Winchester Model 1895

Winchester 1895 US military issue Winchester M1895 with full-length stock and bayonet lug. Type lever-action rifle Country of Origin United States Specifications Length 42 in (1,067 mm) Barrel 28 in (711.2 mm) Weight 9 lb (4.1 kg) Cartridge 7.62x54mmR, .303 British, .30-06, .30-40 Krag, .405 Winchester, various other centerfire hunting calibers action Lever-action Feed 5-rd internal magazine Sights sliding-ramp rear, fixed-post front Service History Used by see users Production History Designer John Browning Designed 1895 Manufacturer Winchester Repeating Arms Company Production dates 1895–1931 Number built ~425,000 Variants carbine variant

The Winchester Model 1895 was a lever-action repeating rifle developed and manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in the late 19th century, chambered for a number of full-size military and hunting cartridges such as 7.62x54mmR, .303 British, .30-06 Springfield, .30 Army, .35 Winchester, and .405 Winchester.

Unlike most Winchester repeating rifles, which fed from a tube magazine under the barrel, the Model 1895 featured a 5-round box magazine located underneath the action. This allowed it to chamber military and hunting cartridges with spitzer (pointed) projectiles. The Model 1895 also had a stronger action than traditional lever-action rifles (such as the Winchester Model 94), which meant it could handle the increased pressures generated by the more powerful smokeless powder cartridges then entering common use by the military and for hunting.

Military Use

Approximately 300,000 M1895's were manufactured for Imperial Russia between 1915 and 1917; these were unusual for a lever-action rifle in that they also had a charger guide, allowing the M1895 rifle to be reloaded by the same charger clips used in the Mosin-Nagant rifle. The US and British military also adopted the rifle in limited numbers. Col. (later President) Theodore Roosevelt personally purchased and equipped each of his fellow officers in the Rough Riders with a M1895 Winchester in .30 Army.

Civilian and Sporting Use

In civilian guise, the M1895 was produced in a variety of commercial hunting calibers for civilian sale as well. Military versions of the rifle had full wood stocks and would mount a bayonet, while commercial rifles were available with a variety of stock and barrel lengths depending on the purchaser's preferences.

Theodore Roosevelt took an 1895 in .405 on African safari; referring to his rifle as "Big Medicine" when lion hunting.

In recent years Winchester Repeating Arms has produced several Limited Edition 1895 Rifles and Carbines. Most commonly in .405 Win, .30-06 and .30 Gov't also called .30-40 Krag. In 2008 Winchester produced a pair of Theodore Roosevelt commemorative rifles. In 2009 an additional pair of rifles was offered commemorating Roosevelt's African Safari in 1909 after leaving office.

Users

• Russian Empire
• United Kingdom
• United States

Resources

Gun Owners' Resource has the following relevant documents available for free download for the Winchester Model 1895 and/or its variants:

• Winchester 1895 Owner's manual (28 pgs, 731 KB .pdf file)

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  Advert for the 1895, c. 1910

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  A look inside the 1895's action

External links

• Winchester M1895 rifle