Q. I am in possession of an old firearm—a Winchester Model 1894 carbine, Serial No. 219XXX—that is in 98 percent condition and different than most others I’ve encountered. It has a 21.5" half-octagon/half-round barrel. The magazine appears to be half-size, too. It has a crescent butt, great rifling and is chambered for the .30 WCF (.30-30 Win.) cartridge.
Is this combination of features in a Model 1894 rare?
A. I have obtained information about your gun from Winchester’s factory records. They show that your rifle shipped on Aug. 1, 1904, and that, at the time, it had a 26" full-length octagon barrel. Since then, either the original barrel has been shortened and had half the octagonal section turned round or a different barrel was installed. It appears to me like the original barrel was altered. In addition, the magazine and fore-end have been shortened. The Lyman sight is a Model 66A, circa 1953, so it is possible the work on the gun was done around the mid-1950s.
To answer your question, yes, it is a very rare configuration, maybe unique, but it would have very little value to a collector because there is no record of who performed the very nice alterations.
“Questions & Answers” is compiled by staff, Field and Contributing Editors from the inquiries about guns, ammunition and their use received by American Rifleman. Direct answers to technical and historical questions are provided only to NRA members. Submit letters to: Dope Bag, NRA Publications, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400 or to: [email protected]. Include your membership number or current copy of an NRA magazine mailing label or membership card and a self-addressed, stamped, business-size envelope. Please limit each letter to one specific question. Technical or historical questions cannot be answered by telephone, and even approximate values on guns or other equipment cannot be provided. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for replies.
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