Lot 3055

John E. Warren Engraved and Inlaid Winchester Model 94 Carbine

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John E. Warren Engraved and Inlaid Winchester Model 94 Carbine

Estimate: $27,500 - $42,500

Starting Bid: $22,500

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 23, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Magnificent John E. Warren Signed and Master Panel Scene Engraved, Gold and Platinum Inlaid Deluxe Winchester Model 94 Lever Action Saddle Ring Carbine Originally manufactured in 1924, this extremely attractive Winchester Model 94 carbine was subsequently masterfully embellished with extensive and stunning engraving and precious metal inlay as well as deluxe wood by Master Engraver John E. Warren of Eastham, Massachusetts. According to C. Roger Bleile in "American Engravers", Warren was born in 1904 and initially worked for many years in the sign painting trade before learning skills as a tool and gauge maker during the Second World War in an ordnance plant. For many years, gunmaking was a hobby for Warren, eventually evolving into a full-time job, for a number of years being more focused on the stockmaking and restoring side of things, with little emphasis on engraving. As demand for his engraving grew, Warren eventually shifted his focus to it, being featured in many gun publications through the 1960s and developing a tremendous backlog of engraving work. Towards the end of his career, Warren stopped accepting new commissions and only took on work from long standing clients. Examples of Warren's work are pictured on p. 169-170 of the previously mentioned book. It has been noted that Warren taught himself the engraving craft and went on to become one of the most skilled engravers of his era. The Winchester Model 94 was designed by the legendary John Moses Browning to lead Winchester into the era of smokeless powder and went on to become arguably their most iconic firearm of all time. These rifles became one of the most prolific hunting rifles of the 20th century and were highly regarded for their rugged utilitarian nature, making a highly embellished example such as this a truly beautiful contrast of functionality and high art. This magnificent carbine clearly exhibits the incredible, multi-faceted skill of John Warren through profuse engraving and inlay of precious metals. The left and right of the receiver feature beautiful panel scenes, the left having a running whitetail buck and the right having a cougar, both rendered in relief and bright yellow gold. Each side has a relief oak leaf cluster rendered in rose/brown gold. The tang of the buttplate has a bust of a Canadian lynx rendered in rose/brown gold. The panel scenes are surrounded by masterfully executed floral scrollwork on matted backgrounds and wonderfully accented with gold inlaid borders and scrolls. The serial number is inlaid in gold. There are gold bands at the muzzle, on the barrel band, and at the breech along with a platinum inlaid band. The scrollwork continues on the buttplate, lever, barrel bands, barrel near the middle band, and the barrel and magazine tube near the muzzle. The saddle ring on the left of the receiver has been attractively turned in a roped pattern. The carbine has the typical Winchester markings and the artists signature is marked "JOHN WARREN-ENG" with a matted background on the lower tang. It is fitted with a Westsite copper bead blade front sight and folding ladder rear sight. It is mounted with an incredibly figured forearm and straight grip stock, both with checkered grip areas featuring curled ribbons similar to Winchester's E-pattern checkering, a high-gloss finish, and carbine buttplate. Though not documented, it is quite likely the woodwork was also completed by Warren.

Manufacturer: Winchester

Model: 94

BBL: 20 inch round

Stock: walnut

Gauge: 30-30 WCF

Finish: blue/gold

Serial Number972546

Class: Curio & Relic Long Gun

  • Provenance: The Robert M. Lee Collection
  • Condition: Excellent as deluxe embellished by Master Engraver John E. Warren, retaining 99% plus of the blue finish and precious metal inlays with only the slightest handling evidence and extremely crisp engraving. The wood is also excellent with only the slightest handling marks, essentially all the varnish, and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. This is a rare opportunity to own a high art piece by one of the 20th century's most talented American engravers, John E. Warren!

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000