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Today at the gun show I picked up an 1895 .30 US Sporting Rifle. Serial number in the 34,000 area, which means it was made around 1902.
Definitely not the nicest rifle around. It has been re-blued and heavily buffed with some area of old pitting on the lower areas of the action (like the magazine sides). Not too unpleasant looking, but would have been better if left alone, I think. The factory wording is very now quite shallow and “soft” on the receive and barrel, but the tangs both look good.
Action functions, but have not tested feeding. Strong rifling with dark grooves, but there does not appear to be pitting in the bore. The rear sight looks “off” to me–maybe a shorter replacement (you can see some rubbed-off bluing where I think the original sight elevator used to sit). Does the front sight look original? Crown is good.
There are a couple of old cracks in the wood that appear to have been repaired long ago and one missing sliver at the front of the bottom tang. In the wrist area, there is what look like a “plug” or something going across. Maybe a pin, or bolt, inserted and covered over with putty or filler?
Here she is. Asking price was $700 and I got it for $500.
Will add more pics in a second post. Any and all comments are welcome!
Rob
November 1, 2013
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[email protected] said In the wrist area, there is what look like a “plug” or something going across. Maybe a pin, or bolt, inserted and covered over with putty or filler?
That’s exactly what it is. Two sides of the wrist sometimes warp apart, & bolts, screws, or plugs, would be used to pull both sides back tight to the tangs. Never seen such a large plug as that, but that’s it’s function. Something tells me this ’95 has not been handled with kid gloves, but no reason it wouldn’t make a good shooter.
January 20, 2023
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Because it was made in 1902, may I assume the “.30 U.S.” caliber marking means the .30/40 Krag Jorgenson cartridge and not the later .30 Gov’t 1906?
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
April 15, 2005
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Zebulon said
Because it was made in 1902, may I assume the “.30 U.S.” caliber marking means the .30/40 Krag Jorgenson cartridge and not the later .30 Gov’t 1906?
Bill,
All Winchester rifles marked “30 U.S.” were chambered for the 30-40 Krag cartridge.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I’ve noticed a possible issue with the rifle. When the action is opened all the way and the lever is fully at the bottom of its stroke, it is a little difficult to start closing it again. A little “hitch” that takes some effort to start moving it closed again. I feels sort of like it has opened “too far” and is not swinging smoothly in its arc any more. Once it starts moving closed, it is fine. I don’t recall this from the one 1895 I have owned before (a similar vintage .303 British) and I have not handled a lot of these.
Does this sound like a problem? Or normal? Maybe just a “clean and lube” issue? Thanks!
rob
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