Handled 1900 vintage 1894 Winchester in .25-.35 caliber today (pics)....

[canoeguy]

We have a museum here on the Eastern Shore of Virginia dedicated to preserving the history of the towns and hotels that once populated Virginia's Barrier Islands, Hogg Island, Smith Island, Cedar Island, Cobb Island, Metompkin Island, etc. From 1880 to 1930 or so, some quite prosperous communities populated these islands, with watermen fishing and oystering, and resort hotels catering to wealthy sportsmen who came down to duck hunt. The museum is called The Barrier Island Center, random content page

One of their displays was of "loaner" shotguns and rifles that were loaned out to guests of the Cobb Island Hotel, if you arrived without a rifle or shotgun, they had some available for you to use. They had five or so well worn field grade shotguns, and one Winchester lever action rifle. The curator of the museum let me handle and photograph the rifle, a Winchester Model 1894 in .25-.35 caliber. Has three diferrent leaf type rear sights, octagon barrel, serial number 1992XX puts it's manufacturing date in 1900, square in the middle of the successful years of the Barrier Island Hotels.

Here's some pics:

Reciever and stock:



Barrel and caliber markings:



Curator and rifle:



All of the Barrier Island towns and hotels were abandoned in the 1930's, when it became evident that erosion was going to make the islands unlivable. A lot of homes were barged to communities on higher ground, like Willis Wharf. Today, most of the Islands are owned by the Nature Conservancy, off limits to most activities, but you can canoe to the islands and do whatever you want up to the high tide line.

This rifle caught my imagination, imagine checking into a hotel, getting settled in your room, then heading down to the front desk to pick up a rifle and a couple boxes of shells for an afternoon walk on the beach, "I say, can you hand me that Winchester and some cartridges?, I'm going for a walk, shan't be long"....

What do you think a winchester 1894 in this condition and caliber is worth?

[dmar]

Great story and pics, thanks for sharing. I think I grew up in the wrong era...

[gizamo]

Not near my books...so not going to be much help. The 25-35 and 30-30 were two of the new smokeless powder cartdriges that were developed in about 1895. The 25-35 is basically a necked down 30-30. I believe the same can be said of the 30-30 being a necked down 38-55 . The other of the new smokeless trio introduced back then was the .32.

The SN on the gun may indeed put it to the year 1900...but, there are a number of questions about the manufacturing dates of those receivers. Could be as much as a three year swing in the date.

The gun in the photo appears to be a 26" Octogon. Pretty standard crescent buttstock. There is no way to put a accurate price on the gun ~ as so much of the value is dependent on the condition of the bore. It is not in high collectible condition from viewing the photo's. Does have a great story attached to it and that adds to it's value. There doesn't appear to be any modification for a rear tang elevator or peep site, that helps some...

Thanks for sharing....

[reddogge]

It's not in bad shape considering it spent its whole life in the salt air. I have an 1894 in .32-40. Nice rifles.

[David LaPell]

Makes me miss my .25-35 1894 saddle ring carbine.

[zercool]

I need to pester Dad and get some pics of the .25-20 he has. Last I saw it, it was in excellent overall condition with a few dings in the stock. Hoping he's kept it that way!