1068

Outstanding, Desirable Winchester Model 1895 Lever Action Sporting Rifle in .405 Caliber

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
Outstanding, Desirable Winchester Model 1895 Lever Action Sporting Rifle in .405 Caliber
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Manufactured in 1902. The Cody Firearms Museum letter that accompanies the rifle states that it was shipped from the Winchester warehouse in September 15, 1902. The letter describes it as "Rifle", Caliber "40/72" with "Shotgun butt" and "Nickel steel bright barrels". All of the aforementioned checks out except for the caliber which is .405 WCF. The rifle has the Winchester high polish blue finish with varnished walnut stock and forearm. The receiver has a saddle ring on the left side. The barrel is fitted with a sporting type rear sight with six-step elevator and screw-adjustable insert. The sporting type front sight has a set screw and brass blade. The rifle has a straight grip stock and Schnabel forearm with ebony insert. The top of the receiver has a matted finish. The receiver tang has the first style "WINCHESTER/MODEL 1895" markings. The left side of the receiver is marked, "MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO./NEW HAVEN CONN. U.S.A. PAT. NOV. 5.95. NOV 12.95, AUG. 17.97. JAN.25.98. AUG.23.98". The left side of the barrel is marked "MADE IN U.S.A." followed by "WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL" and the caliber "405 W.C.F." The top of the barrel is stamped with a WRA oval proof and a circled "P" proof mark. The rifle appears to have been returned to Winchester, and fitted with a .405 caliber barrel sometime after the introduction of the .405 W.C.F. cartridge in 1904.
BBL: 24 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 405 WCF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 36725
Condition: Excellent plus. The barrel, receiver and loading lever have at least 98% of the factory bright blue Winchester finish. Wear is only limited to very minor handling marks. The special order shotgun buttplate has aged to a satin gray patina. The stock and forearm are in excellent condition, nearly all of the finish remains and wear is limited to some very minor handling marks. This is an outstanding example of a Model 1895 Sporting Rifle chambered for the desirable (made famous by Theodore Roosevelt) .405 W.C.F cartridge, in lieu of the much less powerful 40/72 that it presumably began as!