“model 1894”

Get a closer look at the 1894 Dark, from Marlin, the latest addition to our #SundayGunday series.

In this, its 150th year in business, the history of Winchester firearms is well known. After all, “The gun that won the west” was a Winchester, the Model 1873. The Winchester Model 70 is known as the “Rifleman’s Rifle” and the Model 1894 is perhaps the most successful sporting rifle in history. The company also shook up the scattergun market with classic shotguns like the Model 1897, Model 21 and Model 12. The raw truth, however, is that none of these guns could have made their mark in history without ammo to shoot out of them. It’s kind of the red-headed stepchild in terms of glory and glamor, but Winchester has been in the ammo business as long as they have been in the gun business.

The Winchester brand has had no shortage of new surprises for its consumers—like the new Varmint X shotshell—but, as SHOT Show 2016 kicks into high gear, the company will also begin a year-long celebration. Oliver F. Winchester introduced his now legendary brand to the world in 1866—and so, in 2016, Winchester celebrates 150 years of success.

Winchester's turning 150, and we've got to say—the company is looking pretty good for its age. As such, it's celebrating the landmark anniversary by bringing an array of legendary firearms to the 145th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Louisville this weekend.

As we've mentioned a few times before, 2016 marks the 150th Anniversary for the cumulative Winchester brands. As you might expect, commemorative product releases are coming—some have already dropped, like the 150th Anniversary Model 73 we saw at SHOT Show 2016. Next up on the list is Winchester Ammo's recently announced custom-built, collectible cartridge-firearm boards. There will be five in all.

In case you hadn't heard, the Winchester brand as a whole is celebrating 150 years of history at SHOT Show—and throughout the entirety of 2016, for that matter. And if you're going to celebrate your history, it makes sense to show some of it off.

In this modern era of hunting rifles and cartridges, common sense would indicate that a cartridge with the performance level of the .30-30 would long ago have faded into obscurity. Why won’t it go away?

Here at American Hunter, we have reported on the skyrocketing number of gun sales that occurred this March, as well as the similarly rising number of new gun owners. Wonder what these folks are buying?

This Sunday, as everyone enjoys the holiday lull between Christmas and New Year’s Day, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity for a rearward glance at five of our top #SundayGunday guns of 2021.