Are pre-64 model 94 Winchester 30-30's over rated?

[WonderNine]

Yes, they have the extra screw or something. Big whoop. Are they really stronger? Better fit and finish than my (74 or 76 I can't remember) Winchester? Are they really better, or is it just a collecter thing? I examined a super nice 1957 WInchester model 94 a this Spring at a gunshow and it was a very nice gun, but did I think it's worth twice as much as my mid seventies Winchester? No.

He said "make an offer" to a friend of mine who was looking at it. I'll bet he would have taken $450.

I'd like some opinions please on what is special about these guns or is it just hype or is it not hype, but the current collector's market? I dunno.

Also, I've read many times that the .30-.30 was the first smokeless powder cartridge. Is this true? I've also read that this is not true and there was one other smokeless powder cartridge before the 30-30.

 

[Coot]

Regarding your smokeless question, the .30-30 (a/k/a .30WCF ) was the first smokeless sporting cartridge, introduced in 1895; the .30-40 Krag, introduced in 1892, preceeded the .30-30, but was a military round.

I've only recently started to look into the pre-64's, and can't address their relative merits to the more modern '94's. I did, however, find that you can't re-blue a post-'64 action as you can a pre-64 as the color looks sort of purple...I gather Winchester, in all of it's wisdom, cheapened the metal on the action in the post-64's.

 

[Art Eatman]

In the pre-64s, I think the fit and finish and wood were better. As far as actual usage and all, probably little difference.

Winchester made a lot of 94s for Sears&Sawbuck and Monkey Ward and other chains (I guess) which had a sort of painted finish on the receiver and cheap wood in the stocks. But they shoot okay.

"Collectormania" is a weird disease, sometimes...

, Art

 

[TrapperReady]

I recently picked up my first 94, and ended up getting a 1952-vintage model. I had gone in planning on buying new... either a Winchester or comparible Marlin for use as a deer rifle.

However, of the new ones I handled, I was pretty appalled by the triggers. The shop had a handful of older models, which were all in good shape, so I checked them out. They all had much nicer trigger pulls, and the overall quality seemed just slightly better.

The cost difference was maybe $150. I probably counldn't have gone wrong either way, but I really wanted a decent trigger. Since I enjoy shooting with open sights, and never plan to mount a scope, this made a lot of sense. If I wanted a scope, I probably would have gotten a newer model with the angle-eject (or the Marlin).

 

[David4516]

I have both pre and post 64 winchesters. The main differance is in the overall quality. The wood and finish are much nicer on the older rifles. The newer ones shoot just as good as the older ones, but they feel alot "cheaper"...

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

it doesn't really matter what gun you get, as long as it doesn't have the stupid safety.

 

[jsalcedo]

Check the pawnshops for Pre-64's I got my 1951 vintage there for $99

Compared my mid 90's 94 the action, wood and the safety is much better on the pre 64.

 

[Mannlicher]

M. Vieille introduced Smokeless powder in 1884 for the French Govt. a Swiss, Major Bode, brought out the other necessary part, a jacketed bullet in 1875. That was improved by Major Rubin, another Swiss, in 1881. The 8mm French Lebel was the first rifle to fire smokeless powder in 1886. The rifle itself was no breakthrough, being just a refinment of earlier French military rifles.

Personally, I dont like Winchester lever guns, prefering Marlin rifles much more.

 

[cookie]

Personally, I think it's a "use" issue. If you want a good brush/truck gun, get a newer one (they're cheaper).

 

[Jaywalker]

I suspect the newer ones, at least since 1968 (I think) are functionally superior, though they certainly don't have the handwork in them that the pre-64s do.

Personally, I believe that had Winchester called them something else, like "Model 70-A" (they did use this designation later) , or "Model 70-1," the functional improvements would have been noticed. Unfortunately, they dumped a really ugly stock and no handwork on the buyers of what was then considered the "best rifle in the world." People started referring to the old rifles as the "pre-64," and that led folks to believe it was better, rather than just prettier. (Ruger got the point when they changed the Model 77; they call it the "Mk II.")

As Art says, "Collectormania is a wierd disease." A $500 beer mug doesn't make the beer taste any better, but it sure means you can afford less beer.

Jaywalker

 

[BigG]

Pre 64 applies mostly to the Model 70 bolt action imho. Winchester was not really building anything else of consequence other than the Model 12 pump shotgun at the time. The classic Winchesters you drool over were w-a-a-y before 1964. Oh yeah. The Model 97 Cornshucker was made up until 1957 IIRC. But after John Browning severed relations with Winchester around the turn of the century, they never had many GREAT guns, imho except the ones he designed and they continued to produce plus the Models 70 and 12.