Winchester Model 94

Z

Zathras

New member
I picked up a Winchester Model 94 yesterday..The shop I got it from was a pawn shop.He said he believed it is a pre 1964 model.the serial number starts with 323.According to what I have been able to discover, It was made in 1969.l
It has a metal butt plate, and its in pretty good condition. I thought Id ask those of you here your opinion on it. Did they keep making metal buttplates on these after 1964?? and is it almost as good as the pre 64 ones? ..its pretty solid, and I shot it at the range the same day,and it fires great..thanks in advance for any info.I dont see any cheap cast or sub standard parts as far as I can see.
 
Depending on how many numbers it has in the serial number it could have been made in 1895, 1905 or 1969. I had one made in 64 and it had a metal butt plate.
Post 64's are pretty decent but the pre's are a lot better. The one I have now was made in 79.
 
How many serial numbers denote the date?..This one has 7 numbers..did they stop putting on metal buttplates in 1964?
 
What we need to know to date your gun is where in the 5+ million 94's made is yours so is it:

323
323X
323XX
323XXX
3,23XXXX
You see what I am getting at.?

Another quick reference as to whether it is pre-64 is having a "link pin screw".
This part was deleted in the "redesign" post 64. So turn the gun upside down and look at the lever. Follow it forward to the rectangular forward portion. Is there a slot head screw there just aft of the the end of the link?
If so it's pre-64 if not it's not.

Mike J
 
A seven digit number denotes a 69 date. I don't know when they changed over from steel plates but it's possible they were still using them in 69.
 
This rifle has 7 numbers..they are 3292424..If i am looking where I am supposed to look...not tryin to sound like an idiot..I don't see a link pin screw..It does, as I said, have a metal buttplate..now if this is a post 64, I am just wondering how much its worth?
 
So that dates your rifle to 1970.
As far as value goes, as mentioned less than a pre-64 and the rest would depend on condition.
I don't have any idea what they are going for these days [Mine is a 1932 model and is all I've ever needed in that model/cartridge combination].

You might check some of the on-line auction / sales sights like Gun Brokers or Guns America and get an idea of what people are asking for similar models. Understanding that is "what they're asking, not necessarily what they are getting.

On the up side I think ?? yours is prior to crossbolt button safeties or tang safeties which were not very popular at all.

Mike J
 
Mine are both post 64 and have metal butt plates - bought th one with 26" barrel (Buffalo Bill Commemorative) new in 1968 -

IMG_2491.jpg


AWINCHESTER942.jpg


BUFFALOBILL94A.jpg


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Bought the Canadian Centennial (1967) a year or two ago - used, but in very good condition - paid $350 for it. Both are good rifles I enjoy owning and shooting - very much..
 
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Post-64 Model 94's have no screw in the bottom of the forward end of the lifter, and do not have the machined lifter pre-64's did.

Post-64 lifters were first stamped sheet metal, then in 1971 solid/cast (look for the mold line/mark).

.
 
Your rifle is worth what you paid for it.

Winchester made M-94s with lots of variations. If you wanted a metal butt plate they were happy to oblige.

Post 64 M-94s shoot just great. The changes for that model were not as great as with others.

Go shoot your gun and have fun.
 
Well..it does shoot great...I Love it...and I will keep it and maybe get a pre 64 one I saw for $549.00 and keep the both of them.
 
Zathras said
" Well..it does shoot great...I Love it...and I will keep it and maybe get a pre 64 one I saw for $549.00 and keep the both of them."

There you go!
 
I have several post 64's, but none with the dreaded safety on the receiver.

My favorite is a musket type NRA commerative with a full stock. I just added a williams 5d receiver sight and it is my definite go to woods gun.
 
What we need to know to date your gun is where in the 5+ million 94's madeWhat we need to know to date your gun is where in the 5+ million 94's made
Click to expand...

Actually, according to an article published in the October 2011 issue of Shooting Times, over seven million Model 94s were made before Winchester closed their doors. As an aside, though I prefer Model 94s sans any add-on "safety", no matter the configuration, it's not that big of a deal for me.

I think bailey bud is right when he said the op's Model 94 was made in 1970.
 
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