Winchester's Model 1894 Carbine in 38-55 WCF

Whenever we publish a story about the Winchester Model 1894, we receive lots of comments from folks who have either own/owned one or knew someone who owns/owned one or who wants to own one. Understandable as the world has been densely populated by the Model 1894, something on the order of 7,000,000+ firearms 1).

Designed for smokeless powder rifle cartridges, the first units produced were chambered for the black powder .32-40 and 38-55 WCF cartridges. However, by 1895 the Model 1894 was also available in .25-35 WCF and .30-30 WCF Smokeless cartridges 1). While always subject to change, in current listing, the Model 1894 is available in .30-30 WCF, 38-55 WCF and 450 Marlin.

The untouched John Browning design for the Model 1894 lasted only through approximately the first 7,500 units when the Second Model receiver was phased in as a slightly simplified assembly version. The Second Model was produced from 1895 to 1963 and there have been at least five versions of receivers that have seen production since 2).  The 1978 Fifth Model is arguably the most significant revision as it brought both a widened receiver, top ejection Big Bore and, soon afterward, the Angle Eject feature.

The receiver was hardly the only component receiving lots of upgrades and enhancements and there were many configurations of the Model 1894 manufactured. There have been rifles, carbines, muskets, short barrel trapper models, and a few chambered for shot shells. Safeties have moved from the hammer to crossbolt and onto the tang. Springs have gone from flat to coil, and numerous sight systems have been employed.  

While the newest models retain the traditional look and feel of the original, they are a modern firearm in terms of design refinements, improved materials and manufacturing processes. The current model would be considered a Sixth Model receiver, more specifically a 6C receiver, with angle eject, tang safety and rebounding hammer in combination.

In context, the Winchester Model 1894 fits somewhere between the hefty Winchester 1886 with an action strong and long enough to handle some of the largest cartridges of the time: 45-70 Gov’t, 45-90 WCF, 50-110 Express, etc. and the lighter weight Winchester Model 1892 that was designed for  shorter cartridges including the: 44-40, 38-40 and 32-20. Compared to the Models 1886 and 1892, the Model 1894 design changes the way the finger lever pivots and allows the bottom of the receiver, the link, to swing downward before the lever moves full travel.

The link’s travel pulls the locking bolts fully downward and opens the to bolt approximately 1 1/2″. Then the finger lever pivots full travel on the link pin, fully opening the bolt to almost 2 3/4″ or enough to cycle 2.550″ cartridges like the 38-55 WCF and 30-30 WCF.

A couple of other features….

The Model 1894’s hammer is a rebound type. When dropped from the pull cocked position with the safety in the “off” position, the hammer will momentarily travel full down against the firing pin and discharge the rifle, then return to the rebounded position. With the safety in the “On” position, the hammer is blocked. Pulling the trigger from the full cocked position, the hammer will drop but it will be stopped at the rebound position and prevented from striking the firing pin. The tang safety is positive in position and easy to operate.

The rear sight is a semi buckhorn type, the front is a beaded blade. With Black Hills Cowboy Action 255 grain 38-55 WCF ammunition that chronographed @1,218 fps, the Winchester’s point of impact was 1 1/2″ low and 1″ left at 100 yards. The rear sight elevator one notch up from the bottom. According to my calculations the gun had 8″ of down travel and 36″ of elevation, which is a good adjustment range for the cartridge and rifle. The buttplate is steel, but formed for comfort and not a problem with the 38-55 WCF, even with this light weight rifle.

1) Winchester – An American Legend – Wilson
2) Winchester Model 94 A Century of Craftsmanship – Renneberg

Winchester’s Model 1894 Carbine in 38-55 WCF Part 1
Winchester’s Model 1894 Carbine in 38-55 WCF Part 2