assume that those guns were purchased by the Belgian Congo.
This particular example is missing the rear meter sight and has the standard folding leaf sight. The metal finish shows evidence of an older refinish, the wood is in very good condition with normal wear expected from a military use firearm. The rifle is in very good shootable condition with a strong bore with defined rifling. An overall fair example of a very scarce Winchester.
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01/24
Chambered in 35 WCF, this rifle sports a mint bright shiny bore. The wood is solid with only a small chip out of the wrist, finish on the barrel is 90% plus, finish on the receiver is 40-50 %. Mechanically is functions as it should. Barrel ring being knurled on top for glare is an interesting feature not normally encountered on standard rifles. Overall, a very nice example of an 1895, rifle.
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01/26
The Model 1886 continued the trend towards chambering heavier rounds, and had an all-new and considerably stronger locking-block action than the toggle-link Model 1876. It was designed by John Moses Browning, who had a long and profitable relationship with Winchester from the 1880s to the early 1900s. William Mason also contributed, making some improvements to Browning's original design. In many respects the Model 1886 was a true American express rifle, as it could be chambered in the more powerful black powder cartridges of the day, proving capable of handling not only the .45-70 but also .45-90 and the huge .50-110 Express "buffalo" cartridges. The action was strong enough that a nickel-steel barrel was the only necessary modification needed to work with smokeless powder cartridges, and in 1903 the rifle was chambered for the smokeless high-velocity .33 WCF cartridge. During the early stages of World War I, the Royal Flying Corps purchased Model 1886 rifles chambered for the .45-90 Sharps cartridge with special incendiary bullets designed to ignite the hydrogen gas in German airships. In 1935 Winchester introduced a slightly modified M1886 as the Model 71, chambered for the more powerful .348 Winchester cartridge. Soon after the introduction of the Model 1886, Browning designed a scaled-down version of the 1886 action for smaller dual-use or carbine cartridges, which was issued as the highly successful Winchester Model 1892.
This rifle is a completely restored rifle, I built this rifle from a standard grade straight stock rifle, with a new barrel, new wood , new finishes, new configuration. The results are shown in the above pictures. Engraving by Brian Frank.
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