1894 Winchesters
- Thread starter Argyle
- Start date
Jack O'Conner
New member
94's jumped drastically when production ceased. I saw a big bore model in .356 that sold for $1100. But pricing has come down a bit since then.
Some would point out the negative qualities of post-1964 models. But I have cousins who have no trouble with theirs at all. The 94 is a well engineered carbine whose lifetimes outlast it's owners. I truly like the AE models best of all.
Jack
Some would point out the negative qualities of post-1964 models. But I have cousins who have no trouble with theirs at all. The 94 is a well engineered carbine whose lifetimes outlast it's owners. I truly like the AE models best of all.
Jack
Sure Shot Mc Gee
New member
Nice brace of 1894s there partner. Do I see a half & half barreled one mixed in? I also have one or two 1894s around here someplace. Funny where they show up occasionally. Last I bought. A old retired minister sold to me all packed up and ready to be on his way to So. Florida for the winter. The very next day he was gone via his wife in a old AM Pacer. (2- bought) Just have to be in the right place at the right time with a roll of Benjamin's that will choke a horse with enough left over to make an offer to those 1894 rifle owners that can't be refuse. 32-40 L/B & a (saddle ring) 1936 carbine I bought that day. One of those. Wanted one. Ended up going home with two deals. {broke but still smiling all the way home.} BTW: I bought my first new Pre-64 94 carbine at Holiday Sports in MPLS for the grand sum of $52.00. My-O-my how those old Winchesters appreciate in value. Why right there you have enough OP to put someone through their first year of college at a good University. That's what I intend to do with mine when the time comes.
I have two. Bought a 16" "Trapper Model" in 44 Magnum in 1994 so it's marked 1894-1994 for whatever that's worth. Think it was on sale at a retail store for $225 or something like that. Fun to shoot. A couple years ago I picked up a well worm 30-30 dating from 1956 simply because I figured I ought to have one. Got it from a Gunbroker auction for $165.
That's a nice stack of 94 s Argyle.
I have 2 and am always on the lookout. I had a goal (for approx. the last 20 odd years) to build a rack like they had on Gunsmoke and have 5 or 6 of them on display in the basement.
What with insurance and liability issues it probably won't happen though with the times we live in.
I'll probably pick up a couple more but they won't be left in a rack.
I have 2 and am always on the lookout. I had a goal (for approx. the last 20 odd years) to build a rack like they had on Gunsmoke and have 5 or 6 of them on display in the basement.
What with insurance and liability issues it probably won't happen though with the times we live in.
I'll probably pick up a couple more but they won't be left in a rack.
I have my father's late 1940s .30-30 that pretty much stays in the safe except for a range trip now and then. My shooter/hunter is a 1972 in .30-30. It does not have the nice steel and polished finish of the pre-64, but functionally it is just as good and I do not worry about nicks and dings that come from honest handling and hunting.
If you like the M94s, pick up a Modlel 64 sometime. Just a nicer version of the M94, especially in the pre64s. One of mine was made in 1938, the other in 1951. Both are 30-30s. My 94s were born in 1911, 1911, 151 and 1981. One 1911 was my Great grandfathers the other a 25-35 I picked up cheap because some IDIOT whacked the 26" barrel to 22" with a hacksaw. A half magazine rifle too 
I've been looking for a replacement barrel but so far, no luck. 
The bore though is as shiney as a brand new dime. The 1951 is in .32WS and it too have a very shiney bore. My last 30-30 is a Winchester M54, the predecessor to the M70. Bright bore but a tad rough on the out side from wear, not neglect. Cool rifle in that cartridge if you can find one.
Paul B.
I've been looking for a replacement barrel but so far, no luck. The bore though is as shiney as a brand new dime. The 1951 is in .32WS and it too have a very shiney bore. My last 30-30 is a Winchester M54, the predecessor to the M70. Bright bore but a tad rough on the out side from wear, not neglect. Cool rifle in that cartridge if you can find one.Paul B.
I have a similar trapper with a Lyman peep. It was made about the last year of top eject, 1981. It does not have a stamped lifter. Never had a problem, bluing still looks excellent. Here is a thread on good years vs. bad years. And another I found.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?174532-Winchester-94s-Pre-vs-Post-64
http://www.m4carbine.net/archive/index.php/t-100402.html
In 1964 stamped carriers were substituted from machined. Apparently, according to the above better carriers were brought back in 1973?
'64 to '82: scintered metal receivers, hard to reblue ?
'83 Angle eject replaced top eject?
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?174532-Winchester-94s-Pre-vs-Post-64
http://www.m4carbine.net/archive/index.php/t-100402.html
In 1964 stamped carriers were substituted from machined. Apparently, according to the above better carriers were brought back in 1973?
'64 to '82: scintered metal receivers, hard to reblue ?
'83 Angle eject replaced top eject?
According to Robert C. Renneberg, in his book "Winchester Model 94; A Century of Craftsmanship", "...By the late '60s, due to lagging sales and 'unkind' references, Winchester was forced to rethink its product. The changes begin to be noticed around the 3,400,000 serial range...Let's call this receiver style, 3a. These guns, while not up to the Pre-64 standards, were nevertheless vast improvements over the immediate previous design.
"No stamped parts are found in this version. Newly machined internals were designed and properly fitted, and consequently the action became considerably smoother and tighter..."
In 1983, at serial numbers stating around 5,300,000, the "Angle Eject" Model was introduced, dubbed the Sixth Model (to include the following variants: 6a, Angle Eject; 6b, Angle Eject with Button Safety and 6c, Angle Eject with Tang Safety). Author Renneberg described the "Sixth Model" as featuring the "...use of one hundred percent steel forgings in all angle eject models."
I own a "6a" model 94 variant and it, in fact, appears to be made of all machined steel parts. I certainly cannot detect any evidence of stamped or cast parts in this example.
My Model 94 carbine has a Williams "FoolProof" receiver sight mounted on it (as do more than a few other rifles that I own).
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Renneberg notwithstanding, one look inside a 1965-69 M94 at the top of the lifter, after opening the bolt, should suffice to satisfy just about anybody's questions about whether the lifter was made of stamped sheet metal or machined solid steel.
I've looked inside my fair share of them, and have also switched out the stamped lifter for a 1970-82 cast lifter for about a baker's dozen other shooters in the past 30 years or so.
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Renneberg notwithstanding, one look inside a 1965-69 M94 at the top of the lifter, after opening the bolt, should suffice to satisfy just about anybody's questions about whether the lifter was made of stamped sheet metal or machined solid steel.
I've looked inside my fair share of them, and have also switched out the stamped lifter for a 1970-82 cast lifter for about a baker's dozen other shooters in the past 30 years or so.
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