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Extremely Rare Antique Documented Winchester Model 1894 Extra Lightweight Short Rifle
LOT 3022
Documented Special Order Winchester Model 1894 Fancy Extra Lightweight Short Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 72394,
30 WCF cal., 22
nd bbl., blue finish, walnut checkered
Extra Lightweight Short Rifle was
top of the barrel
is roll-stamped:
“MANUFACTURED BY
THE/-WINCHESTER
REPEATING ARMS CO.
NEW HAVEN. CONN.
U.S.A.- “ in two lines
ahead of the rear sight.
“NICKEL STEEL BARREl/
ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS
POWDER” is roll-stamped on the left
side of the barrel below the rear sight. The caliber: “30 W.C.F.”
inch rou stock. This excellent Winchester Model 1894
manufactured prior to 1898 but not shipped until 1902. This rifle is accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter that describe it as: “Rifle, 30 caliber, Barrel Length; 22 inches, Barrel Shape: Round, Plain trigger, Checkered stock with pistol grip, Sights; Lyman front, leaf and rear, 4 cartridge Magazine, Shotgun butt” and “Extra light”. The letter states this rifle was shipped from Winchester on January 8, 1902. The rifle has a 22-inch tapered round barrel and half-magazine. The barrel has a Lyman “Winchester Express” style front sight with colored bead on
a ramp type lug and “Winchester Express” rear sight with three folding leaves with platinum sight lines marked: “50”, “1” and “2”. A Lyman folding combination rear sight is mounted on the receiver tang. The barrel, half magazine, forearm tip, receiver, bolt and steel shotgun buttplate have the Winchester commercial
blue finish. The hammer, trigger, lever and loading
gate are color casehardened. The forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured, fancy grade walnut with Winchester “Style H” checkering and a high polish piano finish. The stock has a black hard rubber pistol grip cap embossed: “WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO.” The
is stamped on the top of the barrel just ahead of the receiver. The
serial number is stamped across the bottom of the receiver front.
CONDITION: Excellent. This rifle is all original and retains nearly 90% of the bright original blue finish overall. Nearly 95% of the blue finish is present on the barrel and half magazine. The barrel markings are crisp. The blue on the sides of the forearm cap is thin. The receiver has 85% of the blue finish; there is some finish loss on the upper left side near the hammer and along the top edge of the receiver
on the right side between the hammer and the loading gate. The bolt retains nearly all of the blue finish. The blue finish on the buttplate has faded to a smooth, mottled, blue-brown patina. The hammer, trigger and lever have 85% vivid original case colors that show minimal wear. The highly figured walnut stock and forearm are both excellent overall and retain 90% plus of the high polish piano finish; wear is limited to a few scattered, minor, handling marks primarily on the underside of the forearm and sides of the stock wrist. The “Style H” checkering shows very little wear. This is an exceptional example of a scarce, special order, fancy Winchester Deluxe Model 1894 Extra Lightweight Short Rifle.
Estimate: 16,000 - 25,000
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