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November 7, 2017
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Hello, a customer brought in his 1894 and we are trying to gather more information for him. This rifle appears to have been manufactured in 1907 and has been in the family about 60 years(the family has not altered the rifle since owning). The bluing on the barrel looks a bit too nice to be original and differs slightly from the receiver. The barrel is half octagonal and half rounded and does not have a fully extended feed tube. It does not have a rear sight but instead a Redfield sight. I’m a bit at a loss as to what to tell him his rifle may be worth with regards to the barrel likely having been reblued (although the marking are still very crisp) and rear sight alteration.
Any additional information, value, or fun facts about this rifle would be greatly appreciated.
April 15, 2005
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Hello Walter,
It is not at all uncommon for the barrel to have brighter (higher condition) bluing than the receiver frame. Two things to consider in that regard;
(1) The barrel was “rust” blued, and the receiver frame was “machine” blued. The two different types of bluing do not wear the same.
(2) The receiver frame is handled much more frequently than the barrel, as it is often used as the hand carry point. This also cause a more rapid wearing of the bluing.
The S/N identifies it as a January 1907 production Model 1894. The 1/2 octagon barrel and the 1/2 (button) magazine were both “optional” order features.
Now for the bad news… the Redfield receiver sight is an aftermarket alteration, and it required drilling & tapping (2) extra holes in the side-wall of the receiver frame. The original barrel mounted sight was removed (and presumed to be missing). Accordingly, the “collector” value of the rifle took a serious & negative hit.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
June 26, 2013
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The hammer and lever look to be blued in the photo. Shouldn’t they be case-colored in this serial number range?
Don
April 15, 2005
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deerhunter said
The hammer and lever look to be blued in the photo. Shouldn’t they be case-colored in this serial number range?Don
Yes they should… that stated, I can not see enough of either part to definitely determine if they have been refinished.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
January 27, 2022
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I’m just a newbie with this stuff, but doesn’t the wood (especially in the third pic) appear to be pretty beat up compared to the metal parts?
Frank
November 7, 2017
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Hi All, thanks for the feedback. This is very helpful and quite interesting to piece together the history on these older rifles. Thank you for taking the time to respond.
November 7, 2017
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Thank you for the help and guidance. Based upon what we learned here and books and services in our store.
We spoke to our customer who consigned the rifle with us and agreed upon a sale price of $2,000. We will post it in our store and on our website for that price.
Thank you again.
Kind Regards
Walt Lamon
Culverine Firearms
(413) 789 7466
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