Browning built Winchester 1895 Rifle…..SOLD

 As new Browning built  Winchester  Model 1895 Lever Action Rifle.

This is the famous 5-shot box magazine lever action repeater chambered in .30-06 that Teddy Roosevelt  took such a shine to.  The first box magazine rifle to gain commercial success.  In a strange twist of fate this rifle was originally designed by John Browning and here it is made by the Browning Arms company, albeit in Japan.   This is therefore, a copy of the original, but the anomaly here is that these were made a fair few years ago and here we have an “as new weapon”.  This is what is affectionately know as a “sleeper”; untouched by man,  bullet, even for that matter, powder or corrosive primers.

The rifle measures 42.1/5″ in length with a barrel length of  24″.  Sporting stock with “English” style butt-stock, but instead of a pad there is only a flat steel butt-plate – completely unblemished.  Both the fore-end and the stocks wrist are checkered and the stock is in A1 condition with the original finish intact.  Behind the action the upper tang has the model designation “WINCHESTER” / MODEL 1895″ marked upon it and is fitted with a sliding safety catch.  The finish to all the steel surfaces is a phosphated gun-metal grey / black, which is as practical as it is handsome.  This finish is as new.  All over this 1895 is in wonderful condition as if it were just removed from the box.

The side of the action bears the serial number “NF 3865” and both upper sides of the action have a neat, circular, floral swirl engraved  upon them.  The crown of the breech is machine ribbed to remove glare and disrupt mirage from heat.  Operation of the action will result in a big smile upon the face of the user.  It is, once again, in as new condition. The new owner will, instantly, be able to fully appreciate the intricacies and the marvel of design and engineering that  J.B. developed when he “birthed” this action.  There are not many rifles that drop their whole trigger assembly whilst reloading the next round, by such a simple mechanism.

The round barrel has the caliber stamped into the top of the radius between the rear sights and the breech.  Adjacent to the simple buck-horn rear sights rear sights on the LHS is the following; “ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER ( a reference to the fact that this weapon was specifically developed for such) / SPECIAL STEEL BARREL”.  On the other side parallel to this is the following; “WINCHESTER. / LICENSEE / U.S.REPEATING ARMS Co.  NEW HAVEN, C.T. U.S.A. / MADE IN JAPAN”.  Further back nest to the breech are various proofing marks including the Liege shield from Belgium.  Bore – what would you expect?  Looks to only have had the pleasure of the proofing rounds pass its way. The fore sight is a simple bead sight which is satisfyingly easy to find right between the buck-horns.

It is a pleasure to offer this rifle for sale; the next best thing would be to actually shoot it.

Stock No’  f 426sor

£ 900.  SOLD

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