Original Item: Only One Available. This is a great find, and only the third example that we have had! This is a lovely example of a Winchester Model 1895 Sporting Rifle in .30 U.S. Caliber. It features a 28 inch long round barrel, which is fitted with a tall blade front sight and the iconic "Buckhorn" rear adjustable sight. It features a short front stock with a black horn insert at the front, and a lovely butt stock with a crescent butt plate. This example appears to have been refinished or “reblued” at some point, giving it the iconic rainbow blued look. 

The lower receiver tang is marked with serial number 4058, meaning it was actually manufactured in 1896 making this classed as a Pre-1899 "ANTIQUE" by Federal Law. This also means that it was manufactured during the FIRST YEAR of production. Production started in December 1895, with very few being made, and by the end of 1895, the serial numbers had reached 5715, so this was definitely produced during the first year. It features a "flat side" receiver, only utilized before serial number 5000, so this is one of the last examples made with the flat side! After serial number 5000, they all featured a "fluted sided" receiver, and by serial number 6000 all of the previously produced flat receivers had left the factory.

As this is a “flat side” example, the address and patent markings are on the top of the barrel:

MANUFACTURED BY THE
– WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN CONN. U.S.A. –

Above the chamber the barrel is marked .30 U.S., one of several designations used for the U.S. .30-40 Krag cartridge, used by the U.S. Springfield Krag-Jørgensen Long Rifles, the standard U.S. military long arm of the time.

The rear receiver tang is also marked with the model and patent information:

WINCHESTER
MODEL 1895.

There is further patent information under the trigger:

PAT. NOV. 5 1895
- NOV. 12 1895 -

The stocks are in very good condition, showing lovely grain and the beautiful red-brown color of oiled aged walnut. They do show some dents, scrapes, and dings, but no structural damage. This looks like a rifle that saw some real use out hunting, possibly during the end days of the western frontier.

The rifle is offered with a crisp tight action in fully functional condition. The metalwork has been completely reblued, likely recently, with none of the original blued finish present on the gun. The receiver, barrel, buttplate, front & rear sights, and lever have all been reblued, with the only metal parts not reblued being the swing swivels, which appear to retain their original bluing. The bore is in very good condition, with strong lands and grooves and a partly bright finish. There is a bit of oxidation in the grooves, and propellant fouling.

A lovely example of a very desirable and rare late 19th Century Hunting rifle, ready to display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1896
Caliber: .30-40 Krag (30 U.S.)
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 28 Inches
Overall Length: 46 1/4 Inches
Action type: Lever Action Repeater
Feed System: 4 round box magazine.

The Winchester Model 1895 is an American lever-action repeating firearm developed and manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in the late 19th century, chambered for a number of full-size military and hunting cartridges such as 7.62×54mmR, .303 British, .30-03, .30 Army, .30-06, .35 Winchester, .38-72 Winchester, .40-72 Winchester and .405 Winchester.

The first Model 1895 was the first Winchester rifle to feature a box magazine that is located underneath the action instead of the tubular magazine design, which had remained fundamentally unchanged from the Winchester 1866. This allowed the rifle to safely chamber military and hunting cartridges with spitzer (pointed) bullets. The M1895 was also the last of the lever-action rifles to be designed by John Browning, and featured a rear locking bolt as in his previous designs dating back to the Winchester 1886. The M1895 is the strongest lever-action rifle Winchester has produced, designed to handle the increased pressures generated by the more powerful smokeless powder cartridges entering common use at the time of its introduction. By today's standards however, the design is considered relatively weak, and not suited to high pressure loads.

Around serial number 5000, a new receiver profile was introduced which had fluted (scalloped) sides, as opposed to the original flat sided design. This new receiver reduced the weight of the rifle by a small amount, and increased the width by 1/16 of an inch. By serial number 6000, it is thought that the last of the flat sided M1895s left the factory. These early rifles are now exceedingly rare.