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I have a Winchester model 1894 32-40 standard rifle with a 30 in barrel instead of 26. It appears to be manufactured in 1895. Anyone seen this before or know why the longer barrel?
April 15, 2005
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Hello JR64,
What is the serial number on your Model 1894? In answer to your question, Yes I have seen several Model 1894 Rifles with 30-inch barrels, and even a few with 32-inch and 36-inch barrels. Winchester manufactured the Model 1894 Sporting Rifle with a 26-inch barrel as standard, but offered extra long barrel lengths as a special order option (cost was an extra $2 for each additional 2″ in length). The Model 1894 Rifles with factory original extra long barrels are high on most collectors list, and if the rifle is in decent condition, can bring substantially higher sales prices.
The attached photo is a scanned copy of the survey conducted by the Cody Firearms Museum research office showing how many of each barrel length were recorded in the factory warehouse ledger records for the first 353,999 Model 1894 serial numbers (covering September 1894 to May 1907). Click on the picture to enlarge it.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 19, 2006
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JR64 said
I have a Winchester model 1894 32-40 standard rifle with a 30 in barrel instead of 26. It appears to be manufactured in 1895. Anyone seen this before or know why the longer barrel?
In my book, that’s quite a find you have there. Congratulations!
As far as why the longer barrel, it’s because someone wanted one and ordered it that way. We can only speculate (wildly) on what their reason might have been. If your rifle was manufactured in 1895, we are coming off a period of time where rifles tended to be longer rather than shorter. Many shooters were in the camp where greater accuracy was associated with longer barrels. The longer barrel also provided a longer sighting distance. If the rifle has a full magazine tube, the explanation could be as different as a rifle that held a greater number of cartridges was the main appeal. It would be extremely interesting to know just what the original purchaser had in mind.
Thank you for the prompt response and the info!! The SN is 40681. The gun is a beautiful piece in very good condition. My dad bought it 50 years ago.
JR64 said
I have a Winchester model 1894 32-40 standard rifle with a 30 in barrel instead of 26. It appears to be manufactured in 1895. Anyone seen this before or know why the longer barrel?
April 15, 2005
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JR,
Model 1894 serial number 40681 was actually manufactured in April, 1898. If you are interested in the exact date, the Cody Firearms Museum (CFM) records office can provide you with a Factory letter (for a modest fee).
We would like to see some pictures of the rifle… in “Very Good” graded condition, it is potentially worth a substantial number of $$$$.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thanks Bert. The site won’t let me upload pics for some reason. Have an email or FB where I could send them?
April 15, 2005
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JR64 said
Thanks Bert. The site won’t let me upload pics for some reason. Have an email or FB where I could send them?
Send to – [email protected]
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
September 22, 2011
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What was the original cost of a rifle when it cost $2 per additional 2″ of barrel? I’m guessing at that time each additional $2 per 2″ was a substantial premium.
April 15, 2005
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The April 1900 catalog (No. 65) listed a standard Model 1894 Sporting Rifle w/26-inch octagon barrel as $19.50 for the 32-40 and 38-55 calibers. The 30-inch barrel cost an extra $4.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
June 5, 2015
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That $4 is around $123 in today’s dollars. Quite a substantial premium.
Vince
Southern Oregon
NRA member
Fraternal Order of Eagles
“There is but one answer to be made to the dynamite bomb and that can best be made by the Winchester rifle.”
Teddy Roosevelt
November 19, 2006
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Vince said
That $4 is around $123 in today’s dollars. Quite a substantial premium.
Thanks Vince. That really does put it in perspective. So, the total cost of the rifle, in today’s dollars, was an impressive amount.
