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Winchester Model 1894 Lever Action Rifle Pre-1899

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:1,450.00 - 2,350.00 USD
Winchester Model 1894 Lever Action Rifle Pre-1899
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Included in this lot for your consideration is a fine example of an early production Winchester Model 1894, Lever-Action repeating rifle, chambered for the ever-popular .30-30 Winchester Center Fire (WCF). It is duly noted that the .30 WCF round was introduced for the Model 1894 Winchester in the year of 1895, and was the first sporting cartridge made expressly for smokeless powder, and became instantly popular. The 1894 was aptly nicknamed "The Klondike Model", as many found their way to the Yukon Gold Rush of the last years of the 1890's. As well as carrying fame with the gold seekers, it was equally popular on both the East and West side of the Mississippi, and was also used by big game hunter/conservationist Theodore Roosevelt, who was known to have a Mod. 1894 in .30 WCF very similar to this example. The rifle shows correct early markings, reading; "Model 1894 - WINCHESTER - PAT . AUG.21.1894" on the upper tang, "-NICKEL STEEL BARREL - ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER - 30 W.C.F." on the left side of the barrel, behind the rear sight, "MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. - NEW HAVEN . CONN. U.S.A. PAT. AUG 21. 1894" on the top of the barrel, and serial number: "97543" on the bottom on the receiver, indicating manufacture and ship date to the year of 1897. The rifle additionally shows a 26" round barrel, walnut fixtures, with the RARE folding leaf "Express" rear sight, paired with a blade front sight. The 1894 was one of Winchesters most popular models produced, and thousands are still in regular use to this day! Most of those examples however were made after 1899. This fine rifle is a rarity due to its "Antique Firearm" status, and still boasts an un-cleaned, naturally aged blue finish, exceptional unaltered walnut fixtures, and fine mechanics, with a tight action, and a very fine bore - displaying good rifling, and absent of pitting. This rifle is 121 years old, and qualifies as an Antique Long Gun, and does not require FFL Transfer or NICS Background Check. Serial Number: 97543.