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I don’t have many Winchesters but i do favor antique carbines and short rifles. Here is a Model 1894 made in 1898 and shipped in 1902. Besides having a 20" barrel, the thing that caught my interest was the number of options it has. Interestingly, 2X wood is not listed as one of them. Is it possible that checkered stock includes a wood upgrade?
http://s228.photobucket.com/user/rushbgood/media/Winch/DSC_7385_zpsaf4458e2.jpg.html
http://s228.photobucket.com/user/rushbgood/media/Winch/DSC_7353_zpsf1b060e3.jpg.html
http://s228.photobucket.com/user/rushbgood/media/Winch/DSC_7357_zpscf4303e9.jpg.html
http://s228.photobucket.com/user/rushbgood/media/Winch/DSC_7347_zps09e6a6b0.jpg.html
http://s228.photobucket.com/user/rushbgood/media/Winch/DSC_7411_zps6827aa70.jpg.html
Your rifle was made in 1902 and shipped in 1902. There is lots of erroneous information out there, but the ‘cut-off’ for pre-1899 (and hence, truly an antique) and post-1898 is much earlier, sequentially, than was previously believed. Bert can give you the exact serial number for the first 1894 produced on or after 01 January 1899, I am sure.
It is hard to tell from the pictures, but I think the fancy walnut is original from your gun and was simply not entered in the original ledgers, originally, or was omitted from the factory letter. Again, difficult to tell from the photos, but I think the crispness of the checkering relative to the condition of your firearm suggests a re-checkering at a later date.
Spike,
It was very common for a deluxe grade gun to have a better grade of wood and not be mentioned on the letter.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Again, a very nice gun and photos. The answer mrcvs question about the 1st model 1894 to be produced as per polishing room records would be serial number 53942. I also agree that the checkering has been freshened up. I am sure there will also be comments about the extra holes for the receiver sight. 
Thanks for sharing.
Bob is correct about the fancy wood often not mentioned in the letters, and Brian about the extra holes. Still, those short rifles sure have the "coolness" factor about them. Cool looking shorty.
Matt
Thanks for the input Guys. The gun isn’t as worn as the initial photos suggest. The Barrel easily has more than 90% blue left and the receiver maybe more than 75%. It is thin on the receiver and if the light is not right it will not show in a photo. That being said I agree that the stock has at least been refinished and the checkering refreshed. The additional photos below support this. See the somewhat sloppy boarders on the checkering. The wood to metal fit is still pretty good but appears sanded at the for end cap at least.
The originality of the stock finish was an issue when I bought it but it was not a high ticket gun and I liked the little gun a lot.
I dated the gun based on the SN and the production dates from Madis’ Dates Of Manufacture. If these are wrong as you Guys suggest I would like to know the correct Antique SN end.
The fact the Letter states a 1902 date for delivery to the Factory didn’t concern me because of my experience with Colt and Smith factory practices where older guns are often delivered well after their SN production date. Am I correct in assuming that this doesn’t commonly occur with Winchester?
That rifle is a pleasure to behold. I like those accoutrements as well. A brief glimps of the past.
If you dare to remove the stock, there may be X or XX marked on the lower tang indicating fancier wood. I have had a number of deluxe guns that don’t say anything about the grade of the wood on the letter but have XX or XXX on the lower tang.
It is easy to chip the wood near the receiver when removing the stock so be careful if you’ve not done it before.
spike
The last serial number that actually qualifies as an antique is 53941 from Dec. 31,1898. And as Road King mentioned adove, the first non antique gun would be 53942. To answer your other question, there are Winchesters that had the s/n applied but were not sent to the warehouse for a couple years. Example below.
http://s1224.photobucket.com/user/oldguy67/media/1894%20others/85967_zps5ca8ec0c.jpg.html
[Image Can Not Be Found]
Paul
Spike, I believe that if you obtain one of the new factory letters from Cody, they now include the date the serial number was applied, which is the ‘official’ date (i.e., what the government goes by) the firearm came into existence. Once again, that is an absolutely gorgeous (and rare) little rifle. Congratulations on acquiring it.
January 26, 2011
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I agree, what a good looking little rifle. It definitely has the cool factor and the extra holes in the receiver don’t bother me a bit. Now, on a plain sporting rifle with nothing going for it, the holes would be more of a problem.
Paul, you have to be drooling…………I am.
~Gary~
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