Original Item: Only One Available. This is a well cared for matured Winchester Model 1894 Lever-Action Repeating Rifle, Serial number 142358 in Winchester .32-40 Caliber. Made in 1898, this rifle is one of the most popular lever action repeaters ever marketed, and is popular to this day as a sporting and hunting rifle. This example features the iconic "Buckhorn" Winchester rear adjustable sight with a standard blade front sight with a blaze on the rear. It is equipped with a full-length magazine tube, and has a 26-inch round barrel, which is marked:

By the chamber, the barrel is also marked .32-40, as is correct. The 1894 was originally chambered to fire 2 metallic black powder cartridges, the .32-40 Winchester / Ballard and .38-55 Winchester / Ballard. The former cartridge was first introduced in 1884 by Ballard. It was used in single-shot Union Hill Nos. 8 and 9 target rifles, and was later offered and popularized by Winchester in its Model 1894. In 1895 Winchester went to a different steel composition for rifle manufacturing that could handle higher pressure rounds, and offered the rifle in .25-35 Winchester and .30-30 Winchester. The .30-30 Winchester, or .30WCF (Winchester Centerfire), is the cartridge that has become synonymous with the Model 1894. This is one of the few made with the older composition barrel, and it was not later rebarreled as many were.

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

The stocks are in very good condition, with the lovely red-brown color of oiled aged walnut, not showing any major alterations or refinishing in the past. They show only light wear from service, including the expected scratches, dents, and dings, but no major damage such as cracks or repairs. The metalwork is very good, with a nice aged blued finish overall, faded to a plum patina, and no serious pitting or other oxidation. The top of the receiver is worn bright from cleaning off powder residue over the years, and the lever has also has had the original bluing worn away.

The rifle is offered with a crisp tight action in fully functional condition, with a crisp dry fire. The bore is in very good condition, showing a bright finish with clear lands and grooves. We can see some wear to the grooves, and just a bit of past fouling and oxidation, now cleaned away, showing that it was well cared for during its service life. We would rate it a solid 8 out of 10, far better than most black powder repeaters we see.

This 1898-production Winchester Model 1894 retains its original .32-40 chambering, 26-inch round barrel, full-length magazine, period sights, and well-preserved walnut stocks. The action remains tight and fully functional, while the bright, clearly rifled bore is notably strong for a black-powder-era sporting rifle. The plum-toned finish, bright wear on the receiver and lever, and scattered handling marks are fully evident, but there are no major cracks, repairs, or serious oxidation. Its early production date, original configuration, and strong mechanical and bore condition make this a particularly well-preserved example of the classic Winchester lever-action rifle.

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1895
Maker: Winchester Repeating Arms co.
Model: 1894 Lever-Action Rifle.
Caliber: .32-40 Winchester / Ballard
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 26 Inches
Overall Length: 44 Inches
Action type: Lever Action Repeater
Feed System: Magazine Tube
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

The Winchester Model 1894 rifle (also known as the Winchester 94 or Model 94) is a lever-action repeating rifle that became one of the most famous and popular hunting rifles of all time. It was designed by John Browning in 1894 and originally chambered to fire two metallic black powder cartridges, the .32-40 Winchester and .38-55 Winchester. It was the first rifle to chamber the smokeless powder round, the .30 WCF (Winchester Center Fire, in time becoming known as the .30-30) in 1895.

The 1894 was produced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company through 1980 and then by U.S. Repeating Arms under the Winchester brand until they ceased manufacturing rifles in 2006. Reproductions are being made by the Miroku company of Japan and imported into the United States by the Browning Arms company of Morgan, Utah.

The Model 1894 has been referred to as the "ultimate lever-action design" by firearms historians such as R. L. Wilson and Hal Herring. The Model 1894 is the rifle credited with the name "Winchester" being used to refer to all rifles of this type and was the first commercial sporting rifle to sell over 7,000,000 units.

One Model 1894 is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Arms & Armor department.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to most US States and most U.S. territories.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to most addresses within the United States.