just pulled out a family heirloom. my great-grandfather's lever action .30-.30. model 94 winchester. my dad said its around 50 years old. anybody know when this gun was first made and then production stopped? or is this one of those guns that they just keep remaking with the same model number? i want to know how old it is. thanks guys
Model 94
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ArfinGreebly
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How old?
Well, let me see.
I bought a brand new rifle last year. When I hand that down to my kids or grandkids, it will be at least 20 years old. I'm pushing sixty. If I had bought that rifle back when I should have bought it, it would already be twenty years old, and my kids would get a 40-year-old rifle.
I have an M1 Carbine that was made in ~1942, contemporary with my dad's service. That gun's 65 years old.
If my grandfather had handed down a rifle, it would certainly have been from around that time, or earlier. So, a "grandfather" rifle might well be more than 70 years old.
If my grandfather's father (my great grandfather) had handed down a rifle, it would very likely have been at least 70 years old. Likely more than 80 years old.
I don't know when your great grandfather lived, but 50 years is very likely on the low side.
I don't have the actual dates, but the "model 94" (if I understand it rightly) gets its name from the last two digits of "1894" -- meaning that design has been in production for more than 110 years.
If you wanted to nail the actual age of this rifle, you would need the serial number. There are places online where you can check your serial number against a list that tells what years made what ranges of numbers.
Got a picture of this rifle?
Well, let me see.
I bought a brand new rifle last year. When I hand that down to my kids or grandkids, it will be at least 20 years old. I'm pushing sixty. If I had bought that rifle back when I should have bought it, it would already be twenty years old, and my kids would get a 40-year-old rifle.
I have an M1 Carbine that was made in ~1942, contemporary with my dad's service. That gun's 65 years old.
If my grandfather had handed down a rifle, it would certainly have been from around that time, or earlier. So, a "grandfather" rifle might well be more than 70 years old.
If my grandfather's father (my great grandfather) had handed down a rifle, it would very likely have been at least 70 years old. Likely more than 80 years old.
I don't know when your great grandfather lived, but 50 years is very likely on the low side.
I don't have the actual dates, but the "model 94" (if I understand it rightly) gets its name from the last two digits of "1894" -- meaning that design has been in production for more than 110 years.
If you wanted to nail the actual age of this rifle, you would need the serial number. There are places online where you can check your serial number against a list that tells what years made what ranges of numbers.
Got a picture of this rifle?
351 WINCHESTER
Member
Very useful website.
toivo
Member
Yeah, check the serial number for its date of manufacture.
The Model 94 hit the stores in 1895, and production finally ended when U.S. Repeating Arms Company closed down its New Haven, Connecticut plant in March 2006. That would mean a production lifespan of approximately 111 years.
There are rumors that USRAC, which is owned by Herstal of Belgium, will revive the Model 94 in a foreign-made version, produced most likely either in Belgium or Japan. But these are just rumors.
The Model 94 hit the stores in 1895, and production finally ended when U.S. Repeating Arms Company closed down its New Haven, Connecticut plant in March 2006. That would mean a production lifespan of approximately 111 years.
There are rumors that USRAC, which is owned by Herstal of Belgium, will revive the Model 94 in a foreign-made version, produced most likely either in Belgium or Japan. But these are just rumors.
Chester32141
Member
Thanks for the link Eliphalet ... in a matter of moments I was able to find that a Winchester Model 1892 that I have was made in 1894 ... it's in pretty good shape, anybody have any suggestions for what kind of oil I should use on it to keep it that way ... ?
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