Winchester Model 1895 question

My father asked me to try and sell the following for him. He has always called it a .30-.40 Krag but I'm curious if he's correct.

Stamped: "Winchester
Model 1895." (behind hammer topside of gun)
Stamped: "30 U.S." on top of barrel
Serial Number 99,XXX (behind trigger underside of gun)
Stamped: "NICKEL STEEL BARREL
ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER"

Stamped: "MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO." then next line has "NEW HAVEN..."etc

He want's me to find a value for him, I've been 'storing' it for him for years and hoping he'd forget but guess his memory is better than I give him credit! It appears in very good condition and I have lots of photographs I could email as I'm not sure how to properly describe the condition.

Thank you in advance for any information you can provide.

HH,

Send me a private message and I will pass on my email for the photos. From your quite good description it is a .30 Govt. caliber. A mid 99000 serial number would make the date of manufacture sometime in 1915. So it is an old rifle by most standards.

Stamped: "NICKEL STEEL BARREL
ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER"

These rifles were stamped this way since the use of black powder was fading out and the Model 1894 and 1895 were the first models designed for the higher ballistics of smokeless powder.

Stamped: "MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO." then next line has "NEW HAVEN..."etc

All Winchester rifles have this stamped on the barrel.

Looking forward to helping you out
Thanks
2bit

HH

I was wondering earlier if I was going to see this gun or not again. Thanks for the photos. Too bad for the flash though. They make it hard to see much detail. I know it's winter and probably 'hell freezin over' cold outside.

Let's talk about the rifle. You stated:

appears in very good condition

Well..... sorta, kinda. It is in original condition for sure. And that is a plus. It does not look like it has been messed with ever at all. But it really has very little bluing left on the receiver for sure. The barrel I am not so certain about. A couple photos there would help. What I do like is the fact that the lettering on the receiver is crisp and an even depth. Therefore the lack of bluing is from normal use and probably not buffing or sanding. I can't be absolute on that because of the glare from the flash.

2bit

The wood has not been sanded. I cropped the photo below to show that the wood at the top of the stock at the butt plate is higher than the metal. That is exactly the way it should be. Perfect.

This is one of the sure places to look for altered wood.

HH,

You had mentioned early on that your father referred to it as a .30-40 Krag caliber The .30-40 Krag is also known as “30 Army” and “30 U.S. ”. Hence the caliber marking on the barrel.

You have an all original though well used rifle. I will do a bit more digging around in the morning but it is probably worth at least $2500 to $3000. A few more photos of the barrel and the area behind the hammer would be nice. I need to check to see if the sling mounts are original also.

Thanks
2bit

2bit,

Wow, I feel like I'm on an episode of Antique Roadshow! Now I really wish my father had forgotten I was storing it for him!

I will get some better photos for you, thank you very much, very glad I found this forum!

HH

With a bit of digging and asking the sling swivels are not original. Not too much of a hickey though. Winchester used a dovetail mount cut in the bottom of the barrel not the ring type found on your father's gun. You can see it on the midddle rifle in the photo below. That rifle is a Deluxe
First Model of the 1895 since the receiver is smooth sided not fluted as yours is. The upper rifle is a musket configuration and the lower a carbine.

I'll be back
2bit

HH,

We had been doing so well with your rifle. But, the latest round of photos just brought out a problem. There is little doubt that the wood has been refinished. The photo below clearly shows the wood is lower where it meets the receiver on both sides of the upper tang. This is an area which I always try to get clear photos of for just this reaason. When someone sands the stock it is extrememly difficult to not remove too much wood and this is what results. It is the tell tale sign of reworked wood.

The impact to the rifle is that the value slides by nearly 50%. It is a fine looking rifle that would be excellent for hunting. But to collectors it is not very desirable.

Excellent job on all the photos and your help. It is so important to getting an accurate assesmnet of a gun.

Thanks
2bit