38-55

Question
I have a 38-55 rifle it has the octagon barrel and open sights. The front sight has two setting it flips up and down when down you have a sight and when you flip it up you have a totally different sight. and the rear sight is made to the barrel. on the barrel it say's "Manufactured by the Winchesters repeating arms co. New Haven conn USA" And on the stock side of the hammer it also says "Model 1894 WINCHESTER pat august 21 1894" the stock also looks like one side is in perfect condition and the other side looks like it had been bleached by the sun that gave me the idea that it was kept in the saddle on a horse. just looking to get a little info on the gun. what that type of gun was used for and maby a price of what it would be worth today Thanks much greenmoutinboy :)  

Answer
Hi Chris,

The Model 1894 was based upon a John Browning patent. It was the most successful center fire rifle in the Winchester line. The 1864 was also the first Winchester rifle developed for smokeless powder.

The most sought after 1894's seem to be the pre-1964 models which began around serial number 2550000. They were chambered for : .32-40, .25-35 Win, .38-55, .30-30Win
and .32 Win.Spec.

They were available in the following models; Sporting Rifle, Fancy Sporting Rifle, 1894 Deluxe, Extra Lightweight, and Trappers Carbine.

The value is dependant upon the condition and model. In the models above the approximate retail value/s start at around $600 in "good" condition and a straight Carbine can go all the way up to $3500 for a 1894 Deluxe in "good" condition.

I highly recommend that you have  the rifle identified/appraised by a qualified person due to the many variations that were produced.

Thanks for the question Chris.
Sid Lark