Winchester Collector - Forum: Winchester Rifles https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/ Simple:Press Version 6.11.14 Mrgold on Winchester 1894 early serial number https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/winchester-1894-early-serial-number/#p179609 Winchester Rifles https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/winchester-1894-early-serial-number/#p179609

Bert H. said
The URL to the pictures does not work correctly.  The pictures are not viewable without being logged into the account.  Please send the pictures directly to my email.
In response to your question(s), it is a second year Model 1894 (May 1895), and as such, it is most likely a 32-40.
Bert - Win1885@msn.com
  

Bert,

Thank you for the confirmation of year and for the month of production. 

I just sent you an email and please do let me know which image hosting works best as I do not have much experience with this. 

Alex

]]> Thu, 21 May 2026 17:49:49 +0000 Bert H. on Winchester 1894 early serial number https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/winchester-1894-early-serial-number/#p179605 Winchester Rifles https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/winchester-1894-early-serial-number/#p179605 The URL to the pictures does not work correctly.  The pictures are not viewable without being logged into the account.  Please send the pictures directly to my email.

In response to your question(s), it is a second year Model 1894 (May 1895), and as such, it is most likely a 32-40.

Bert - Win1885@msn.com

]]> Thu, 21 May 2026 16:58:26 +0000 Hotchkiss10 on 1876 questions https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179604 Winchester Rifles https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179604 IMG_6963.jpegI’m unsure of the model. I’m guessing an 1874? It’s currently in the town museum along with some others. My dad lives in Enos T original house now so maybe one day we can get it back to his house!

]]> Thu, 21 May 2026 16:36:17 +0000 Hotchkiss10 on 1876 questions https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179603 Winchester Rifles https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179603 I’ll add some more pictures. 

]]> Thu, 21 May 2026 16:33:45 +0000 Chuck on 1876 questions https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179602 Winchester Rifles https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179602

Hotchkiss10 said
It’s not a Winchester but this was my 3rd great grandpas sharps. 
  

What model is the Freunds Sharp?  Show a picture of the entire rifle.  Any Sharps that went through Freunds shop in Wyoming has an added value over a regular sharps.  And being engraved adds more value. 

]]> Thu, 21 May 2026 15:52:14 +0000 Hotchkiss10 on 1876 questions https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179601 Winchester Rifles https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179601 IMG_6962.jpeg

]]> Thu, 21 May 2026 15:45:24 +0000 Hotchkiss10 on 1876 questions https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179600 Winchester Rifles https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179600 It’s not a Winchester but this was my 3rd great grandpas sharps. 

]]> Thu, 21 May 2026 15:41:26 +0000 Hotchkiss10 on 1876 questions https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179599 Winchester Rifles https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179599 IMG_5711.jpeg

]]> Thu, 21 May 2026 15:40:38 +0000 Hotchkiss10 on 1876 questions https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179598 Winchester Rifles https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179598 IMG_0057.jpeg

]]> Thu, 21 May 2026 15:38:51 +0000 Hotchkiss10 on 1876 questions https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179597 Winchester Rifles https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179597 Thanks for all the answers! It could have been one of my great great grandpas or his brothers. We will probably never know! I will work on getting a letter and such. The family has been in the same area since 1880s so they might have got it sometime back then!

]]> Thu, 21 May 2026 15:37:39 +0000 Mrgold on Winchester 1894 early serial number https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/winchester-1894-early-serial-number/#p179587 Winchester Rifles https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/winchester-1894-early-serial-number/#p179587 Hello to all,

 
I've started collecting Winchesters the last year and have a very small collection which I shoot and reload on a weekly basis:
 
-1974 30-30
-1978 44mag
-1974 22lr
-2001-2002 ,410 (no tang safety or choke and low serial number)
 
A gun shop that I know is selling what he is claiming to be a "first year" 1894. 
 
Condition seems to me to be modest at best but I have no experience with rifles that old. 
 
Serial number is 4641 which if I'm not mistaken places this in the 1895 production year and not "first year". 
 
The gun shop is also IMO incorrectly stating it to be a 32 Winchester Special which would not be possible as that cartridge came out in 1901 if not mistaken. 
 
The available pictures (which I will link) make it very difficult to verify with 100% certainty but it clearly shows some numbers after the 32 on the barrel. (Picture 10)
 
Would I be correct in thinking it would be a 32-40 ?
Do you think the condition is "ok" or should I pass on this ?
 
Before calling the gunshop (which I have bought other guns from in the past) I would appreciate as much information that I could get. 
 
In any case, I hope this information could help Bert in his surveying. 
 
Have a nice day to all
Link to Pictures
]]> Thu, 21 May 2026 07:30:24 +0000 Bert H. on 1876 questions https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179563 Winchester Rifles https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179563

TR said
 According to Herbert Houze's book Winchester made 2051 45-60s with 26" barrels as compared to the standard length 28" which they made 20,211. The 50-95 was standard with  a 26" barrel and Winchester only made 1856. This is a much higher percentage of total production because they only made 3284 50-95 rifles.
 I own four 1876s in 45-60 and all but one has a 26" barrel. I do not consider the barrel length of 26" to be rare in that caliber. Maybe the extra length of the 28" barrel was not important in that caliber or the shorter barrel length was just easier to handle. T/R
  

Interesting observation.  "Standard" barrel lengths for the many different Models, calibers, & cartridges is a study in of itself!

Bert

]]> Wed, 20 May 2026 15:31:59 +0000 Steven Gabrielli on 1876 questions https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179556 Winchester Rifles https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179556 Just for future reference, the easiest way to measure the barrel length is to close the action and put a cleaning rod down, mark the end of the rod at the muzzle, pull it out and measure.

]]> Wed, 20 May 2026 09:49:07 +0000 TR on 1876 questions https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179530 Winchester Rifles https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179530  According to Herbert Houze's book Winchester made 2051 45-60s with 26" barrels as compared to the standard length 28" which they made 20,211. The 50-95 was standard with  a 26" barrel and Winchester only made 1856. This is a much higher percentage of total production because they only made 3284 50-95 rifles.

 I own four 1876s in 45-60 and all but one has a 26" barrel. I do not consider the barrel length of 26" to be rare in that caliber. Maybe the extra length of the 28" barrel was not important in that caliber or the shorter barrel length was just easier to handle. T/R

]]> Tue, 19 May 2026 18:24:27 +0000 Bill Hockett on 1876 questions https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179526 Winchester Rifles https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1876-questions/#p179526 Based on your measurements it does appear to be a 26 inch barrel.  As Bert mentioned, that is a special order barrel, two inches shorter than standard.  It should letter that way.  

Express rifles had 26 inch barrels as standard. 

That's a nice family heirloom.

]]> Tue, 19 May 2026 16:55:28 +0000