The 1895 models were only available in a 303 Savage & you're right in saying they had a different breech bolt assembly with a circular cocking indicator.
They had also had slightly different looking stocks than the 1899. The 1895s came with reserve curve on the schnabel fore ends and rounded oval shaped pads on the butt stocks behind the receiver as opposed to slightly pointed ones on the 1899s and the later 99s.
The easiest way the tell the difference between 1895s and early 1899s is that 1895s have a four digit serial number in the 3000 - 8000 range.
Check at the Savage Lever Action site for pics.
Did you find a good one?
