Winchester Deluxe Model 1894 Lever Action Rifle 30 WCF With Factory Letter

Description:
Manufactured in 1897, this outstanding deluxe Winchester Model 1894 represents one of the rarest and most desirable special order configurations known for the model. The rifle features the exceptionally scarce combination of a factory matted barrel and casehardened receiver, two options seldom encountered individually and almost never found together. Casehardened receivers were offered only from the introduction of the Model 1894 through 1901 and were difficult for Winchester to produce due to the nickel and chromium content of the receiver steel. Research published in “Armax Vol. V” by George Madis, Thomas Hall, and Robert Renneberg notes that only 157 Model 1894s were special ordered with casehardened frames, of which just 155 were rifles. Of those, only 16 were built in deluxe configuration. The same research further records only approximately 200 Model 1894 rifles manufactured with matted barrels, placing this rifle among the most exclusive factory special order 1894s known.
This exact rifle is featured on the cover of Robert C. Renneberg’s “Winchester Model 94: A Century of Craftsmanship, Second Edition” and was also the subject of a detailed article by Rob Kassab in the Spring 2008 issue of “The Winchester Collector,” where its rarity and the specialized Winchester casehardening process are discussed extensively. Kassab additionally notes that the accompanying factory letter strongly suggests the rifle may have served as an exhibition or trade fair display piece, likely connected to New York exhibitions in 1897.
The included factory letter confirms the rifle in .30 caliber with a matted round barrel, plain trigger, four-shot half magazine, casehardened finish, and oil-finished checkered pistol grip stock fitted with a hard rubber shotgun buttplate. The rifle was received in the warehouse on June 5, 1897, and shipped the same day under order number 9285. The letter further documents return and repair entries dated August 16, 1897, with the notation “New York,” and an additional January 31 repair entry with no year specified. Included with the rifle are scans of the original Winchester ledger pages documenting the gun.
The barrel bears the correct two-line Winchester address and caliber designation offset to the left due to the factory applied matting. The upper tang carries the standard three-line model and patent marking, while the serial number appears on the underside of the receiver. The lower tang is stamped “3992 XXX SOFRB,” with the stock inlet marked “3992 94,” the assembly code denoting shotgun butt, oil-finished wood, and rubber buttplate. The barrel retains full-length factory wavy-line matting and is equipped with a Lyman beaded blade “Jack Sight” front sight paired with a No. 34 three-leaf express rear sight featuring platinum inlaid sight lines. Additional special order features include the highly desirable half magazine and beautifully figured walnut stocks with H-pattern checkering, hard rubber grip cap, and checkered hard rubber shotgun buttplate.
Unlike many deluxe Winchesters ordered primarily for presentation or display, this rifle was clearly built with equal emphasis on practical field use and refined aesthetics. The result is an exceptionally sophisticated and highly functional special order Model 1894 that stands among the finest and rarest surviving examples of Winchester craftsmanship from the black powder era.

Condition:
Very fine, the barrel retains 85% plus of the original blue finish with some areas of touch up near the muzzle and front sight, 80% plus of the vibrant original case colors, and 60% of the original nitre blue on the loading gate with some light muzzle wear, scattered light scratches, and some scattered brown and grey freckling on the receiver. The wood is also very fine with scattered light scratches and dings, typical of some careful, limited use, and a few minor blemishes in the mostly crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.

Curio/Relic: Yes
Rifle Caliber: .30-30 Winchester
Manufacturer: Winchester
Model: 1894
Barrel Length: 26
Condition: Very Fine

Price: $79,999.99
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