Winchester Model 1894 Pre-64 Sporting Rifle .30-30, 26-Inch Octagon Nickel-Steel Barrel (mfd 1907)
This Winchester Model 1894 Sporting Rifle is a pre-64 example manufactured in 1907, placing it squarely in the high-quality production years that collectors seek. Chambered in .30-30 and fitted with a 26-inch octagon nickel-steel barrel roll-marked “NICKEL STEEL BARREL — ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER,” it offers classic lever-action handling backed by John M. Browning’s proven design. A full-length 9+1 tubular magazine, straight-grip walnut stock, and rust-blue finish complete a package that reflects early 20th-century Winchester craftsmanship.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Specific Condition Notes: The metal surfaces display scattered scratches and small blemishes consistent with field use, and the walnut furniture shows handling marks but remains structurally sound.
Bore Condition: Good – Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling – Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
What’s Included
- Winchester Model 1894 Sporting Rifle (.30-30, 26" octagon barrel)
Built on a steel receiver and finished in rust blue, this rifle embodies the machining precision Winchester offered before 1964. The external hammer couples with a quarter-cock safety notch, providing a positive mechanical safeguard without altering the classic lines.
The 26-inch octagon barrel adds sight radius and weight out front, helping steady the rifle for accurate off-hand shots. Its nickel-steel composition was Winchester’s answer to early smokeless powder pressures, and the period roll-mark remains clear and legible.
Iron sights consist of a dovetailed post front and an adjustable semi-buckhorn rear, allowing elevation changes to match various loads. Combined with the solid trigger and smooth lever throw, the setup delivers the quick follow-up shots that have made the 1894 a woods favorite for more than a century.
The straight-grip walnut stock features an oil finish and terminates in a crescent steel buttplate—an iconic look that also aids shouldering from multiple positions. A 13-inch length of pull fits most shooters comfortably while preserving the rifle’s vintage profile.
Serial number 442946 confirms early production, and its pre-64 designation means forged parts, milled internals, and the fit-and-finish collectors associate with Winchester’s golden era.