Cimarron 1894 38-55 Win 26″ Octagon Barrel Rifle

Description

I was at the range last week, watching a guy struggle with a modern plastic rifle that just wouldn’t group. He looked over at my bench, saw the classic lines of a lever gun, and asked, “What’s that?” I handed it over. “This,” I said, “is history you can shoot.” That rifle was the Cimarron 1894 38-55 Win, 26″ Octagon Barrel. It’s a faithful modern reproduction of the classic Winchester 1894 lever-action rifle, chambered in the historic .38-55 Winchester cartridge and built with a hefty, heat-dissipating 26-inch octagon barrel. It’s not a museum piece; it’s a working rifle built for the modern shooter who appreciates craftsmanship and a tangible link to the past.

Look, I’ve put a few hundred rounds of Black Hills and my own handloads through this rifle, and the first thing you notice is the balance. That long, octagon barrel comes in at just over 9 pounds unloaded, and it settles onto target like it’s part of the bench. The action is smooth—not slicked-up-race-gun smooth, but a solid, mechanical smoothness that speaks to proper fitting. The walnut stock has a decent finish, and the overall fit is impressive for a production rifle at this price point. I found it to be drop-in ready for my preferred Skinner peep sight, which brings me to a key point: this rifle begs for good iron sights. The factory buckhorn is serviceable, but pairing this with a Marble’s or Skinner sight unlocks its true potential for precise, satisfying shooting.

The .38-55 Winchester cartridge is the soul of this rifle. Developed in the late 1800s, it was a premier deer and black bear cartridge in its day. With modern powders and bullets, it’s a wonderfully mild-recoiling, accurate round perfect for medium game at sensible woods distances. It’s a handloader’s dream, offering a ton of flexibility. You can load mild, smokeless plinkers or stout hunting rounds that push a 255-grain bullet with authority. The rifle’s magazine holds 7 rounds of this classic ammunition, giving you a solid capacity for a day in the field or on the silhouette range.

Specifications

Caliber	.38-55 Winchester
Barrel	26″ Octagon
Overall Length	44.5″
Weight	9.1 lbs
Capacity	7+1
Action	Lever

Let’s talk pros and cons. On the plus side, you get incredible build quality and classic aesthetics for $1253.39. The long sight radius from that 26-inch barrel makes it a natural for iron-sight accuracy. The .38-55 is a joy to shoot and reload. On the downside, it’s a niche cartridge—factory ammo isn’t on every shelf, so you’ll likely be ordering online or reloading. It’s also a long, heavy rifle; this isn’t a quick-swinging brush gun for dense timber. It’s a deliberate, aimed-shot rifle.

So who is this for? It’s for the hunter who wants a traditional, single-shot feel with repeat-shot capability for deer in open country. It’s for the metallic silhouette shooter looking for a classic division rifle. Most of all, it’s for the shooter who values the journey—the process of loading, aiming carefully, and making a shot count—over high-volume blasting. This rifle forces a slower, more thoughtful pace, and that’s its greatest charm. Remember, an FFL transfer is required for firearm purchases, and this model is available at firearms-missouri.com for Missouri residents and nationwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is .38-55 ammo hard to find?

A: It’s a specialty cartridge. You won’t typically find it at big-box stores, but several quality manufacturers like Black Hills and Buffalo Bore produce it, and it’s readily available from online retailers. For the best experience and cost-effectiveness, handloading is highly recommended.

Q: Can I mount a scope on this rifle?

A: Yes, but it requires a specific mount. The top of the receiver is drilled and tapped for a side-mount scope base, which is a common setup for these traditional lever actions. A long-eye-relief scout scope mounted forward on the barrel is another popular option that maintains the classic lines.

Q: How does it compare to a .30-30?

A: The .38-55 uses a larger diameter, heavier bullet (typically .375″ vs. .308″) at lower velocities. It delivers more energy at shorter ranges with less recoil and a deeper “thump” on target. It’s a fantastic choice where shots are inside 150 yards, offering a different and highly effective ballistic profile.

If the idea of a rifle with this much character and history speaks to you, check its availability on our site.