Winchester Model 1895 The Winchester Model 1895 is a lever - action repeating firearm developed and manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in the late 19th century , chambered for a number of full - size military and hunting cartridges such as 7 . 62×54mmR , . 303 British , . 30 - 03 , . 30 Army , . 30 - 06 , . 35 Winchester , . 38 - 72 Winchester , . 40 - 72 Winchester and . 405 Winchester . Design . The Model 1895 was the first Winchester rifle to feature a box magazine located underneath the action instead of the tubular magazine design , which had remained fundamentally unchanged from the Winchester 1866 . This allowed the rifle to safely chamber military and hunting cartridges with spitzer ( pointed ) bullets . The M1895 was also the last of the lever action rifles to be designed by John Browning , and featured a rear locking bolt as in his previous designs dating back to the Winchester 1886 . The M1895 is the strongest lever action rifle Winchester has produced , designed to handle the increased pressures generated by the more powerful smokeless powder cartridges entering common use at the time of its introduction . By today ’ s standards however , the design is considered relatively weak , and not suited to high pressure loads . Around serial number 5000 , a new receiver profile was introduced which had fluted ( scalloped ) sides , as opposed to the original flat sided design . This new receiver reduced the weight of the rifle by a small amount , and increased the width by 1 / 16 of an inch . By serial number 6000 , it is thought that the last of the flat sided M1895s left the factory . These early rifles are now exceedingly rare . Military . Between 1915 and 1917 approximately 300 , 000 M1895 ' s were manufactured for the army of Russian Empire , accounting for about 70 % of total production of the rifles prior to 1936 when the M1895 was discontinued . Chambered in 7 . 62×54mmR , these musket versions were unusual for a lever - action rifle in that they also had a charger guide , allowing the M1895 rifle to be reloaded by the same charger clips used in the Mosin – Nagant bolt action rifle . Rifles made for the Russian contract had a longer than standard barrel fitted with an extended forestock and bayonet lug . Initial delivery of the rifles was delayed because adaptation to Russian standards , particularly the charger guide , proved more difficult than expected . Additional delays resulted from incompetent and obstructive Russian inspectors , who refused to use Winchester - made test gauges despite no Russian gauges existing , insisted that test ammunition be shipped from Russia ( instead of using readily available Winchester ammunition made on Russian contract ) , and often rejected rifles for irrelevant flaws such as wood grain in the stock being insufficiently straight . Winchester later sold these rejected rifles on the US commercial market . Russia issued many of their Winchester Model 1895 rifles to troops from Finland and the Baltic states , especially the Latvian Riflemen . At least 9 , 000 Model 1895 rifles are known to have been provided by the Soviet Union in 1936 to the Spanish Republicans for use in the Spanish Civil War . Other nations adopted the rifle in more limited numbers . The United States ordered 10 , 000 in caliber . 30 / 40 Krag for the Spanish – American War , but the war ended before they arrived at the front . These rifles were marked " U . S . " atop the receiver ring and fitted with stock furniture similar to the M1895 Lee Navy including the short knife - type bayonet . Many parts were marked " K . S . M . " by ordnance inspector Kelly S . Morse . One hundred of these rifles were issued to the 33rd Volunteer Infantry for field testing in the Philippine – American War . The report of testing completed on 25 December 1899 stated the Krag - Jørgensen was greatly superior for military service . The remaining 9 , 900 rifles were sold to M . Harley Company and most were shipped to Cuba in 1906 . Some of these rifles found their way to Mexico , where they were favored by Pancho Villa ’ s troops during the Mexican Revolution . Theodore Roosevelt also personally purchased and equipped each of his fellow officers in the Rough Riders with a M1895 Winchester in . 30 Army ( . 30 - 40 Krag ) during the same timeframe . The Model 1895 in . 30 Army was also entered into an 1896 New York National Guard rifle contract competition , but finished second to the Savage Model 1895 due to the Winchester rifle lacking a magazine cutoff and magazine counter . Winchester strongly disputed the results of the contest , arguing that the competition had been rigged in Savage ' s favor , and the ensuing political controversy led to the cancellation of the contract . Civilian . As with previous Winchester rifles , a new serial number range was launched with the M1895 , beginning with serial number 1 . Including military contract rifles , a total of 425 , 881 rifles were produced , with production ceasing at serial number 425 , 132 . The standard barrel length varied from 24 to 28 inches , depending on chambering and configuration , and the Standard finish on all rifles was blue . The rifle is most commonly associated today with former President Theodore Roosevelt ; however , it was also used by many other famed hunters and adventurers , to include Martin and Osa Johnson , Charles Cottar , and author Stewart Edward White . Garrit Forbes — hunting companion of W . D . M . Bell , first cousin of Franklin D . Roosevelt , and long time personal friend of gun writer and firearms enthusiast Elmer Keith — recommended the M1895 in . 405 Winchester to Theodore Roosevelt . Theodore Roosevelt took two M1895 rifles with him on his 1909 safari to East Africa , both in . 405 Winchester . Additionally , Kermit Roosevelt accompanied his father on the trip and brought two more M1895 rifles ; one was chambered in . 405 Winchester , and the other in . 30 - 03 Springfield . While the serial number of Kermit ’ s . 30 - 03 has been lost , the serial numbers of the three . 405 rifles are known to have been 63727 , 63736 , and 68180 . Theodore Roosevelt praised the . 405 M1895 in his book " African Game Trails " , famously referring to this rifle as his “ ’ medicine gun ’ for lions . ” : Although it is often said that Roosevelt called the . 405 M1895 his “ big medicine , ” this phrase is never used in " African Game Trails " , and is possibly the erroneous combination of his “ medicine gun ” quote with his “ big stick ” speech of 1901 . The Model 1895 in both its rifle and carbine configuration was popular with the Texas Rangers and Arizona Rangers in both the 30 - 40 Krag and 30 - 06 Springfield calibers . In 1985 , the Browning Arms Company reintroduced the M1895 rifle in . 30 - 06 Springfield . Later in 2001 , Winchester reintroduced the rifle during the 100 year anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt ’ s presidential administration , offering it again in . 405 Winchester , as well as . 30 - 06 Springfield and . 30 - 40 Krag since its reintroduction . In 2008 Winchester produced a pair of Theodore Roosevelt commemorative rifles . In 2009 an additional pair of rifles was offered commemorating Roosevelt ' s African Safari in 1909 after leaving office . Both the Browning and new Winchester rifles are made in Japan by Miroku . The Winchesters , however , differ from the original design in that they featured rebounding hammers and a tang safety .