Winchester 1895 7.62mm

I've been looking for a Winchester 1895 in 7.62x54R for quite several years now. It always seemed to me that those rifles were highly overpaid or in very poor condition. Just recently I've came across a rather worn example, but even that sold (at an online auction) for a price above what I was willing to pay for that one, but still very cheap.

However, just shortly afterwards I was able to obtain the maybe best looking Winchester 1895 I've ever came across. It's a very late rifle with a S/N above 300.000 with all the markings still visible plus still having the original blueing.

As usual with the Russian 1895 rifles the bore is somewhat dark, but everything still visible. Will try to clean out everything I am able to.

For now I'm just satisfied to have been able to close a hole in my collection with an astonishing conditioned rifle for a very good price.

PS: The last picture shows a paper that was hidden behind the trapdoor (is that the right term with the sliding door at the 1895?) of the rifle. Would be highly interested if someone could translate that for me!

A nice musket...well done!

Beautiful rifle!!

Hi Promo, that's a beautiful rifle, there are a fair few spelling errors in the writing on the scrap of paper, suggesting it was written by a non-native speaker of Russian, (which would make sense since it's an American rifle) roughly translated it basically says: "Greetings to the heroes of the Soviet army!" I'm guessing this example was sent as aid from the U.S to USSR during WW2.

If I remember right all of these went to Russia before Oct. 1917. It might have been reissued during WW2 by the Russians when they were short on rifles or was in someones home, a vet maybe post WW1 till WW2 started and they gave it to the army again? Like a lot of guys have said if these rifles could only talk.

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Originally Posted by TheSovietSamurai

Hi Promo, that's a beautiful rifle, there are a fair few spelling errors in the writing on the scrap of paper, suggesting it was written by a non-native speaker of Russian, (which would make sense since it's an American rifle) roughly translated it basically says: "Greetings to the heroes of the Soviet army!" I'm guessing this example was sent as aid from the U.S to USSR during WW2.

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How cool is that!

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Originally Posted by TheSovietSamurai

sent as aid from the U.S to USSR during WW2

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Hardly...the gun was made in 1916. It was part of a contract for Russia. 293,816 model 95 muskets were made for Russia between 1915 and 1916. As Bruce pointed out these were there already so it's just a matter of re-issuing if they did. It doesn't seen to have travelled far...staying in Europe until now.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Hardly...the gun was made in 1916. It was part of a contract for Russia. 293,816 model 95 muskets were made for Russia between 1915 and 1916. As Bruce pointed out these were there already so it's just a matter of re-issuing if they did. It doesn't seen to have travelled far...staying in Europe until now.

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Yes, of course, perhaps it ended up somewhere else after the first war and was sent back later on? Maybe the note wasn't written by an American, but a European that donated the rifle? It's hard to know.

Whatever your imagination tells you...

A huge number ended up in Spain during the Civil War. Very well used, abused condition. Not seen here any more.