"Winchesters with a number of special and deluxe features are becoming impossible to find as we are rapidly learning. Collectors are partial to such special features, and Winchesters with even one special feature are being added to collections and disappearing from the market."
Sometimes brothers can be so similar and congenial, you'd swear they were best friends as well as twins. However, there are also those who give rise to sibling rivalry, conflict, and competition. From Cain & Abel to Michael & Fredo Corleone, siblings' differences can be even more defining than their similarities. Today's post will cover two such guns to be sold in our April 2013 Premiere Auction. Guns that, despite being brothers, could not possibly be more different.
What makes these guns brothers? First off, they both have the same "parent" in Winchester Repeating Arms. Second, they are both model 1894 rifles. Third, these two particular rifles have consecutive serial numbers - 42811 & 42812! Coming from a major manufacturer like Winchester, one would expect these guns to be nearly identical! The mind goes instantly to large assembly lines churning out identical guns one after another. However, not only are these guns dissimilar from each other, but each one is a rarity in its own right. To encourage this sibling rivalry, I'm going to show favoritism to the "eldest child" and talk about it first.
Winchester Model 1894, Serial #42811
A letter that accompanies this rifle from the Cody Firearms Museum gives a laundry list of special features on this gun "as extracted from the original Winchester records housed in" the museum.
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"Manufactured in 1895, this rifle is loaded with rare factory special order features which include a half extra lightweight 1/2 octagon barrel, 1/2 magazine, pistol grip stock and shotgun butt. It is estimated that only 1 of approximately every 725 Model 1894s had a pistol grip stock. The top barrel flat is marked with the two line address ahead of the rear sight and "38-55" at the breech. The upper tang is marked "MODEL 1894/-WINCHESTER-/PAT. AUG. 21, 1894", the takedown lever is marked with the 1893 patent date and the serial number is on the bottom of the receiver. Lyman blade front and adjustable buck horn rear sporting sights, all blue finish and mounted with a smooth walnut forearm and pistol grip stock with a checkered hard rubber Winchester shotgun buttplate. The accompanying factory letter verifies the takedown rifle configuration, 38/55 caliber, 1/2 octagon barrel, plain trigger, pistol grip stock, Lyman cup disc rear and front sights, (the former no longer on the rifle), 1/2 magazine, shotgun butt with rubber buttplate, extra light, and that it was received and shipped from the warehouse on June 16, 1898 to order number 10023."
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Winchester Model 1894, Serial #42812
In case you were worried about the "little brother" feeling inferior, don't you worry. It has its own list of features that go toe-to-toe with its big brother's.
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Just when you thought that things couldn't get any fancier than Serial #42811, in rolls little brother with some pretty spectacular features all his own. Besides having some similar features like a plain trigger, half magazine, the shotgun butt, and the pistol grip, it also features some perks that big brother doesn't have. Most notable is the checkered stock and pistol grip along with the matte finish barrel.
The matte finish runs along the top of the barrel, displacing where the address would normally have appeared and moving it to the left side of the barrel. The checkered stock is said to have appeared on "only one of each 780 guns." (Madis, 422) It also features the sling eyes and confirms this to be a carbine, not a standard rifle with a 20" barrel, which were also available. Want more close ups? Check these out.
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"As time passes and more collectors begin and older collectors add more pieces to their collections, all guns, standard or with extras, will become increasingly scarce and more valuable."
SOURCES:
Madis, G. (1961). The Winchester Book. (1st ed.). Brownsboro, TX: Art and Reference House.
Winchest Catalogue No. 81, Reprint of 1919 Edition, Winchester Repeating Arms Co., New Haven, CT
Sometimes brothers can be so similar and congenial, you'd swear they were best friends as well as twins. However, there are also those who give rise to sibling rivalry, conflict, and competition. From Cain & Abel to Michael & Fredo Corleone, siblings' differences can be even more defining than their similarities. Today's post will cover two such guns to be sold in our April 2013 Premiere Auction. Guns that, despite being brothers, could not possibly be more different.
What makes these guns brothers? First off, they both have the same "parent" in Winchester Repeating Arms. Second, they are both model 1894 rifles. Third, these two particular rifles have consecutive serial numbers - 42811 & 42812! Coming from a major manufacturer like Winchester, one would expect these guns to be nearly identical! The mind goes instantly to large assembly lines churning out identical guns one after another. However, not only are these guns dissimilar from each other, but each one is a rarity in its own right. To encourage this sibling rivalry, I'm going to show favoritism to the "eldest child" and talk about it first.
Winchester Model 1894, Serial #42811
A letter that accompanies this rifle from the Cody Firearms Museum gives a laundry list of special features on this gun "as extracted from the original Winchester records housed in" the museum.
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- Rifle
- 38/55
- 1/2 octagon barrel
- Plain trigger
- Plain pistol grip
- Lyman cup disc rear and front sights
- 1/2 magazine
- Shotgun butt
- Rubber butt plate
- Takedown
- Extra light
- Received in the warehouse on June 16, 1898
- Shipped from the warehouse on June 16, 1898 to order number 10023
What this letter does not mention is how rare some of those features are. For example, the pistol grip stock is supposedly on only 1 out of every 725 Model 1894s. It also doesn't mention how special it is to have all those options together on the same rifle. Sure, some rifles have one or two special order features like the rare 1/2 octagon barrel, but to see it combined with the 1/2 length mag, the pistol grip, and the shotgun butt makes this a pretty significant special order rifle back in 1895. The 38-55 caliber is a rarity in itself. Not only were most of the light weight barrels found in 30 cal, but eventually the 38-55, the heaviest bullet handled by a Model 94, lost favor to more popular cartridges made popular by Winchester and publications of the time. George Madis says it better in The Winchester Book when he states, "...any one of these features would bring the gun out of the ordinary... Winchesters with a number of special and deluxe features are becoming impossible to find as we are rapidly learning. Collectors are partial to such special features, and Winchesters with even one special feature are being added to collections and disappearing from the market." (Madis, 409) Please keep in mind that he wrote that in the 1960's when this book was first published! Click this link for more high resolution photos of this classic rifle.
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Official Description
Special Order Antique Winchester Model 1894 Takedown Lever Action Rifle with Extra Light Pencil Barrel, Pistol Grip Stock and Factory Letter
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Winchester Model 1894, Serial #42812
In case you were worried about the "little brother" feeling inferior, don't you worry. It has its own list of features that go toe-to-toe with its big brother's.
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- Rifle
- 30 caliber
- 20-inch, 1/2 octagon barrel
- Matted barrel
- Plain trigger
- Plain pistol grip, checkered
- Combination sight
- 1/2 magazine
- Shotgun butt
- Sling and swivel
- 13-inch pull
Just when you thought that things couldn't get any fancier than Serial #42811, in rolls little brother with some pretty spectacular features all his own. Besides having some similar features like a plain trigger, half magazine, the shotgun butt, and the pistol grip, it also features some perks that big brother doesn't have. Most notable is the checkered stock and pistol grip along with the matte finish barrel.
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| Also notice the dashes before and after the text. This was gradually omitted after #100,000 (Madis, 423) |
The matte finish runs along the top of the barrel, displacing where the address would normally have appeared and moving it to the left side of the barrel. The checkered stock is said to have appeared on "only one of each 780 guns." (Madis, 422) It also features the sling eyes and confirms this to be a carbine, not a standard rifle with a 20" barrel, which were also available. Want more close ups? Check these out.
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Official Description
Rare Documented Special Order Antique Winchester Lever Action Short Rifle with Pistol Grip Stock, Matte Half Octagon Barrel and Factory Letter
Manufactured in 1895, this special order carbine has the rare combination of half octagon, half round barrel matted along the top and a checkered walnut forearm and pistol grip stock with a Winchester hard rubber grip cap. It is estimated that only 1 of approximately every 725 Model 1894s had a pistol grip stock. (see Madis' "The Winchester Book" page 424). The upper left barrel flat is marked with the two line address ahead of the rear sight, the nickel steel/smokeless powder marking next to the rear sight and "30 W.C.F." at the breech. The upper tang is marked "MODEL 1894/-WINCHESTER-/PAT. AUG. 21, 1894" and the serial number is marked on the bottom of the receiver. Marble's blade front and folding leaf rear sights, all blue finish, 1/2 magazine tube and the stock is fitted with a checkered Winchester hard rubber shotgun buttplate and factory sling eyes. The accompanying factory letter verifies the rifle configuration, 30 caliber, 20 inch 1/2 octagon barrel, matted barrel, plain trigger checkered pistol grip stock, 1/2 magazine, shotgun butt, sling and swivel, gives the length of pull and stock dimensions, that it was received and shipped out of the warehouse on May 21, 1898, order number 8476. This rifle is consecutively serial numbered to another Model 1894 on this page.
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I have made a big deal out of the differences between these two brothers. Some of their special order features are unique in themselves, but when considering their total number of factory modifications they truly become even more highly desirable collector firearms. The fact that they are consecutive in serial number is a peculiarity that for me, sends it over the top. I know that consecutive numbers are collectible in any number of fields: dollar bills, cars, etc. To have two guns that are not only consecutive, but so unique from one another is just another characteristic of these two guns that is sure to make some bidder very happy in April.
Let me also add, that if you found yourself amazed by these two 1894's, whether for their special order features or the fact that they are consecutive, it is not a coincidence. They are part of the award-winning Gary Cote Winchester Model 1894 Collection. We have 38 lots featuring Mr. Cote's extensive collection in our upcoming April Premiere Auction, which includes vintage Winchester cartridges, reloading tools, and much more.
"As time passes and more collectors begin and older collectors add more pieces to their collections, all guns, standard or with extras, will become increasingly scarce and more valuable."
(Madis, 420)
-Joel Kolander
Madis, G. (1961). The Winchester Book. (1st ed.). Brownsboro, TX: Art and Reference House.
Winchest Catalogue No. 81, Reprint of 1919 Edition, Winchester Repeating Arms Co., New Haven, CT
