September 20th 2015 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/19/2015
.38-55 WCF with a 26" barrel. Offered is a very scarce Winchester Model 1894 First Model that was manufactured with the so-called 10 o'clock screw on right side of receiver. The Winchester factory letter indicates the following: Serial number applied on October 15th, 1894; Type: rifle; Caliber: .38-55; Barrel type: octagon; Trigger: plain; Received in warehouse October 25th and shipped October 27th. This standard First Model is one of the lowest known existing. It is standard in all respects with the full octagon barrel and full magazine with walnut stocks and rifle butt. Has standard sporting front and rear sights. The barrel is a smooth patina with evidence of lightly applied wiped-on finish. Magazine tube is a blue-brown patina with some age freckling. Front retaining band exhibits 30% original blue. Forend cap is brown patina. The frame has flashes of original factory blue in recesses with the balance smooth plum. Blue-grey patina bolt. 20% blue on loading gate. The lever shows traces of original case colors. Forend is excellent, proud to metal with no cracks or chips. Buttstock is very good with just a couple of minor bruises, a small chip on right wrist, but was freshened up years ago. The wood to metal fit at frame sides is perfect but is a bit shy at tang and top of buttplate toe. Blue-brown patina on rifle buttplate with flashes of brilliance. Perfect action. Has strong shiny rifled bore with some very minor black powder residue. Screw heads are fairly sharp with a couple of minor burrs. Extremely clean and extremely scarce very early Winchester Model 1894 manufactured and shipped during the first month of production. How many two digit first month Model 1894s exist?