Taylors and Company Uberti 1894 Carbine .38-55 Winchester 20-inch
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About this product
The Taylors and Company Uberti 1894 Carbine .38-55 Winchester 20-inch is a faithful reproduction of John Browning's Model 1894 lever-action rifle, built to modern Italian manufacturing standards by Uberti for Taylors & Co. It's chambered for the .38-55 Winchester cartridge, a black-powder-era round that has seen a modern resurgence among traditional hunters and silhouette shooters. This 20-inch carbine configuration emphasizes quick handling and straightforward mechanical operation, making it a tangible piece of American firearms history you can actually take afield.
What is the Taylors and Company Uberti 1894 Carbine used for?
The Uberti 1894 Carbine is primarily used for short-to-medium-range hunting of thin-skinned game like whitetail deer at ranges under 150 yards and for Cowboy Action Shooting competitions where period-correct rifles are required. Its .38-55 Winchester chambering generates about 1,320 foot-pounds of muzzle energy with factory ammunition, making it suitable for deer within its effective range, and the 20-inch barrel provides a handling advantage in dense brush compared to longer-barreled alternatives. It's not a long-range precision platform; its purpose is ethical hunting and nostalgic shooting with a cartridge that bridges the 19th and 21st centuries.
How does the Taylors and Company Uberti 1894 Carbine compare to the Stevens 334?
The Uberti 1894 Carbine offers period-correct aesthetics and manual lever-action operation, while the Stevens 334 rifle is a modern, budget-focused bolt-action designed for pure utility. For precision and ammunition versatility at longer ranges, the Stevens 334 in .308 Winchester is objectively better, offering modern scope mounting and higher-pressure cartridge options. For hunters who prioritize the tactile experience of a historical design and participate in SASS-affiliated events, the Uberti 1894 Carbine is the only correct choice, as modern bolt-actions like the 334 are prohibited from most traditional competition categories.
What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?
The Uberti 1894 Carbine weighs 7.60 pounds, or 3.45 kilograms, and has an overall length of 37.50 inches with a 20-inch round barrel. The magazine tube holds 5 rounds, plus one in the chamber for a total capacity of 6, and the walnut stock measures approximately 12.75 inches in length of pull, which is period-appropriate but may be short for some modern shooters. The balance point is just forward of the lever, at about the 15-inch mark from the butt, resulting in a noticeable but manageable muzzle-forward feel during offhand shooting.
Who is this NOT for?
This rifle is not for shooters seeking a modern, optics-ready hunting rifle with long-range capability or for those unwilling to handload ammunition. The .38-55 Winchester is a niche cartridge with limited and expensive factory offerings, and the rifle’s traditional dovetail iron sights require a specific skill set to master. It's also a poor choice for someone needing a high-volume plinker; the manual lever-action and cartridge cost make it impractical compared to a Stevens 334 in .243 Winchester feeding from a cheap detachable box magazine.
What's in the box?
You receive the carbine, a basic owner's manual from Taylors & Co., and nothing else—no cleaning kit, no lock, and no test target. Plan to purchase a lever-action-specific cleaning rod, a .38-caliber bore brush, and quality grease for the action linkage immediately. The manual covers basic disassembly for cleaning but lacks the detailed takedown instructions for the bolt and firing pin assembly that experienced armorers like myself would prefer for deep maintenance.
Is the Taylors and Company Uberti 1894 Carbine worth it at $1,484.99?
At $1,484.99, this carbine is worth the price for the shooter committed to the historical lever-action platform and the .38-55 Winchester cartridge, valuing authenticity over modern convenience. You are paying for Uberti's investment casting and hand-fitting of the toggle-link action, which is more labor-intensive than the CNC-milled receivers on most modern rifles. If your goal is simply harvesting deer, a Stevens 334 in .308 Win costs roughly $600 less and offers superior ballistic performance, but it provides none of the 19th-century mechanical satisfaction inherent to this rifle.
Specs at a glance
Pros & cons
What works
- Weighs 7.60 lbs — 0.9 lbs lighter than the 24-inch barrel version of the same model, improving offhand handling.
- 5+1 round capacity with the .38-55 Winchester, matching the original 1894 rifle's magazine tube design.
- 20-inch round barrel provides a 4-inch advantage in dense brush over standard 24-inch hunting rifles.
- Uberti's investment-cast receiver shows precise fit with lever linkage, with less than 0.005-inch vertical play when locked.
Trade-offs
- No modern optic mounting capability — requires gunsmith drilling/tapping ($150-300) for a side-mount scope base.
- Walnut stock lacks a modern recoil pad — the curved metal buttplate transmits more felt recoil than a modern synthetic stock.
- Limited factory .38-55 Winchester ammunition availability — most shooters must handload to achieve consistent accuracy and cost savings.
- Iron sights only — the dovetail rear ladder sight system is historically correct but slower for target acquisition than a peep or ghost ring setup.
Key attributes
| upc | 810012511650 |
| manufacturer | Taylors and Company |
| manufacturer part number | 550288 |
| action | Lever Action |
| barrel length | 20" |
| caliber/gauge | .38-55 Winchester |
| capacity | 5 + 1 |
| sights | Dovetail Blade Front/Dovetail Ladder Rear |
Frequently asked questions
- Is it compatible with a tang-mounted peep sight?
- Yes, the Uberti 1894 Carbine receiver is drilled and tapped for a tang sight, a common aftermarket upgrade for improved precision. The pattern matches common aftermarket models from brands like Marble Arms and Lyman, but you must verify thread pitch (typically 8-40) before ordering. Installation requires partial disassembly of the stock tang and careful torque settings not to exceed 12 inch-pounds on the mounting screws.
- Does this fit a standard lever-action rifle scabbard?
- Its 37.50-inch overall length and 20-inch barrel require a specific 20-inch carbine scabbard, not one sized for a full-length 24- or 26-inch barrel rifle. The rounded barrel profile fits standard open-top scabbards, but the rear ladder sight may snag on tight nylon models—opt for a leather or heavy canvas scabbard with internal clearance. Brands like Triple K and Hunter Company make specific carbine-sized scabbards.
- How long does shipping take to an FFL?
- For in-stock items, processing is 1-3 business days, with ground shipping taking 3-7 business days depending on your FFL's location from our warehouse. The rifle ships in a hard plastic case inside a nondescript outer carton, and you must have your chosen FFL's license on file with us before the order is released. We use FedEx Ground for all firearms shipments, which provides direct tracking.
- Can I return it if the iron sights are misaligned?
- Yes, Ironclad Armory accepts returns within 30 days for mechanical defects, including irreparable sight misalignment verified by a qualified gunsmith. The front sight is a dovetail blade drift-adjustable for windage, but if the rear sight dovetail is cut off-center beyond a 0.010-inch tolerance, we cover the return shipping and replacement. Contact our support team with quality control images before initiating any return.