Desirable Antique Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model 1894 Extra Lightweight Lever Action Takedown Rifle with Scarce Factory Matted Barrel and Factory Letter

A standout antique Winchester Model 1894 with factory-letter documentation, this rifle combines multiple rare special-order features, most notably an exceptionally scarce factory matted barrel with strong historical appeal and visible hunting provenance.

• Legally classified as an antique per the Madis serial number data published by Winchester
• Factory letter documents that the serial number was applied on 20 July 1899
• Factory letter further confirms the rifle was:
  • Received at the Winchester warehouse on 12 August 1899
  • Shipped the same day
  • Shipped under order no. 32134
• Special-order Winchester Model 1894 rifle in the highly desirable extra lightweight deluxe configuration
• Chambered in .30 caliber
• Factory-confirmed configuration includes:
  • Matted round barrel a textured top surface intended to reduce glare
  • Half magazine a shorter magazine tube for lighter weight and improved handling
  • Plain trigger
  • Extra light configuration
  • Takedown design for easier transport and storage
  • Checkered pistol grip stock
  • Rubber shotgun buttplate
• Extremely scarce factory matted barrel:
  • Research by Gael Oswalt and John Hawk, published in “Armax Vol. V,” covers existing Model 1894 records from serial number 1 to 353,999
  • Their research records only 200 Model 1894 rifles ordered with a matted barrel
  • This specific rifle is listed by serial number as having the matted barrel feature
• Additional scarcity factors from Oswalt and Hawk’s compiled Model 1894 data:
  • Only 26,579 had half magazines
  • Only 10,512 had checkered stocks
  • Only 13,703 rifles had pistol grips
  • Only 17,768 had shotgun butts
  • Oswalt and Hawk did not compile data on “extra lightweight” rifles, though this configuration is known to be very rare
• The combination of a matted barrel, extra lightweight configuration, takedown feature, half magazine, checkered pistol grip stock, and shotgun butt makes this an especially scarce and collector-worthy Model 1894
• Designed by John Moses Browning, the Winchester Model 1894 became one of the most prominent and widely used hunting rifles of the 20th century and remains an iconic deer rifle to this day
• Strong field-use provenance:
  • Four dated buck badges are attached to the right side of the stock
  • Badge dates are 1948, 1951, 1952, and 1953
  • These suggest the rifle saw real hunting use while adding character and historical interest
• Barrel details:
  • Lightweight, tapered-profile barrel
  • Factory matted along the full length of the top
  • Standard two-line Winchester address
  • Nickel steel marking
  • Caliber markings correctly offset on the left side
• Receiver and tang markings:
  • Standard three-line model, trademark, and patent information on the upper tang
  • Serial number located on the bottom of the receiver
  • Left side of the lower tang marked “8144 XXXRB”
  • Stock inlet faintly marked “4950” and “94”
• Stock and furniture:
  • Correctly configured lightweight wood produced by the Winchester factory
  • Wood appears to have been fitted to this rifle during its period of use by an unknown party
  • Very nicely figured forearm and pistol grip stock
  • Factory H-pattern checkering on both the forearm and pistol grip stock
  • Hard rubber grip cap
  • Checkered hard rubber shotgun buttplate
• Sights:
  • Lyman beaded blade front sight
  • Interesting unidentified folding leaf notch rear sight
  • Non-factory-added Lyman 56 peep sight mounted on the left side of the receiver
• A rare, well-documented, special-order antique Winchester with multiple scarce features, factory-letter support, and authentic hunting-era character—an excellent candidate for an advanced Winchester or lever-action collection.