Browning Limited Edition Grade I 1895, Consecutively Numbered, Mint Blue 24” Lever Action Rifles & Boxes, MFD 1984 ONLY
SOLD
LSB#: 170107AL01 & 170107AL02
Make: Browning (Miroku)
Model: Limited Edition 1895
Serial Number: 02330PW187 & 02329PW187
Year of Manufacture: 1984 Only
Caliber: .30-06 Springfield
Action Type: Lever Action, Internal Magazine Fed Rifle
Markings: Both rifles are marked as such: The left of the barrel is marked “BROWNING ARMS COMPANY MORGAN, UTAH & MONTREAL P.Q. / MADE IN JAPAN”, with “NP” next to the breech, the right is marked “BROWNING 1895 / CALIBER .30-06”. The right of the receiver is marked with the serial number, seen on the factory boxes.
Barrel Length: 24”, Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded blade that is pinned into a base that is fixed to the barrel. The rear sights are “U” notched buckhorn leafs on slide-step elevators, dovetailed onto the barrels.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks on both rifles are a two piece smooth walnut set. The forend have Schnabel forends, the stocks have crisp fit to all metal components. Both pairs of stocks are free of any notable marks or damages. These rifles don’t look to have been handled much, let alone fired, outside of the factory. The LOP measures 13 ¼” from the front of the trigger to the back of the matte blue shotgun-style butt plates. The stocks rate in about Mint overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Factory Original
Bore Condition: The bores of both rifles are bright with sharp rifling. There is little to no evidence of use outside of the factory.
Overall Condition: The rifles only have a few tiny scuffs from storage. We peeled them out of their factory wax paper and paper bags, we are pretty sure they have been in their boxes for most, if not all of their life. The metal to metal fit is superb, all lines are sharp. The flanks of the magazine well on both rifles have an odd taper in blue density, please see our pictures, this is most likely a factory blemish. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are crisp and raised. Overall, these rifles rate in Mint condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired these rifles. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: The rifles come with their original factory cardboard boxes, with foam liners, plastic bags, strips of wax paper and owner’s manuals. All items have a small amount of storage wear, but are generally damage free, in Fine to Excellent condition.
Our Assessment: From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchester_Model_1895 “As with previous Winchester rifles, a new serial number range was launched with the M1895, beginning with serial number 1.[13] Including military contract rifles, a total of 425,881 rifles were produced, with production ceasing at serial number 425,132. The standard barrel length varied from 24 to 28 inches, depending on chambering and configuration, and the Standard finish on all rifles was blue.[2] The rifle is most commonly associated today with former President Theodore Roosevelt; however, it was also used by many other famed hunters and adventurers, to include Martin and Osa Johnson, Charles Cottar, and author Stewart Edward White.[1] Garrit Forbes—hunting companion of W. D. M. Bell, first cousin of Franklin D. Roosevelt, and long time personal friend of gun writer and firearms enthusiast Elmer Keith—recommended the M1895 in .405 Winchester to Theodore Roosevelt.[14] Theodore Roosevelt took two M1895 rifles with him on his 1909 safari to East Africa, both in .405 Winchester. Additionally, Kermit Roosevelt accompanied his father on the trip and brought two more M1895 rifles; one was chambered in .405 Winchester, and the other in .30-03 Springfield. While the serial number of Kermit’s .30-03 has been lost, the serial numbers of the three .405 rifles are known to have been 63727, 63736, and 68180.[15] Theodore Roosevelt praised the .405 M1895 in his book African Game Trails, famously referring to this rifle as his “‘medicine gun’ for lions”: This is a collector’s chance to grab two consecutively numbered, 1984 (ONLY!) produced Miroku Browning 1895’s. These are beautiful rifles that do not tell of any use outside of the factory. With the factory boxes and included factory packing, these should sit well in any collection.
