The Imperial Russian Army solved the shortage of weapons during WWI by ordering them from abroad, mainly from the United States. In addition to Model 1891 Mosin rifles, American arms factories also supplied Tsarist Russia with Model 1895 Winchester lever-action repeating rifles, chambered for the Russian 7.62 mm Mosin cartridge.
The first contract for 100,000 rifles was entered into by representatives of the Tsarist government and Winchester Repeating Arms in New Haven at the end of 1914, and the last rifles ordered were shipped to Russia in November 1915. A second order for 200,000 rifles was signed by the Tsarist government before the first contract was fulfilled in August 1915, and the last rifles from the second contract were shipped from the factory in December 1916. Under both contracts, the Imperial Army did not receive the 300,000 rifles for which the orders totalled, but “only” 293,818 M 1895 Winchester repeating rifles.