Teddy Roosevelt’s Little Thirty

October 2, 2019  
|  2 Comments
Categories: Guns, Learnin'

The Winchester 30-30 (Winchester 1894) is an iconic gun, probably because of one particular man: Teddy Roosevelt (hence all the interwebz searches for “Winchester Teddy Roosevelt 30-30.” Of all the US Presidents, Theodore Roosevelt is perhaps my favorite. In his life, he did it all: author, rancher, big game hunter, explorer, military leader, police commissioner, Secretary of the Navy…

Oh yeah, and POTUS.

This article originally ran on November 8, 2017.

Most importantly, he was a shooter and fellow gun hoarder.

Theodore Roosevelt with one of his rifles, mounted.

His favorite rifles were those made by Winchester. Based on his numerous biographies and museum exhibits, it’s safe to say he owned no less than thirty. One was a Model 1894 fitted with a Maxim silencer.

You know, as an aside, it’d be interesting to see a Winchester 1897 with a silencer attached.

A Winchester 1894 with Maxim silencer attached.

Maxim silencer on the venerable (and gorgeous) Winchester 1894.

The rifle made an internet buzz a few years ago as the President’s former home and estate at Sagamore Hill was being renovated. It went on loan to the NRA National Firearm Museum for a few years and has since been returned to Sagamore Hill, although it is not currently on display.

 

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According to Susan Sarna, curator at the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site in Oyster Bay, the rifle is described as follows: “Winchester Model 1894, chambered in 30 WCF (30 30 Winchester), Maxim silencer on the end. Nickel-steel barrel, made for smokeless powder. Drop-leaf sighting, Stamped on the barrel: ‘Manufactured by Winchester Repeating Arms Co. New Haven, Conn. U.S.A. Pat Aug. 21, 1894.’”

Two of Theodore Roosevelt's rifles in a museum.

Two of Theodore Roosevelt’s “Sagamore Hill” rifles in a museum.

 

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It has a crescent butt plate as opposed to his favored standard shotgun-style butt plate, lacks the president’s typical case-hardened finish or engraving, and has a raised comb. As it is a take-down variant with a half-magazine or button magazine, it appears that Roosevelt thought of it as more of a utilitarian rifle.

We contacted Sagamore Hill because we had read conflicting information about the rifle. One source claimed it was .32 WCF (32-20), and another claimed .32 Winchester Special.

A Winchester Model 1894 Special .32 (from Rifle Shooter)

A Winchester Model 1894 Special .32 lever gun (from Rifle Shooter).

The 32-20 seemed more sensible for dispatching pests on the grounds of Sagamore Hill, the purpose for which most people presumed the rifle was used. While 30-30 may have seemed a tiny round to Roosevelt, who preferred the .405 Winchester, we found it doubtful that he would overkill like that if a feral dog or possum raided his trash cans or threatened his family’s well-being.

No, Roosevelt had a fondness for the Model 1894 in 30-30 (or what we refer to as John M. Browning’s “Saturday Night Special Design”) from the time it was first introduced. He was dubious at first of the “tiny smokeless powder cartridge” but changed his mind after dropping a pronghorn antelope at about 220 yards. Eventually, he would obtain this one fitted with a Maxim silencer for use at Sagamore Hill on his private range, so as not to disturb the neighbors.

One hundred years later, it inspired us to build one like it.

A "modern" Sagamore Hill style Theodore Roosevelt rifle.

A “new and improved” Sagamore Hill “Little Thirty”? Not improved, maybe, but certainly newer.

Well, not exactly — but stay tuned!

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Mike Searson

Mike Searson

About the Author

Mike “the Mook” Searson is a veteran writer who began his career in firearms at the Camp Pendleton School for Destructive Boys at age 17. He has worked in the firearms industry his entire life, writing about guns and knives for numerous publications and consulting with the film industry on weapons while at the same time working as gunsmith and ballistician. Though seemingly a surly curmudgeon shy a few chromosomes at first meeting, Searson is actually far less of a dick and at least a little smarter than most of the Mad Duo’s minions. He is rightfully considered to be not just good company, but actually fit for polite company as well (though he has never forgotten his roots as a rifleman trained to kill people and break things, and if you look closely you’ll see his knuckles are still quite scabbed over from dragging the ground). You can learn more about him on his website or follow him on Twitter, @MikeSearson.

2 Comments

  1. Mike Blum

    Many years ago visiting Sagamore Hill, I saw the original display of TR’s lever and suppressor fitted rifle. It was said that TR would shoot pests etc from the window in the same room where the display was and wished to not disturb his neighbors.

    I re-visited Sagamore Hill in the early 1990’s and TR’s rifles were gone.

    Reply
  2. Baker

    Roosevelt was one of the worst contributors to propell the POTUS position into the unconstitutional king that put our rights st risk. His narsicism was infamous. His own son has said his father wanted to be the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral. That being said, I too love the old 1894’s, they’re classic and beyond cool.

    Reply

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