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Deluxe Winchester 1894 Authentication

vepr762
I'm looking at a deluxe 1894 (32WS) that has some puzzles to it. Serial number is 335XXX, so it dates to 1905.

Here's what puzzles me. It has a 24" half octagon barrel & button mag,checkered pistol grip & forearm, grip cap, but there are matching proof marks, on the barrel and receiver. I thought this didn't start until 1908?

The rifle has the Lyman #21 sight that covers the left side of the receiver, rifle butt plate, and is in 90% plus condition overall. Normal wear under the receiver and a rub mark on the barrel. Looks like someone wiped a blood drop off and took the blue with it. Traces of what looks to be case on the lever and just a few dings in the wood

Is this a legit rifle and if so what is the fair market price?

Thanks
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Comments

4 comments

Date Votes
  • Bert H.
    Serial 331895 was the last Model 1894 made in 1906... so that means that the Rifle you are looking at was made sometime in 1907. Winchester started marking the Model 1894 with proof marks as a regular course of business in July of 1907.

    The only way to tell for sure if it is a "legit" Model 1894 special order SPorting Rifle would be to call Cody and have it researched or lettered... which I highly recommend doing before considering buying it.
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  • Bert H.
    Dave,

    I tried replying to your email, but it was kicked back as undeliverable.
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  • Texas Bear
    Just ran across this old post From Bert which does not agree with a later post he made. See:
    http://forums.GunBroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=498362&SearchTerms=Winchester,94

    The question in the newer post was:
    what serial number range did winchester start putting proofmarks on the receiver ring and barrel top?
    To which Bert replied:
    Circa 271,000 is when the first guns show up with proof marks, and by 286,000, they were all marked.
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  • Bert H.
    Don,

    You are correct that the old post I made in February of 2009 is in conflict (error) with the later post I made in January of 2011. The information in the later (2011) post is considerably more accurate, but is also in need of revision. That stated, it is not practical for me to seek out and correct all of the old posts that I made years ago. Thanks for bringing this one to my attention though.

    The positive aspect of the research survey, is that it has revealed many new interesting facts about the Model 1894/94 production, including the fact that Winchester first began proof marking them in late April of 1905. The serial number range for the proof marked Model 1894s begins at 264188 (4/18/1905), but they were not in 100% use until serial number 270328. Serial number 270212 (a SRC 38-55) is the highest serial number that I have recorded that is not proof marked, and it went through the Polishing Room on 5/29/1905. All of the many thousands of Model 1894s in my survey after that number have proof marks on them.
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