Winchester Repeating Arms 1895 User Manual
Winchester Model 1895 Lever Action Rifle Owner’s Owner’s Manual
Licensee
Important instructions for
Winchester Model 1895
Lever Action Rifle
U.S. Repeating Arms Company, Inc.
275 Winchester Ave.
New Haven, CT, U. S. A. 06511-1970
Winchester trademarks licensed from Olin Corporation.
Use the space below to record information about your
new Model 1895 rifle
Model _________________________________________
Caliber ________________________________________
Serial Number __________________________________
Purchased From _________________________________
Date of Purchase ________________________________
We sincerely hope that you are pleased with your new
Winchester Model 1895. We at U.S. Repeating Arms
Company thank you for the privilege of crafting this rifle-
for you. We are especially proud of the many years of
enjoyment it is certain to provide for you and your family.
The Model 1895 is another in an over 125 year-old tradi-
tion of producing quality firearms for the World’s sports-
men. Quality of manufacture, design, craftsmanship and
function are of utmost concern to us. We believe you’ll
find that your new 1895 meets the Winchester tradition
of quality in every way. If you have any questions or com-
ments regarding your new firearm, please feel free write to
us.
Print Code KP97043—96283
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Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page
Gun safety warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 - 3
General description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 - 4
Terminology and descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Serial number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Ammunition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Initial cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Oiling the action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Operation of the hammer & safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 - 12
General operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Loading procedures — magazines . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 - 16
Unloading procedures — magazines . . . . . . . . . . . .16 - 18
Firing procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 - 18
In the case of a misfire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Sight adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Cleaning and maintenance suggestions . . . . . . . . .22 - 24
Ordering parts / service or repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
This Model 1895 rifle is certainly one of the most famous
in the line of Winchester World Class arms. We sincerely
hope that you are pleased with your new rifle. We at U.S.
Repeating Arms Company thank you for the privilege of
crafting this rifle for you. We are especially proud of the
many years of enjoyment it is certain to provide for you
and your family.
This is the rifle Teddy Roosevelt called his “big medicine.” It became the preference of major powers worldwide, with Russia alone purchasing nearly 300,000 1895s
just before World War I. It was designed for the new generation of cartridges utilizing smokeless powder and pointed bullets.
As with many of the great lever actions of the last century, the Model 1895 was designed by John M. Browning
specifically for Winchester.
With its quick handling characteristics, box magazine and
pointed bullet capability, the world of sporting rifles
would never be the same again. The 1895 was remarkable
in its day and this new 1895 is a remarkable chance to
own a milestone setting rifle.
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GUN SAFETY WARNINGS
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THESE OPERATING
INSTRUCTIONS BE THOROUGHLY STUDIED
BEFORE USING THIS FIREARM TO ASSURE
PROPER AND SAFE GUN HANDLING. FAILURE
TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS OR FAILURE TO OBEY ANY SAFETY WARNING MAY
RESULT IN INJURY TO YOURSELF OR OTHERS, OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO YOUR GUN.
As a gun owner, you accept a set of demanding responsibilities. How seriously you take these responsibilities can
be the difference between life and death. There is no
excuse for careless or abusive handling of any firearm.
At all times handle your rifle and any other firearm with
intense respect for its power and potential danger.
PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL OF
THE CAUTIONS, PROPER HANDLING PROCEDURES AND INSTRUCTIONS OUTLINED IN
THIS BOOKLET BEFORE USING YOUR NEW
FIREARM.
1. Do not carry a loaded gun with a live round in the
chamber while walking, running, climbing a tree, crossing
a fence or anywhere you might slip or fall, drop the gun or
otherwise bump or jar the gun. A gun that is dropped,
bumped, or jarred with a chambered round might accidentally discharge even with the safety on, causing serious
injury to you or someone else. When a round is chambered keep the safety on until you are ready to shoot.
2. Do not rely on the safety to prevent accidental discharge. Many safeties merely block the trigger and prevent
firing by pulling the trigger. The safety may not prevent
an accidental discharge due to dropping, jarring, or bumping a gun.
3. Use only ammunition for which the gun is chambered
as indicated on the barrel, to prevent excessive pressure
and possible serious personal injury.
4. Incorrectly reloaded ammunition can cause serious personal injury and damage to the firearm due to excessive
pressure. Reload only after proper instruction and in strict
compliance with instruction and data contained in current reloading manuals.
5. Never point a gun at anything you do not intend to
shoot. Always keep it pointed in a safe direction in case of
accidental discharge.
6. Always check to ensure that the barrel is free of
obstructions before loading and using the gun. If you
experience light recoil or off sound, check the barrel for
obstruction.
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7. Before firing, clean any grease or oil out of barrel with
cleaning rod and patch. Grease or heavy accumulation of
oil can cause excessive pressure and result in serious
personal injury.
8. Keep barrel, chamber and action free of rust. Rust in
the barrel and chamber can cause excessive pressures
resulting in serious injury. A rusted, pitted or eroded barrel should be replaced.
9. Use hearing protection to prevent ear damage from
repeated exposure to gunfire.
10. Always use proper shooting glasses to prevent eye
injury from flying particles.
11. Never carry a loaded gun in a motor vehicle or carry
one into a dwelling. Always carefully unload the gun
before entering a motor vehicle, a dwelling or an area
such as a camp. Always point a gun in a safe direction
while loading or unloading to prevent serious injury in
case of an accidental discharge. Never load in the house
or in your vehicle.
12. Never shoot at a hard, flat surface or at the surface of
water to avoid a ricochet and possible serious personal
injury to yourself or a bystander.
13. Store guns in a clean dry place out of reach of children
and separated from stored ammunition.
14. Never alter any parts of your gun. Any alterations or
adjustments that may become necessary to the operating
mechanism should be performed by a qualified gunsmith.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Your new Model 1895 rifle is a modern version of the rifle
that broke new ground and set new standards for rifles as
the 1800s came to a close and the innovations of the 20th
century began. With a few minor exceptions, the action is
virtually identical to the way the originals were made in
1895. The primary difference is the addition of a top tang
mounted safety switch for added convenience and an
increased margin of safety. The 1895’s safety mechanism
incorporates both a hammer stop and a rebounding hammer. These advanced features move the traditional Model
1895 design to a new level of convenience. These features
are explained in detail later in this manual.
When originally introduced, the Winchester 1895’s
unique non-detachable box magazine design allowed a
lever action repeater — for the first time —to handle the
new jacketed, pointed bullets, utilizing newly developed
smokeless powder. The improved ballistics quickly made
the 1895 the choice of many of the most famous big game
hunters of the day. This advanced rifle gave riflemen of
the past the distinct bullet protection advantages of a box
magazine with the convenient firing speed of a lever
action. You still get all these advantages in your new
Model 1895.
The smooth, sleek, no-snag lines — from muzzle to buttstock — make the Model 1895 an ideal saddle gun.
Cycling the lever smoothly moves a cartridge from the
box magazine to the chamber. After firing, working the
lever ejects the empty cartridge nearly straight up and
slightly to the right, over your head. Returning the lever
upward cycles a new cartridge from the magazine into the
chamber. The 1895’s uncanny, reliable, smooth func-
tion made it famous in its day . . . and you will still appreciate this advantage on your new rifle.
TERMINOLOGY AND DESCRIPTIONS.
Descriptions in this manual generally refer to the gun in
the horizontal position. That is, in the normal firing position. For example, the muzzle is forward or front; the buttstock is rearward or rear; the trigger is downward or underneath; the sight is upward or on top.
Throughout this manual the “action” refers to the
mechanism of this rifle which loads and secures the cartridge in the chamber.
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Muzzle
Forearm
Barrel
Buttplate
Buttstock
Ejection/Loading Port
Magazine
Finger Lever
Rear Sight
Front Sight
Top Tang Safety
FIGURE 1A
IMPORTANT:
Refer to Figures 1A-C for general part
descriptions regarding your new rifle. You must become
familiar with all part names listed before proceeding with
the rest of the instructions in this manual.
SERIAL NUMBER
The serial number is located on the right side of the
receiver, adjacent to where the receiver meets the
forearm. Record the serial number at the front of this
book for future reference.
AMMUNITION
Your Winchester Model 1895 is designed to shoot modern
factory cartridges only. The caliber of your new Model
1895 is inscribed on the top of the barrel, above the
chamber area, just in front of the receiver.
Your Model 1895 has a non-detachable box magazine that
holds 4 cartridges. If shooting is imminent, one additional
cartridge can be placed in the chamber for a total capacity
of 5 rounds.
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Safety pushed rearward: “on safe.”
Pushed forward: “off safe.”
Safety
(Manual Hammer Stop)
Rebounding
Hammer
S
S
Cocking
Lever Catch
Breech Bolt
Trigger
Finger Lever
FIGURE 1C
FIGURE 1B
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MAKE SURE YOU USE ONLY THE EXACT
AMMUNITION/ CALIBER AS LISTED ON THE
BARREL.
Incorrectly reloaded ammunition can cause serious personal injury and damage to the firearm due to excessive
pressure. Reload only after proper instruction and in strict
compliance with instructions and data contained in current reloading manuals.
DISCHARGING FIREARMS IN POORLY VENTILATED AREAS, CLEANING FIREARMS, OR
HANDLING AMMUNITION MAY RESULT IN
EXPOSURE TO LEAD AND OTHER SUBSTANCES KNOWN TO CAUSE BIRTH
DEFECTS, REPRODUCTIVE HARM AND
OTHER SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY. HAVE
ADEQUATE VENTILATION AT ALL TIMES.
WASH HANDS THOROUGHLY AFTER EXPOSURE.
INITIAL CLEANING
Some metal parts of your new Model 1895 have been
coated at the factory with a rust preventative compound.
Before using your Model 1895, clean the anti-rust compound from the inside of the barrel, receiver, cartridge
feed mechanism and the action/chamber areas. A high
quality, light gun oil should be used to remove this compound and to give your new gun its first lubrication.
Clean the barrel using a cleaning rod and patch as
explained under “Cleaning and Maintenance
Suggestions” found later in this manual. First lubrication
suggestions are outlined below.
If your new Model 1895 is for collector’s purposes only,
and is to remain unfired, it is permissible to leave the rust
preventative compound in place and keep your Model
1895 in its box for maximum protection during long term
storage.
OILING THE ACTION
Before beginning the first firing of your Model 1895 you
should first wipe the mechanism completely clean, clean
the bore and apply a few drops of quality oil on the following surfaces (See Figure 2):
• Along the breech bolt surface.
• Along the breech bolt rail surfaces.
• On all pivot points and bearing surfaces on the lever
mechanism.
Avoid applying too much oil. Only a light film is necessary. Cleaning and Maintenance Suggestions should be
followed before each oiling.
OPERATION OF THE HAMMER & SAFETY
Your Model 1895 features a new, innovative safety (also
called a manual hammer stop) built into the top tang of
your rifle, as well as a rebounding hammer design built
into the hammer mechanism itself.
The Model 1895’s Rebounding Hammer is a safety fea-
ture designed to protect the firing pin from being struck
by the hammer when the trigger is not being pulled. After
firing your rifle the hammer immediately moves to the
rebound position. The hammer can also be manually lowered from full cock to the rebound position. From the
rebound position, under normal conditions, the hammer
is prevented from moving forward and striking the firing
pin. The rebound position and the safety (manual hammer stop) are intended to work together to provide protection against unintentional or accidental firing.
Lightly oil the action
at these points
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FIGURE 2
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HAMMER POSITIONS —
The rebounding hammer on your Model 1895 has two
positions as follows:
• Rebound position. This position (See Figure 3) takes
the place of the dropped and half-cocked positions found
on the original Model 1895s of a century ago.
The rebounding feature of the hammer essentially eliminates the dropped position. The hammer only travels to
the dropped position momentarily after the trigger has
been pulled with the hammer cocked. The hammer then
automatically moves to the rebound position.
THE REBOUND POSITION IS THE RECOMMENDED POSITION OF THE HAMMER AT ALL
TIMES AND SHOULD BE IN THAT POSITION
EXCEPT (1) WHEN FIRING IS IMMINENT (2) OR
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACTION HAS BEEN
CYCLED.
• Cocked position. This is the position that the hammer
is moved to when firing is imminent (See Figure 4). It is
also the position the hammer moves to when the action is
cycled using the finger lever.
WHEN THE HAMMER IS IN THE COCKED POSITION THE SAFETY SHOULD BE IN THE “ON”
POSITION (WITH THE “S” SHOWING) UNLESS
FIRING IS IMMINENT.
Rebound position
of hammer
FIGURE 3
Hammer in
cocked position
FIGURE 4
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