I snagged a pair of Winchester 1894 special order rifles

[David LaPell]

My local gun shop has picked up an entire collection of Winchester 1894 rifles, all with special order features, one or another from one collector who was about 80 years old. There were five calibers, all the original rounds of the 1894, .25-35, .30-30, .32 Special, .32-40 and .38-55. All of these guns are button magazine variants with 26-inch round barrels.
I decided that I already had a .30-30 so I didn't need that and if I get a .25-35 again, I want another saddle ring carbine. The .32-40 I am not sure about because of trying to get brass and bullets.
I already had a .38-55 so I traded one gun for that and the second one I decided since I never owned one, was the .32 Special. This one has the correct smokeless rear sight and in addition to the button mag, has the special order rubber shotgun buttplate. The .38-55 was made in 1909 and the .32 Special, 1908. I've already shot the .38-55, not the other though, I did get some ammo with the .32 Special but we're getting snowed on pretty good here and with hunting season about over, I am in no hurry to get it out just yet.

[KirkD]

Very nice! I especially like button mag versions of the Model 1894.

[GunnyMack]

Aw heck you should have adopted the whole family!

Very nice find, awaiting accuracy reports!

[AJMD429]

Nice snag....! I love it when those 'old guns' get appreciated, instead of left to decay.

[ollogger]

Good story along with some awesome guns



Brad

[marlinman93]

Neat guns! Don't pass up the .32-40 because of brass. It's still not that hard to find, and forming down .38-55 to .32-40 is almost as easy as full length sizing .38-55 itself.

[piller]

Nice find.

[Merle]

Neat guns! Don't pass up the .32-40 because of brass. It's still not that hard to find, and forming down .38-55 to .32-40 is almost as easy as full length sizing .38-55 itself.

and, bullets for a 32 special will work just fine!

[Bill in Oregon]

Green here. Green as an Irish pasture in March.

[6pt-sika]

Congrats ! If it were me I’d have gone 32-40 first , 25-35 second , 38-55 third , 32 Special fourth and 30 WCF last .

[marlinman93]

and, bullets for a 32 special will work just fine!

Sometimes. Depends on the groove diameter. I've got 6 rifles in .32-40, and they vary in groove diameter from a largest .323" to a smallest .317", so not everything will work in all of them.

[hfcable]

excellent rifles. just the way I like them - used not abused and ready for much more use, and the configuration with button magazine is my absolute favorite.

I like all those calibers but 38/55 and 32 special are my two favorites.

way to go !!!!