Winchester's Model 1895

In regard to U.S. military applications, the Winchester Model 1895 came too late to significantly challenge the transition from single shot to bolt action firearms. The Springfield Model 1892 Krag-Jorgensen designed bolt action rifles had become the standard issue rifle for the U.S. Army and the  Model 1895 Lee Rifle had become the standard for the U.S. Navy. Still, in 1898 the American Secretary of War ordered 10,000 Winchester Model 1895 muskets for the Spanish American War effort3). They were intended for the rearming of voluntary forces and state militias, replacing black powder, 45-70 Gov’t Trapdoor Springfield rifles. As the war lasted only eight months, few Model 1895s were actually deployed to the front lines.Officers of Theodore Roosevelt’s “Rough Riders”, the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, were issued Model 1895 Winchesters chambered for the 30 Caliber U.S. Army. Was Roosevelt armed with a Model 1895 during the battle of San Juan Hill in Cuba? In Roosevelt’s 1899 book, “The Rough Riders”, he wrote that while training at Montauk Point, Long Island, he gave his Model 1895 to one of his soldiers prior to Roosevelt leaving for Cuba. More specifically, Roosevelt stated, “Bob Wrenn nearly died. He had joined us very late and we could not get him a Krag carbine; so I had given him my Winchester, which carried the government cartridge; and when he was mustered out, he carried it home in triumph, to the envy of his fellows, who themselves had to surrender their beloved rifles“. The 10,000 purchased by the U.S. Government were eventually sold to foreign governments and police organizations.

Modern Winchester Model 1895 production

Winchester has done an excellent job of reviving historically significant firearms, like the Model 1895 which was put back into production in 1995. Some new production is sold through all Winchester resellers, while some limited edition models are sold exclusively through specific outlets. The Model 1895 Saddle Ring Carbine was a standard Winchester catalog firearm in 2007, chambered for the 30-06 Springfield, however Davidson’s, a large Winchester distributor, offered a limited edition version of this model,  chambered for the 30-40 Krag.

Winchester and Browning brand lever action rifles are manufactured by Miroku, a Japanese company that has been in the firearms business since 1893. The quality of their product is flawless. Bluing is a very deep, almost black gloss blue. Wood finish is always uniform satin with the look and feel of a rubbed oil finish. Firearms are tight assemblies that function smoothly with the feel of a hand fitted firearm. Even the packaging and instruction booklets that accompany each firearm is high grade. As a team, all  associated companies have done a terrific job of perpetuating very traditional and historical product.

Standard features and a little modern revision

The modern Winchester Model 1895 is true to the original, with only very minor tweaks to benefit owners. Poly based finished rather than lacquer based finished make the stock impervious to humidity and much more durable in regard to wear. Modern oxide finishing process looks better and wears better. The old half cock safety mechanism has been replaces with a rebounding hammer and sliding tang safety replaces the old hammer at half cock safety.

Lock up for the Winchester Model 1895 is substantial. Closing the lever drives the breechbolt forward on its guide rails and raises the large one piece locking bolt until it comes to rest in the recess at the end of the closed breechbolt. The breechbolt is then located vertically, horizontally and longitudinally.