Tips for buying a '94?

[Hatchett]

I'm thinking about buying a Winchester '94 sometime this year. I don't really want one as a shooter, but more simply to own one. I'm pretty sure I want one in .30-30.

Since I want one more for the novelty than the shooter, I figure I'll get an old one, from before 1964 since that seems to be a turning point in quality. I've seen a few made between 1950-60 online and am considering one of those most. But I've also heard good things about the modern rifles. Is it worth it to just get a new rifle?

What should I be looking for, and how can I tell if I'm getting a good deal? What prices should I look for?

Any tips would be appreciated.

 

[corruptone]

I don't know what year either of these two features were added/changed, but here is my take on the 94. I am no expert on them, but I own a couple (one is .307 & one in 30-30). At some point the designation AE was added to the product line which indicates Angle Eject which makes scope mounting much easier since the ejected cartridges no longer hit the scope. Also, don't know when they actually started this, but allot of 94's have had a cross bolt safety and it wasn't exactly popular. In late '03 I believe, Winchester moved to a tang mounted safety that seems to be more popular. Both of my 94's are AE's with cross bolt safeties. I don't have a problem with the safeties as they are, but would prefer to have the tang mounted safety myself. That's the extent of my knowledge (or believed knowledge anyway). If you already knew all that then please disregard.

 

[MrAcheson]

I believe the Angle Eject also helps keep empties from going down your shirt. Some of the winchester actions tend to do that. The wide brim cowboy hat and neckerchief wasn't just an affectation, it also keeps hot brass off your head and neck.

Oh but some purists think AE is newfangled and too modern for these guns.

 

[JNewell]

This is a quick summary from memory and probably needs some supplementation and correction, but for what it's worth...there are several periods for 94s.

I think the gold standard for 1894s is pre-WW2. During the 50s, Winchester was already under pressures of inefficient production methods and they are not necessarily great guns. It is kind of like the BP era for S&W: many of the guns are great, but there are some lemons out there -- more than should be.

It was those cost and production issues that led to the 1964 changes. Those 94s have things like stamped lifters and if you're looking for a good example just to have one (a very valid reason), I'd avoid these like the plague.

Sometime around 1971 or so (could be a couple of years off either way, no books here), Winchester woke up and put some of the quality back into the rifles. I've owned two of those. One came out of the box with the front sight soldered on with a roughly 10 degree list. Ahem??? I still have its replacement. It's a functional and durable rifle. One thing -- the receivers are (IIRC) malleable iron or the like with a plating that allows the surface to be blued. If you wear that plating, you will not be able to reblue (like on mine). Good users, ok as an example of a 94 but not the best.

Later -- and I forget the years -- you get cross-bolt safeties and AE models -- these are really too far away from the classic JMB design for your purpose (at least that's my guess), so again, you probably want to avoid.

Short version -- pre-'64 is OK, but you may want to look for a pre-war version in good working order. That would be my take on it -- YMMV.

On price -- shop around. There are more than a million of these out there and prices vary a lot in my experience. If you're patient, you'll find a good example and a good value. Check the Blue Book-type publications for a start. Check with local stores, especially in the winter and spring when hunters are trading rifles, thinking about next season. Go to gun shows and make offers. (You may want to print out a list of serial numbers by year so you can get a grip on how old the rifles you're looking at are.)

BTW, if you're looking mostly for a good example of a classic rather than a rifle to take into the field a lot, you might consider expanding your search to include the .32 Winchester. They represent a big percentage of 1894s and generally sell for less because the .30-30 is so synonymous with the 1894. For your purposes, maybe it doesn't matter? There was a great article on the .32 Winchester in a recent issue of The Accurate Rifle.

 

[Hatchett]

Thanks for the tips guys. Perhaps you can help me out here.
Does $450 sound right for a prewar (1939) carbine with some wear on the reciever but otherwise excellent shape? Could I do better than that?

 

[JNewell]

Seems a little high in that condition, but prices vary so much from area to area and from one seller (and buyer) to another. You are paying the pre-'64 premium, which is more related to how people feel about the guns than any real difference in function. However, this one's pre-WWII, too, so maybe it's worth it. If it's $50 or even $75 too high, will you really remember that five years from now? Odds are not high.

My own really short version of the Model 94 checkout would be in two steps. First, does it look like it spent time in the bed of the truck rather than in the cab? Results will be obvious; pass. Second, and harder to check, how's the bore? Rust, etc. is easy to see, but the main thing I'd worry about is bad cleaning from the muzzle that damages the rifling near the muzzle. I unwittingly bought a rifle like this once and it was a real accuracy problem. In some cases, it's so bad you can actually see it. In other cases, you can't. Be thorough and hope for the best.

 

[theCZ]

I have handled and shot a few pre-64 model 94's, and a couple from pre-1910. To me, all of them have stiffer actions than my 94AE in 30-30. I would guess that the older ones are simply not cleaned and lubed as well as they should have been, but it's hard to beat that nickel finish. My newer 94 is very smooth, and I just put a Williams receiver sight on it, and fairly accurate.

My opinion, save some money and have a smoother lever action by going with a new 94.

 

[Hatchett]

The bore is bright and mint, supposedly. The whole thing looks to be in good condition, no major dings or scratches, still has its shine on the stock, with nearly all of its blueing on the barrel. My only concern is this wear on the receiver. It's just not quite blue anymore.

Again, thanks for the help.

 

[Gordon]

That's where youn will be holding the gun and prolly somebody spent some time HOLDING the gun and only shooting a few rounds. Thats how mine is worn. The price your paying is average in that condition, if the wood edges are cherry it is OK.