I have a 1894 Model 25-35 WCF 20" barrel Carbine with saddle...

I have a 1894 Model 25-35 WCF 20" barrel Carbine with saddle ring. Serial number 551597. I notice you tend to want a photo. I can send one if it will help to get a rough estimate of value.

Guest

First off, thanks for doing some reading before you posted. And yes, I do want some photos. Especially for these older guns. So much can happen to them in their lifetime.

Read these two to see what I am talking about.
http://www.gunvaluesboard.com/hello.-i-have-a-model- 1894-winchester-serial-number-307310...-312724.html
http://www.gunvaluesboard.com/i-have-a-winchester- model-1894-.30-.30-carbine-serial-numbe...- 308834.html#31360

Send me private message and I'll pass on my email for some photos. This might help also.
http://www.gunvaluesboard.com/why-i-need-photos- 254864.html#25490

Thanks
2bit

Hi. Thanks! I will do as you suggest.

Hmmm. I don't know how to send a private message to you. My email is This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Cilla

Cilla,

I received the photos of your Model 1894. Not a bad looking rifle except for one thing. It has obviously been reblued. This is a pretty major detraction in the collectors world. It takes it out of the running for serious buyers. Now that doesn't meen that somebody unknowledgeable might not look at it and think man that old gun is perfect. In their eyes it is but then they will probably not pay you what a collector might.

For instance. An all original rifle just like yours in about 80% condition is worth $2200 to $2700! That is with the bonus of it being a .25-35 caliber. Most "guys down the street" won't get to that value for it.

How do I know it is reblued? Two major points. There is no worn shadow from the saddle ring rubbing on the receiver. For a rifle from 1910 I GUARANTEE that there would be an area of no bluing under where the ring is. Second point is that whoever did it blued the lever. NOPE, WRONG!!! These parts were originally case colored on these rifles and hence should not be blued. Lots of people make this obvious mistake because they do not know better.

Having been redone it might be a $700 to $800 to a collector.

Sorry for the news
2bit

Thanks for the evaluation. So, I have noticed that the color of the barrel is different from the rest of the metal parts. What you appear to be saying is that the parts other than the barrel has been reblued? Is the barrel still original color? Or is there two different reblueing color?

And you are saying that because of the wear on the wooden parts there would definately be wear under the ring? Because after my great grandfather died, the rifle was not used at all. No one hunted or went shooting with it because my father had it and he didn't shoot guns. Then my mother had it in a closet for 30 years or so and now I have it. I've shot it a couple of times and that's all. So, it basically hasn't been used since my great grandfather died. But, I can understand that based on the wear on the wood that the area under the ring should be worn.

I hope you don't think I'm dissagreeing. I just am wanting to be sure about how this is figured out. And, I am curious about the two different colors between the barrel and the rest of the gun.

Thanks so much for your help and I will definately recommend this site to my friends. You have been great.

Cilla

Cilla,

Sorry that I missed your last reply to the thread. The holidays made it a bit crazy around here.

What you appear to be saying is that the parts other than the barrel has been reblued? Is the barrel still original color? Or is there two different reblueing color?

Old, all original, used Winchester rifles commonly have a different bluing wear pattern betwween the barrel and the receiver. The metal composition is different for the parts and the bluing adheres differently as a result. The fact that your receiver is darker than the barrels is a sure sign that something is amiss. It does look like the barrels are original blued.

And you are saying that because of the wear on the wooden parts there would definately be wear under the ring?

Yes definitely. It would be impossible to have that amount of wear on the wood as this rifle has and for there not to be a worn area under the saddle ring. They typically will look like the photo below. I obviously can't explain when or how it was done but it has definitely been reblued.

Thanks for your interest.
2bit