Licensee
Winchester Model 1895 Lever Action Rifle Owner’s Owner’s Manual
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 riflefor 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 tradition of producing quality firearms for the World’s sportsmen. 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 comments regarding your new firearm, please feel free write to us.
Print Code KP97043—96283
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.
1
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.
2
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
3
|
|
|
|
FIGURE 1A |
|
Ejection/Loading Port |
|
Rear Sight |
Barrel |
Front Sight |
|
Top Tang Safety |
|
|
|
|
|
Buttstock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Muzzle |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Forearm |
|
|
|
|
Magazine |
|
|
|
|
|
Finger Lever
Buttplate
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.
4
Safety |
Rebounding |
FIGURE 1B |
(Manual Hammer Stop) |
Hammer |
|
|
|
|
|
S |
|
|
S |
|
Safety pushed rearward: “on safe.”
Pushed forward: “off safe.”
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.
FIGURE 1C
Breech Bolt
Cocking
Lever Catch
Trigger
Finger Lever
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.
5
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.
6
FIGURE 2
Lightly oil the action at these points
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 feature 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.
7
Rebound position of hammer
FIGURE 3 |
|
FIGURE 4 |
Hammer in cocked position
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.
8
Loading...