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Exceptional, Documented Factory Engraved, Winchester Model 1894 Fancy Sporting Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:7,000.00 USD Estimated At:14,000.00 - 22,500.00 USD
Exceptional, Documented Factory Engraved, Winchester Model 1894 Fancy Sporting Rifle
Winchester Model 1894 Fancy Sporting Rifle manufactured in 1895. This rifle has a full-page illustration and description on page 426 of "THE WINCHESTER BOOK" by George Madis. The rifle has Winchester No. 9 factory engraving on the barrel, forearm cap, receiver and buttplate. The fancy, highly figured, walnut forearm and pistol grip stock have Winchester Style E carving and checkering. The rifle has a blue finish on the half-round/half-octagon barrel, half magazine, forearm cap and receiver. The hammer, loading lever and crescent steel buttplate half a casehardened finish. The engraving features highly detailed game scenes with buck deer in round panels on either side of the receiver. The game scenes are surrounded by American style scroll-work on a punch-dot background. The edges of the receiver have zigzag and dot borders which form panels that enclose the game scenes and scroll-work. The scroll work extends to the barrel at the junction with the receiver, the top of the receiver and the heel of the buttplate. The upper and lower edges of the receiver have wavy line and dot engraving. The stock and forearm have a low-polish oil finish and the pistol grip is fitted with a metal "WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS" grip cap. The barrel is fitted with a Marble No. 3 front sight with ivory bead. A blued blank is factory fitted in the rear sight dove-tail. A Lyman folding combination rear sight adjustable for windage and elevation is mounted on the receiver tang. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "- MANUFACTURED BY THE-/WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN.CONN.U.S.A.-" in two lines ahead of the rear sight dovetail. The left barrel flat is roll-stamped: "NICKEL STEEL BARREL/ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER" in two lines between the rear sight dovetail and the receiver. The caliber designation: "30 W.C.F." is stamped on the top of the barrel just in front of the receiver in a scrollwork panel. The serial number, "39514" is stamped on the underside of the receiver.
BBL: 22 inch
Stock: fancy walnut deluxe checkered
Gauge: 30 WCF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 39514


Fine, approximately 40% of the original blue on the receiver. The barrel has nearly 90% of the slightly faded blue finish with some very minor thinning on the top and left flat between the rear sight dovetail and the receiver. The forearm cap has about 60% of the blue finish; the balance is a smooth, blue-gray, patina. The receiver has a very attractive, blue gray patina with large portions of blue finish in protected areas. The hammer and loading lever have strong case colors with some silvering. The crescent buttplate has a smooth silver patina. The engraving is crisp and deep; the barrel markings are sharp. The fancy walnut stock and forearm are in excellent condition. The checkering shows only minor handling wear and the carved scroll borders are sharp. The stock and forearm are free from nicks and scratches and retain nearly all of the original satin finish. This is an exceptional example of a Winchester Model 1894 Fancy Sporting Rifle with special order barrel and sights. The factory engraving and checkering are identical to that illustrated in the 1897 Winchester catalogue "HIGHLY FINISHED ARMS" shown on pages 209-211 of "THE BOOK OF WINCHESTER ENGRAVING" by R.L. Wilson. This rifle is an outstanding example of Winchester's best 19th Century craftsmanship; it would be a stand-out piece in any advanced Winchester rifle collection.