Lot 28

Factory Engraved Gold Inlaid Winchester Deluxe Model 1894 Rifle

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Factory Engraved Gold Inlaid Winchester Deluxe Model 1894 Rifle

Estimate: $65,000 - $110,000

Starting Bid: $55,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 21, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Scarce Documented Highly Optioned Factory Exhibition No. 4 Panel Scene Engraved and Gold Inlaid Antique Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model 1894 Extra Lightweight Lever Action Short Rifle with Beautiful Relief Carved Floral Scroll Stock and Factory Letter Manufactured in 1898, this is an extremely desirable, highly optioned, special order, factory No. 4 panel scene engraved, gold inlaid, deluxe Winchester Model 1894 extra light short rifle with beautiful factory carved wood that was produced for display by the company at the plethora of high profile trade exhibitions around the world during the turn of the century. Gold inlay is one of the rarest forms of deluxe firearms ornamentation, and immediately elevates such an arm to among the elite, particularly on a Winchester and more specifically a Model 1894, on which it is an extremely scarce feature. According to data Oswalt and Hawk published in "Armax Vol. V" covering the first 353,999 Model 1894s, for which records are available, this rifle exhibits an incredibly scarce combination of features. They note that only 336 rifles were factory engraved and only 81 rifles had carved stocks, while not indicating how many were gold inlaid, though the number is known to be extremely low. Their data lists this rifle by serial number as being both factory engraved and having a carved stock. Known as "the rifle America loves", more than 7,500,000 of the John Moses Browning designed Model 1894s have been produced, and it is a iconic piece of Americana in its own right. Standard variations of the model remain highly collectible, making deluxe variations extremely valuable and desirable, and leaving gold inlaid and carved examples such as this one among the truly elite. The included factory letter lists the serial number as applied on 16 March 1898, .30 caliber, a 22 inch round barrel, extra light, a set trigger, "Engraved $24.00", "Gold", "Carved $14.00", and with a fancy pistol grip stock with a shotgun buttplate and having special ordered stock dimensions listed in the letter when received at the warehouse on 25 March 1898 and shipped the same day to order no. 4781. The letter further lists two return and repair dates of 10 March 1899 and 2 December 1903. Given the date this gun was manufactured and these return and repair dates, it was undoubtedly being sent by the company to various exhibitions to grab the attention of the massive crowds. Having been manufactured and shipped in early 1898, this gun will have been displayed at the Trans-Mississippi Exposition and then, after its March 1899 refresh, at the Great America Exposition, both held in Omaha, Nebraska. After another refresh in late 1903, this gun was undoubtedly sent for display at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition held in St. Louis, Missouri, which also coincided with the 1904 Olympic Games. The engraving on this rifle features one of the most elaborate patterns developed by Master Engraver John Ulrich, who was one of Winchester's primary and most talented engravers from around 1869 until his death in 1924. This piece appears to be unsigned, but is quite possibly the work of Ulrich himself, who is known to have been inconsistent with the signing of his work. The engraving on this rifle is listed as Style No. 4 in Winchester's "Highly Finished Arms" catalog, which was first released in 1897 and reproduced on p. 219-233 of "Winchester Engraving" by R.L. Wilson. The engraving itself features a hunting scene on the left, showing a hunter downing two stags from behind a tree. The right of the receiver shows a grizzly bear in a mountain scene. Both of the scenes are surrounded by beautifully executed arabesque scrollwork and decorative borders, with the scrollwork extending to the forearm cap, breech of the barrel, lever, hammer, and heel of the buttplate. The breech of the barrel, rear of the forearm cap, front and rear of the receiver, and the heel of the buttplate all have a finely inlaid gold. Apart from the extraordinary engraving, the top of the special ordered 22 inch lightweight profile barrel is marked with the two-line Winchester address and the caliber marking at the breech, while the left has the two-line nickel steel marking. The upper tang is marked with the three-line model and patent date, while the serial number is marked on the bottom of the receiver. The left side of the lower tang is marked "7132 OF RB", while the butt of the stock and inside the buttplate are marked "5467". We believe this discrepancy in assembly numbers to be due to the rifle being returned to the factory, which is likely when the trigger was changed from a set trigger to a plain trigger. It is fitted with a Lyman "Hunting" beaded blade front sight (bead absent) and a three-leaf Winchester "Express" rear sight. It is mounted with a very finely figured forearm and pistol grip stock, both with the incredible Winchester factory style B relief carved floral scrollwork, a hard rubber grip cap, and a smooth steel buttplate.

Manufacturer: Winchester

Model: 1894

BBL: 22 inch round lightweight

Stock: walnut

Gauge: 30-30 WCF

Finish: blue

Serial Number37955

Class: Antique

  • Condition: Very fine as factory refurbished for exhibition display, retaining 95% of the blue finish on the barrel and magazine tube, 80% plus of the blue finish on the receiver, 75% plus of the case colors on the hammer and lever, 90% plus of the nitre blue on the loading gate, and essentially all of the bright original gold inlay, with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina, a few scattered light handling marks, and crisp engraving. The wood is fine with a repaired short hairline crack in either side of the upper wrist, some scattered minor dings and pressure dents, much of the factory varnish, and well-defined relief carving overall. Mechanically excellent. This is an extraordinary, highly optioned, factory exhibition engraved and gold inlaid, deluxe Winchester Model 1894 short rifle with scarce factory relief carved wood!

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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