NICE Winchester Model 1895 Takedown Blue 28” Lever Action Rifle, MFD 1913 C&R

SOLD FOR: $1,705.00
LSB#:
150729JH15

Make: Winchester

Model: 1895 Takedown

Serial Number: 67726

Year of Manufacture: 1913 (Proof House)

Caliber: .30-40 Krag (.30 US)

Action Type: Lever Action with Internal Box Magazine

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “NICKEL STEEL BARREL / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER” and “30 U.S.”. The top of the barrel at the chamber and the chamber ring are marked with a circled “WP” proof. The left side of the receiver is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY. / NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A. PATENTED NOV.5.95.NOV.12.95.AUG.17.97.JAN.25.98.AUG.23.98.MAY 23.07.AUG.6.07.”. The top tang is marked “MODEL 1895 / WINCHESTER / TRADE MARK REG. IN U.S. PAT. OFF.”. The bottom tang is marked “67226” and “B”. The inside surface of the lever is marked with a “1” in a triangle and another mark we can’t make out.

Barrel Length: The round barrel is about 28” in length.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass blade pinned to a slotted base atop the barrel. The rear sight is a semi-buckhorn elevator sight dovetailed into the barrel.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are smooth walnut with what appears to be an original finish. The stocks have a straight grip and a Schnabel tipped forend with an ebony insert at the nose. There is a crescent shaped blued steel buttplate on the butt. The buttstock shows numerous handling marks and light compression marks, most of which are dark with oil staining. There is also a scrape mark through the finish on the left side near the belly. The forend shows oil staining at the receiver and several light handling marks. There are also a few light compression marks on the right side with a ¾” drag line starting at the right top edge. There are no cracks or chips noted and the wood to metal fit is excellent. The LOP measures 12 13/16” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate shows thinning with a brown patina starting to form. The buttplate shows light handling marks, light wear at the heel and toe and a few tiny dings. It is in about Very Good condition. The stocks also rate in about Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: The rifle is blued.

Finish Originality: All Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright, tending to gray at the muzzle. The rifling shows light wear. There is no erosion in the bore. Our bore gauge measures a ME of 0.8.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 70% of its metal finish. The barrel shows multiple light handling marks from the muzzle to the forend with several tiny nicks through the finish. There are also a few tiny spots of pinprick surface erosion on the left side, a few tiny spots of surface frosting next to the rear sight and thinning in the finish behind the rear sight. The barrel extension shows surface loss on its underside. There is surface loss on the edges of the receiver, the underside of the magazine, and on the bolt, upper tang and lever, with a plum colored patina forming. There is also surface loss on the sides of the magazine from the lever and a small spot of pinprick surface erosion at the rear of the extractor. The receiver also shows several light scratches on its sides with a few tiny dings on its upper shoulders. The hammer checkering shows light wear. The screw heads are sharp and the markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good Plus condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety and the trigger pull is crisp. We have not fired this rifle.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment: The 1895 Winchester was the first model to incorporate a non-detachable box magazine. Teddy Roosevelt called this model his “Big Medicine” that he used in hunting here and in Africa. This rifle became the preference of major powers worldwide, with Russia alone purchasing nearly 300,000 1895’s just before World War I. The Model 1895 was designed for the new generation of cartridges utilizing smokeless powder and pointed bullets, and many of its original chamberings remain popular today. With its quick handling characteristics, box magazine and pointed bullet capability, the Model 1895 changed the world of sporting rifles forever. The .30-40 Krag cartridge was developed in the early 1890’s to provide the U.S. armed forces with a smokeless powder cartridge. Although in sporting use it is considered a medium game cartridge, in 1899 a Krag in .30-40 caliber was used to shoot a world record Rocky Mountain elk, a record that stood until the latter half of the 20th century. This Winchester Model 1895 Takedown rifle is chambered in .30-40 Krag and is in Very Good Plus condition with about 70% of its original finish remaining. This rifle has a scalloped receiver, two-piece lever, Schnabel forearm with ebony insert and a straight grip stock. The barrel shows multiple light handling marks and small dings from the muzzle to the forend, with a few tiny spots of pinprick surface erosion. The receiver, lever, bolt, upper tang and magazine show surface loss with a plum colored patina formed. There are slight scratches on the sides of the receiver with tiny dings on its upper shoulders. The wood shows numerous light handling marks and small bruises with a scrape through the finish on the left side of the buttstock and a drag line on the right side of the forend. There are no cracks or chips noted and the wood to metal fit is excellent. The bore is mostly bright with light wear in the rifling and no erosion. This is a nice honest rifle with original finishes in both the metal and the wood that has seen some use, but been well maintained. We expect the Winchester collectors to show a lot of interest in this rifle, especially since it is a takedown model.

NICE Winchester Model 1895 Takedown Blue 28” Lever Action Rifle, MFD 1913 C&R
NICE Winchester Model 1895 Takedown Blue 28” Lever Action Rifle, MFD 1913 C&R