Winchester Military Levers

The following is an explanation of each item as you look at photos of our display 'Winchester Lever Actions in the Service' . From top to bottom you are seeing;

1. 2400 of these Model '94 30-30 cal. Saddle Ring Carbines were purchased by France in 1914. It is speculated France purchased standard guns, and added the unusual side mounted sling swivels. After WWI Belgium purchased an unknown quantity (certainly not all) for use in the Congo.

2. This Model '92 Carbine in 44-40 was made for The British Admiralty and sold through J. P. Morgan in 1915. These guns were inspected at the Winchester Factory by Canada at the request of the Admiralty, and bear Canada's Provincial Seal on top of the barrel. There are no other special markings. They are standard Model '92s with a saddle ring. The British purchased 14,000 Carbines, and 9,000,000 rounds of solid lead ammunition. It is speculated that they were for use by the Merchantmen.

3. This Model '94 Carbine in 30-30 was also purchased by the British Admiralty and inspected by Canada. It bears Canada's Provincial Seal, and the British opposing broad arrows 'Sold out of service' mark on the barrel. These Carbines are standard Carbines with saddle rings. The quantity purchased by Britain is 5000. I have not found a record of the ammunition purchased. Again, these Carbines were probably for the Merchantmen, but the 'opposing broad arrows' indicate they may have been inland.

4. This '94 Carbine in 30-30 was purchased by the US for use by the Signal Corps who were sent to the U.S. Northwest to control the harvest of Spruce Trees for use in airplane manufacture. It is commonly know as a Spruce Gun. There were 1800 purchased. They were hand stamped U.S., with an ordnance mark on the receiver ring.

5. This Model '94 in 30-30 is marked U.S. with an anchor on the bottom of the receiver. The serial number range is right in the middle of the Spruce gun range. This author has not located another, so marked, in 10 years of research. Therefore right now it is "one of one".

6. Early in WWII Canada formed the 'Pacific Coast Militia Rangers' to

protect their West Coast from invasion by the Japanese. They purchased 2,500 to 3,000 Model '94s in 30-30 for this program. They are marked with the Canadian Broad Arrow on the fore stock, receiver and butt stock. Please note the Ranger artifacts ,including a very rare uniform, in this display.

7. This Model '95 rifle in 30-40 Krag is one of 10,000 purchased by the US in 1898. They are factory marked US in the receiver ring. One Hundred were tested by the 33rd Volunteer Infantry in the Philippines, and were subsequently rejected for use, supposedly because of cocking issues in combat. Also they were not needed because the Span Am war had ended. They ultimately were sold to an arms dealer who sold them to South America. However this author has a photo dated 1905 of four Kentucky Guards with US Model '94 Rifles. There are very few in collector's hands today.

8. While the US had decided they did not want Model '95s, the Russians, in 1915, purchased almost 300,000 in 7.62 cal. They are available from time to time, but they are usually in horrible condition. They are distinguished by the clip guide factory installed on the receiver.

If you have any questions, or wish any detailed photos please contact me at djcurlovic@mtsinet dot com

Jim