Page 10 Check Us Out at www.WinchesterCollector.org Model 95 NRA musket barrels. To accomplish this, the barrel was shortened 2” and re-chambered similar to the 20” variant. This variant also exhibits the original Model 95 rear sight mounting holes which are either plugged or filled with filler screws. Here the dovetail slot for the rear sight was milled 3 1/16” forward of the receiver ring which is 11/16” further forward than on the standard Model 94 again apparently to avoid intersecting the front Model 95 sight mounting hole. Use of the barrel mounted magazine retaining band is required due to the forged front sight ramp. This variant also accounts for about 25% of the known Hybrids. The third variant group, those carbines with 20” barrels and a dovetailed front ramp sight, was made using surplus Model 95 sporting rifle barrels. These examples may have either a forged or silver soldered front sight ramp depending on the original length of the barrel. The rear sight spacing on this variant was set 3/8” further forward than the standard spacing to match the spacing in the first variant group. Obviously the sporting rifle utilized a dovetailed rear sight and no mounting holes are therefore evident on these variants. This variant accounts for the remainder or 50% of the known Hybrids. The serial numbers of the Model 94/95 Hybrids range from 1014894 to 10335961. This corresponds to a Model 94 receiver manufacturing period of January to November 1928 according to Winchester Polishing Room Serialization Record Books. Similarly, all of the barrels examined, within the Hybrid group, carry “28” stamped on the bottom of the barrel beneath the fore-end which would indicate a 1928 assembly. We now know the “when” and the “why” concerning this interesting group of special carbines. The 94/95 Hybrid project, together with ongoing parts clean-up that extended the assembly of the Model 95 into 1933, marks the end of trail for the “Medicine Gun for Lions” rifle. The last year that the Model 95 was listed in the Winchester catalog was 1934. 1 An earlier example has a 1911 dated rifle frame and one later example, 1085593 is thought to actual have been a misread serial number.
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