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Early Winchester Model 1894 Lever Action Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:2,100.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Early Winchester Model 1894 Lever Action Rifle
serial #7028, 38-55, 26'' octagon barrel with a full magazine and a very good plus bore with scattered fine oxidation and a light pit or two, still showing strong rifling throughout. The barrel and magazine have toned largely to brown with thinning remnants of blue throughout, strongest in the protected areas, with scattered freckling, light handling marks, and a spot of fine pitting behind the front sight; under ambient light the blue appears much stronger. The receiver retains about 70% original blue with more moderate wear on the high edges and contact points, the left side thinning and the loading gate showing attractive fire blue, with scattered freckling and light handling marks, and the case-hardened lever shows a smoky-pewter patina with some vibrant remnants of case color in protected areas and some light oxidation staining. The hammer retains strong case-hardened color, mellowed only slightly with age, showing light operational wear and scattered specks of oxidation. The straight grip walnut stock and forend are in very good plus condition as perhaps very lightly cleaned with a few light impact marks on the left side of the forend, some older light dings and handling marks, and the stock is somewhat shy of the metal in spots, including at the toe. The two-line Winchester address and other factory markings are intact and crisp, the tang marking somewhat softened by the years, and some of the screws show the beginning of light slot wear. The rifle is sighted with a small German silver blade front sight and a sporting-style semi-buckhorn rear sight, and the tang is drilled and tapped for an aperture sight. Included is a copy of a factory letter from the Cody Firearms Museum, serialized to this rifle, confirming its configuration and that it was received at the warehouse on September 24, 1895, shipping out the next day. A fine second year production rifle that has weathered the intervening 129 years well. (14B11523-60) {ANTIQUE} [Jim Thrash Collection] (3000/5000)