Value of Winchester 94AE 16" bbl

[Wild Deuce]

I need help in establishing a fair market value … or to be more precise, what would be a fair price to ask for if I were the one selling this rifle and what would be a fair price to pay for this rifle ( I know the two are not always the same). I've searched the forums but couldn't find the information I was looking for. I looked in the Blue Book but I could not match the variables with my particular rifle ...

There is no box and there are no papers. The only noticeable wear is on the very front of the magazine tube. There are some very minor scratches that resemble a screwdriver slipping off a screw head. There is one missing screw on the forward most band. There was some question as to whether the gold bands were Winchester original. It is chambered in .44 Rem Mag, has a 16 inch barrel (actually 16.25 by my measurement) and as you can tell, it has the saddle ring. I don’t know if that is factory (production) checkering or post-purchase hand checkering. It does have scope rings but no scope. I am having a real hard time determining if this rifle has been fired or not. Every patch I have run through it or on it comes up with oil or grease only. All the bluing is there with no signs of wear except for the previously mentioned scratch. Even the hammer doesn’t show any wear and I can’t see any brass printing on the breech face (or is it bolt?). The stock is unmarked (no scratches, nicks or signs of wear). The receiver is stamped with “1894-1994” so I am assuming it was a Centennial edition manufactured in 1994. The barrel markings say it is a Winchester 94AE. Serial number: 6,116,XXX

I am not an expert Winchester lever action rifles so any help would be appreciated.

 

[Wild Deuce]

Some more images ...

 

[3006mv]

Look at the bolt face see if there is a brass ring the shape of a .44 case, if there is one it was fired, if not maybe not. It has a factory checkered laminate stock. It is missing the two cover screws on the receiver for the front scope mount. I have the exact rifle but w/ walnut stock and large loop lever ("Wrangler Centennial Model") and no gold bbl band. I have not seen your model in any Winchester catalog. Mine did not come w/ rings. I bought mine in 1999 new at a store in AK for less than $300. It is possible someone put on that laminate stock b/c Winchester didn't have those available until after that one came out. I would guess you could get more than $300 only because they are no longer made.

 

[Wild Deuce]

Thanks.

I do have the scope rings and the screws (for the scopes). The breech face is clear of any case markings.

I wasn't sure if there was any added value due to the non-.30-.30 caliber, the saddle ring, and the 16" barrel. If it does turn out to be less than $400-$500, I will go ahead and keep this one for the field and range.

 

[Sunray]

"...assuming it was..." Nope. The Win 94 Centennials were all chambered in .30-30. Your's is a 'saddle ring' carbine, but there's nothing special about it except the stock.
There's an AE 'Trapper in .44 mag on gunauctions that is sitting at $311. It's not as pretty as yours though and the putz has mounted a great big scope with see-thru mounts.

 

[Wild Deuce]

I'll never understand scopes on a lever gun. Though this gun came with mounts, the first thing I did was remove them.

 

[Wild Deuce]

Sunray ...

If it's not a Centennial, why is it stamped "1894 - 1994" on the receiver? Did they do this for other rifles regardless of the year of manufacture or caliber? The Blue Book (27th Ed) seems to allow for other calibers and barrel lengths that depart from the 30-30/20" bbl. format.

 

[Sunray]

"...why is it stamped..." Marketing. The bit of research I did indicated that the Model 94 Centennials were all .30-30's with no reference to any other chambering.
There are Centennials for nearly everything. U.S. States, Canada, the RCMP, chewing tobacco, the NRA, Olly Winchester's birthday, you name it. The only ones that are worth more than the original purchase price are the ones still sealed in the box. Commemoratives in general haven't been great investments. Too many of each made.
USRAC did stamp the '1894 - 1994' on all the rifles made in 1994. The Centennials are engraved and there weren't as many made. There were 12,000 'Standard Grade' Model 94's made.
Go here for a list of the Winchester Commemoratives with the numbers made, chambering etc. http://www.doublegun.com/roth.htm

 

[Wild Deuce]

Thanks, Sunray. I'll feel better about beating it up.

 

[Sunray]

Hi. That stock is far too pretty to be beating up. Mind you, if it had an oil finish, it'd be easier to fix any scratches and dents. A bit more oil makes a scratch go away. Dents can be steamed out with a wrung out old face cloth and a regular iron.