I recently purchased a Winchester model 1894 (30-30). The only seriel # I can find on the underside of the gun in front of the lever action and it's1978. only four numbers would make it an original 1894 or 1895. The person I bought it from is 75 and has had it since his dad gave it to him at 15. So my question is " is that the right place for the seriel number and if it is how rare would that be?
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winchester model 1894
- Thread starter mblender
- Start date
Yes, if correct that is a first year of production serial number, but not the original chambering for a Winchester 1894 produced in 1894, the .30 Winchester Center Fire (what we now call 30-30 Winchester) was not introduced until late 1895, so it would not "letter" (it would not match the factory historical letter describing the rifle when it left the factory). Still, a first year of production rifle or carbine would sell for a premium.
oneshot onekill
New member
Pictures would definitely help ID it. If the barrel appears to have the same wear as the rest of the rifle you have to ask... Why would it have been re-barreled? Perhaps a Winchester Letter would shed some light on this. Or maybe not. If you post pictures, try to get some shots of where the barrel meets the receiver... on both sides... Not too close-up.
gearhounds
New member
Yup, one and the same. Also 7.62X51Rmm, according to Wiki- that was a new one to me.
+1 it would have to say .30WCF to be an original (or at least that early a "1894" nomenclatured gun--even if rebarreled). IF it says that AND it turns out to be correct on serial number in combo with that caliber, you've got a rare one--maybe a factory "mistake," out of sequence, or some such..which if substantiated could render it even more valuable.
30-30remchester
New member
Many of the first years guns had serial numbers mixed up as to caliber versus year. I have seen 1894's with a serial number range of being produced in the first year yet chambered for 30WCF. According to Winchester these guns happened as they didnt nessasarily ship a reciever in the year it was produced. I have studied these guns for years and would really appreciate a few pictures.
It could easily be a gennie, since Winchester used the "bin" method - producing a bunch of parts (receivers included), then storing them willy-nilly in storage/parts bins until a rifle was being assembled.
A worker would then just simply reach into a bin & grab a part, w/o any consideration to when it was actually forged/etc.
The more accurate records, for determining a DOM are the Polishing Room Records http://www.shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=67350 ,
which show when a particular receiver was finished & sent to warehouse (for shipping).
.
A worker would then just simply reach into a bin & grab a part, w/o any consideration to when it was actually forged/etc.
The more accurate records, for determining a DOM are the Polishing Room Records http://www.shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=67350 ,
which show when a particular receiver was finished & sent to warehouse (for shipping).
.