Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)

[KirkD]

I sold my only 38-55 about a month or so ago, with the objective of finding one in slightly higher condition. I was surprised how hard it was to find older Model 1894 38-55 rifles with full octagon barrels. I finally had an opportunity to purchase one last week and I went for it. This one has a lot of strong blue on the barrel and mag tube, and I paid for it! Here’s a couple photos …





Serial Number: 19670 (with the funny '1' ... see photo below)

Factory Info:
SN applied: 26 January 1897
Date in: 9 June 1897
Type: Rifle
Caliber: 38-55
Barrel: octagon
Trigger: plain
Date shipped: 8 July 1897
Order #: 9428



The bore is shiny with strong rifling. The barrel and mag tube still have strong blue, and there is still some case colour on the lever, as shown in the photos below ...



Sights: The sights are interesting on this rifle. I have no idea if they are factory or not, but a peek under the tang sight shows 100% factory blue under it, with a couple small rust spots where water seeped under it.

The tang sight is a Lyman No. 1, second variation. The front sight is a Globe sight with a gold post. It can be flipped down for a much lower front sight which would be for the rear sight. The rear sight I am not familiar with. It has a flat top, low profile and no adjustable insert. Does anyone know what it is? The whole sight set up allows the tang sight to see over the rear sight, due to the low rear sight profile and the higher front sight post inside the ring. Here are some poor photos ....







It will be warmer weather in spring before I take this vintage 38-55 to the range.

[jdad]

Rear sight is a Rocky Mountain very similar to what Marlin used. Note the "harpoon" elevator.

Very nice rifle!

[Pitchy]

Dang right that`s nice Kirk

[KirkD]

Glad you two like it! I've been admiring it on a regular basis myself since I got it two days ago. I forgot to mention, it has a shiny bore with strong rifling. Yee Haw!

Thanks for that info, Jdad.

[Griff]

[pwl44m]

Nice Kirk, and I Shall have one. Yes U did mention it has a shiny bore with strong rifling-twice-
Perry

[ollogger]

That is one nice Winchester Kirk & a nice shiny bore to boot



ollogger

[JReed]

Very nice I will be impatiently waiting for spring and your range report

[JerryB]

Sure glad you found another one, it is a beauty. I really enjoy shooting your loads in mine,very accurate.

[Old Savage]

Very nice!!!

[Aussie Chris]

Nice '94! My 30wcf has a funny '1' also, missing it's top stem.

Look foward to the range report

Chris

[1894c]

Nice Kirk, and I Shall have one. Yes U did mention it has a shiny bore with strong rifling-twice- 8)
Perry

early on-set old-guyism who is very excited with a new shinny object...that is one nice levergun...i thought you might have regretted getting rid of your other 38-55...but man you sure can find them...congrats... :)

[KirkD]

Well, to tell the truth, I did regret it, and regretted it even more when I kept thinking of the beautiful bore in my old '94, and regretted it still more when I realized it was going to be harder than I thought to find another one. I had about given up when this one came out of the blue. I am one happy fellow for sure.

[Borregos]

See Kirk I really did you a favour when I bought your first one
Marbles tang is at the post office, load development starts soon!

[Borregos]

Kirk, now we both have 38-55's with beautiful shiny bores

[KirkD]

Yep, two old 38-55's , both with nice bores. I think we are pretty fortunate. It is doggone hard to find a 38-55 dating back to the late 1890's that had a nice bore.

[Borregos]

Looking forward to a summer shoot with them both

[Rube Burrows]

My dream gun.

I want one of those like that or with the 26" round barrel.

[rbertalotto]

WOW! WOW! WOW!

That is a fantastic example!

I'd love to know what that ended up costing ya!

[homefront]

Kirk, right now I am a very, very jealous man!

I assume that the vintage limits you to black powder?

[veeman]

Nice looking rifle.

[M. M. Wright]

Man Kirk, that is one nice 94. Was on the phone when I got to looking at your pics and the case colors on the lever and hammer just left me speechless.

[Shasta]

Wow Kirk that is a dandy Winchester! I can't wait to see the range report on this one!

I have a book called Old Gunsights by Nick Stroebel, and it describes your front sight as a No. 71 "Beech". A very similar rear barrel sight is pictured on page 187 of another book "Winchester Model 94" by Robert Renneberg. He describes it as a flat-top sporting sight with the 1A elevator, and says it was particularly popular on short rifles but was available on all variations of Model 94s.

SHASTA

[KirkD]

I assume that the vintage limits you to black powder?

No, I'll be using my own smokeless loads. I have a copy of the December 1896 Winchester catalogue. They list smokeless cartridges for the 38-55, $40 for a case of 1,000 rounds. If only they were that cheap today. They don't say what kind of smokeless powder they used but they do say how much ... 19 grains under a 255 grain bullet. That suggests a burn rate somewhere around 2400, IMR 4227 or 5744 or SR4759, roughly. I'd like to develop a load using 19 grains of one of these powders and see which one gives me 1,300 fps.

Shasta, thank you for that info on the sights. I could not see any markings at all on the rear and front sights. Some others have told me the same thing about the sights.

[Nath]

Jackpot

Nath.

[rjohns94]

That's a beaut! Art in metal

[JerryB]

Kirk the load data for the 38-55 255gr cast with 18 grains of 5744 at 1300fps is a great load in my carbine. I reckon I'll try a few with 19 grains at 1400fps and compare them.

[cshold]

Removed

[EdinCT]

Kirk, Very nice rifle ! I have seen a 95 savage with the same front sight.
Can't wait to hear your range report.

[olyinaz]

One of the finest looking 1894s I have ever seen. Just lovely.

Oly

[gamekeeper]

One of the finest looking 1894s I have ever seen. Just lovely.

Oly

+ 1.....